It's complicated: Levi x Petra Lemon

Chapter 18: Hours

Hours and hours dragged into in through the day, devoid of any emotion like a hollow concave shell for Levi that was missing one key thing; Petra

It was all that crossed his mind, squeezing her hand and talking to her in a dull monotone to match the stark cold atmosphere of the hospital. The dripping of the blood machine tainting his mind and playing tricks until it became all he could hear.

All day every day

Repeating itself in a cruel twist of events and each day growing more and more desperate that she would show a sign; any sign that was vital or minor just to give him some sort of hope that it would be okay.

Murmuring the newspaper to her with his back slumped against the chair like he had lost all optimism. Crumpled to the floor like one of the empty paper cups. Because he just couldn't leave her.

Everything became a blur that his mind could no longer rearrange into anything that made sense to him. Spiralling downwards into a black hole swallowing him inside until he could feel nothing anymore until he reached rock bottom.

It had been three weeks of this painful cycle feeling like a stab into the heart. Where the knife was twisting deeper in his chest causing unbearable pain. There was a large lump in his throat he couldn't get rid of so he was incapable of swallowing. Not that he wanted to eat even the most basic of substance. Because if Petra didn't live : what was honestly the point.

The night kept replaying in his mind: a carousel turning repeatedly and each time wondering what he could have done to have changed events. Or how much he wished he could reverse time.

No matter how hard he tried, levi could only blame himself whichever perspective he envisaged. Had he not have lost his temper over a simple triviality on the beach, she wouldn't have stormed off into another mans arms. Karma was cold and calculated and it knew exactly where to hit Levi the most.

"Why"

Was the question he repeated to himself sinking to the floor with his head into his hands.

"Mr Ackerman?"

He turned round to glance at the nurse who had now entered the room breaking the silence.

"Yes"

He replied with all the enthusiasm he could muster

"Do you not think you should..you know..maybe go home?"

"No!" He yelled abruptly as a shocked expression registered on the woman's face briefly

"No.." he repeated more quietly "I can't leave her that's the thing"

"I understand" the nurse nodded careful of what to say understanding the fragility of the man.

"Thankyou" he mumbled briefly breaking a smile for what seemed to be the first time in forever.

—

Days continued forging into weeks and before levi knew it, they were in Autumn and Petra was being airlifted back to their home country.

Levi was sitting silently staring into space as he did everyday when he briefly glanced at Petra only to find her eyes were flickering. His eyes widened scrabbling off the chair to get closer.

"Petra?" He leaned over squeezing her hand onto to feel it being squeezed back.

"OH MY GOD SHE JUST TOUCHED ME BACK! NURSEEE!!!"

Levi's eyes welled up with both excitement and relief crying harder than before as the nurses dashed in to find him crying.

"She squeezed my hand" he stammered with tears streaming down his face onto his thick stubble that had now grown. He hadn't been looking after himself.

The nurse smiled before breathing in "she is showing positive signs"

Suddenly as though aware of her surroundings, Petra eyes slowly opened for the first time in two months.

Levi glanced in wonder before squeezing her hand and crying again in joy.

"Oh my god you're awake! Petra!"