I woke up to a beeping sound and bright lights overhead. Stereotypical hospital right? I groaned and shifted over to my side, only to be stopped by a pain in my chest. What happened?
It was then that I noticed the sleeping boy sitting in the chair next to me. He had longish black hair swept to the right and was wearing a black and white checkered hoodie with skinny jeans. He had light skin, almost pale. And he was...holding my hand?
I looked down at our intertwined hands in confusion. Who was he? Why was he here? What happened?
A nurse walked in and when she saw us together she smiled.
"My name's Mrs. Joyle. He your boyfriend?"
I shook my head back and forth slowly. "I don't know who he is. Do you? And do you know what happened to me?"
She looked at me sympathetically and said, "It'd be best if he told you dear."
The room was silent for the next few minutes. The clock on the wall said it was three in the morning. All that I could hear was the nurse messing with medical equipment and the ticking of the clock.
The nurse was running a few tests when the boy woke up. He yawned and opened his eyes. He immediately turned his head to face me and smiled when he saw me.
"Hey," he said with a kind smile, his green eyes sparkling. Those eyes...where had I seen them?
"Hi..." I whispered, looking down at my lap.
The nurse looked at me knowingly before leaving the room. The boy looked down at our hands, blushing. But he didn't let go.
"My name's Xavier. What about you?"
I looked up at him and responded with , "Dakota."
It was quiet for a few minutes until he spoke again. "Why did you do it?" he asked, his smile disappearing and his bright green eyes dulling.
"Do what?"
"You don't remember?" I shook my head no, so he continued.
"You were standing on the roof of an apartment building with a gun to your chest. I yelled at you to stop, but you shot yourself..." He looked down at his shoes, black converse, and I looked at my lap again.
I remember now.. those green eyes...the rain...the city lights...it was September 14...Dax's death anniversary.
"I remember now..."
"Why? Why would a girl as beautiful as you do such a thing?"
"Thanks, but I'm not. And why do you care?"
"You are. Trust me. And because I've been where you are. I want to help you," he said with a sad smile.
"Bullies. Parents. Life. ''Brother's'' death anniversary."
He looked at me before reaching over and burying his head in my long black hair. Hugging me. He was hugging me.
I slowly hugged back, unsure of what to do. Nobody had touched me in months unless it was abusively. It felt...nice.
"I'll protect you. I'll pick up the pieces, make sure your safe...I promise."
