A New Chapter

Chapter 30

A S H L E Y

My weary eyes flicker open to meet pure darkness. I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion at my foreign surroundings until memories come flooding back like a tsunami.

I remember Jason. My heart rate rises at the thought and a loud beeping from my right follows suit. Where is he now? Where am I?

My eyes widen as I miserably fail at sitting up, only managing to barely lift my head from the uncomfortably flat pillow beneath my it.

I become aware of a severe discomfort down my throat, a painfully dry sensation as if something is trapped.

I spot the nurse-call remote just in reach of my left hand. I weakly stretch my fingers and finally get ahold of the worn plastic remote and repeatedly press the red button.

Moments later a frantic nurse bursts through the door and looks utterly flabbergasted that it was me who called for her. She doesn't say a single word; only hurries  back out. I catch some rushed shouting as a stampede of footsteps and a group of doctors including the same nurse crowd into the small room, all sporting the same expressions.

"Ms Merritt, you're awake." An older doctors states, shocked. I blink in response, the previous discomfort turning into a chocking sensation the more I become aware of it.

"I'll get that for you." A middle aged woman in blue scrubs offers. With the instruction to cough she quickly pulls the tube from my throat, relief washing over me with it out.

I furiously cough at the scratchy feeling it leaves behind. I point to the jug of water sitting on the tattered bed side table. The nurse from earlier pours me a glass as I smile gratefully at her.

"Your mother is waiting outside, will I call her in?" She questions as she fixes my blanket.

"Yes please." I croak out before taking a lengthy sip.

My Mom bustles in not a second after the nurse leaves and immediately bursts into tears as she slowly sits at the end of my bed, clutching a wet tissue.

"Am I dreaming?" She whispers, wiping the side of my cheek with her soft hands.

"No. I'm here." I murmur, clutching onto her delicate wrist as tears fills my eyes.

"Where's Amelia? Ethan?" I question after awhile.

"Amelia's with Sophie and her parents. Ethan stayed by your side for the whole five days you were out, I just told him to go home and get a shower an hour ago." She rubs her thumb across my knuckles as she speaks, refusing to loose physical contact.

"Can you call him?" I give her a shy smile and she kisses my forehead before leaving me alone.

The door bangs open half an hour later and Ethan stands in the threshold, his hair damp and his eyes full of tears.

"Ashley?" He mumbles, rushing to my side and laying his hands on each of my cheeks with an intense gaze.

"Who are you?" I mutter, staring at him in confusion. I watch as his face drops before letting out a loud giggle; "Kidding." His mouth drops open before he chuckles loudly and kisses me.

As we pull apart I take notice of a white bandage wrapped around his head and his bruised eye.

"I'm sorry." I whisper, gently rubbing around his black eye.

"He's gone." He grumbles a hateful look taking over his eyes.

"Back to prison?" I query, not feeling the least bit safer, even with him behind bars.

"No." He grunts sitting up straight.

"What?" I question, lifting my head from the pillow.

He refuses to meet my eye as he clenches and unclenches his fist repeatedly.

"What do you mean?" I insist with a hard tone, yet he stays silent.

"Tell me." I demand.

"I killed him." He states, finally meeting my eye.

Now it's my turn to stay silent as my head spins with thoughts and fears, whirling around my brain.

"Say something." He pleads, bowing his head in shame.

"What if they take you away from me?" Panic rises in my voice as I look at him in fear of losing him.

"You don't hate me?" He breaths out.

"I love you. You saved me, but I don't want you to go to jail because of me." I tear trails down my cheek as I sniffle.

"They ruled it as self defence." He announces and I can help but squeal as I pull him closer, resting my head in the crook of his neck and breathing in his addictive scent.

I find myself smiling at the feeling of his heart beating erratically in his chest, knowing it's because of me.

If I could stay like this forever, secure in his grasp. I would, without a second thought.