Fixated

((20))

It was dark. 

The kind of dark that I could only assume was like death. 

It was cool; not cold, but cool. It felt like I was being weighed down by something heavy, yet I know there was nothing on top of me. 

I could hear it for a while before I realized what it was, but I couldn't see the machine. It was beeping, loud and obnoxiously. 

"Raeleigh has been asleep for a while, do you think she's okay?" 

I could recognize Archer's voice, it was raspier than usual. 

He's been crying.

"I think so. The doctor said this is to be expected. I think she'll wake up any minute," my mother said. 

She sounded like she was trying to comfort him, which I appreciate. 

I opened my eyes slowly, the light flooding them shut again. 

I pulled my arm up too fast, causing my side to hurt more than anything I've ever experienced. 

"Raeleigh?" Archer said, rushing to my side. 

I let out a groan as the pain in my side deepened. 

"Raeleigh, hold on," My mother said. 

I opened my eyes again to see her rush out the door, Archer kneeling down next to me as she came back in. 

"I told the doctor. She's coming, Raeleigh. She's coming," she mumbled, sitting next to me. 

Archer was holding my hand in his, his soft lips placing small kisses along my fingers. 

"I'm so glad you're awake," my mother said, rubbing a stray hair from my face. 

The doctor walked in now, her eyes wide as she smiled at me. 

"Raeleigh, good to see you awake. I'm Dr. Briggin. Can you remember what happened?" She asked, stepping over and holding my wrist. 

"I- uh. I think," I mumbled, closing my eyes. 

I can see Evan holding the gun, I can hear the gunshots. I was shot by Evan.

"Okay, can you tell me?" She asked, checking my eyes with her bright light. 

"I was shot. Evan shot me," I mumbled, tears coming to my eyes. I wiped them on the back of my hand as I laid my head so that she couldn't see my face. 

I felt Archer's hand leave mine, my heart jumped at the thought of him leaving me. I looked over now to find the nurse taking Archer's space. 

I tried to lean up more now, my side burning. She gave me a sympathetic look as she stepped toward me. 

"That's good, now can you do something for me, Raeleigh? Can you wiggle your toes for me?" She asked, watching as I did. 

"That's good. The nurse will up your Morphine in a minute, I'll give you all some time to talk but the pain killers combined with the trauma will knock you out soon," She mumbled, smiling at my mother. 

Archer's hand found mine again, his eyes red from crying. 

I let my eyes hold onto Archer for as long as they could stay open. I was scared that if I blinked I might lose him. 

"I'm right here, Raeleigh. I'm here," he mumbled, as if reading my mind. 

I let my fingers tighten around his, his lips pressed against my knuckles firmly. 

He was one of the only things that seemed good in this moment. 

Does my father know? Does Jasper know? Where is Jasper?

"Mom?" I called, my mother jumping from her seat. 

"Yes? What's wrong, Raeleigh?" She said, her voice low and frantic. 

I gave her a soft smile, trying my best to keep her calm. 

"Where is Jasper?" I asked, watching her face calm from terrified to just worried. 

"He's with your father. They decided to stay at the house until I could come get him. I didn't want to leave you. Your father... he doesn't know. No one told him it was Evan. He found out when the coroner called Monica," She mumbled, a look coming across her face. 

"I can't say that I hope she feels what I felt when I knew you'd been shot, I hope no one ever feels that. I can't say that I am less than okay with the fact that he isn't breathing anymore. Does that make me a horrible person?" She asked, hiding her eyes in her hands. 

"No, mom. It would only take a terrible person to want an innocent person dead, ruin their life, hurt them over and over. You have never wanted him to be hurt in any way, even when you found out about it being him, you kept your cool. You are the strongest woman I know, and I love you."

She was sobbing into the bed sheets beside me as my eyes got heavy. I can't help but let my eyes flutter closed as the Morphine took over. 

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A//N

Short Chapter I know, sorry for the long wait. 

I appreciate your understanding. Please comment and let me know what you think, feedback would mean the world to me. 

xx, 

Me.