Her

Part Twenty:

"Maddy!" I whisper. I still feel the drugs from the IV, but they have mostly worn off. Now I really feel the pain in every millimeter of my body, it working through my every muscle and making my bones ache for comfort. I try to ease myself into a sitting position, but the plethora of exploding hurt makes me stop, and attempt to just roll on my side.

"Maddox!" I try again. I am extremely worried at this point. But also terrified, and exceedingly embarrassed. The near events of me slurring weird things to Maddox slowly trickle into my reckoning, like sweet molasses on the tongue, just a taste but enough to let me know that I screwed up. Oh please let me remember what I said!  Of course this will probably be the one thing that my brain will just "Oops, I let it slip!". I vaguely remember saying that he should kiss me... and that I love him... and again... and again. Oh Lord  what did I do? I don't know why I said all of that stuff to him. I mean I do, but I don't want to admit it. I can't. But... No. 

He gently stirs, shifting in his sleep. The way the moonlight shines on his face just so makes him look so peaceful. We have been through so much together in just this past week. Or has it been longer? I don't even know what day it is. I just... I feel like I have known him forever. I just connect with him. But he would know me if we had met before, since he remembers everything... I wish we had more time. That we could just freeze the moment. It doesn't have to be all that mushy crush stuff, I just want time to get to know him even more. I want to find out more about his fears, his memories, his family, his future. I want to be in his future, even just as friends. But he lives in a different state. He has his life, and I have mine. I know we are going to have to part ways, and soon. He just, it feels like he has helped me through so much in just this short time.  I don't even know what, it feels like I have just sorted though something. 

"Maddox!!" This time I am at a normal voice, but urgent. He shifts again, but doesn't wake up. I see his expression from peace, change to pain. He starts murmuring, and reaching out. I can't hear him very well but I think he says "Lauryn." His expression deepens and he starts shaking a little, as if he is crying, even though he is asleep. Moving my limbs and body, I shift out of the bed. The pain is so strong and insistent that I feel numb and dizzy. I bite my lip to keep from crying out, but I need to make sure he is okay. I make my way to his bed, each step instilling a new burst of agony in my body. 

I place my hand on his arm and try to shake him, just a little bit. He wakes up with a gasp, and then winces and holds his ribs. Maddy looks back up at me and trys to scoot over a little. I perch on the side of his bed, ignoring the tortuous bursts, and I look at him.

"Maddy."

"Yes? Aurora, it's three in the morning." Suddenly he smirks, and I think he is remembering what I said earlier.

"Then you should obviously use a different name because I am not sleeping, nor a beauty," He mutters liar, but I ignore it,"We have a problem."

"Gee, really? Wow, it is relieving to know we only have one and not the fifty others. My life is solved," He sighs, pantomiming sleep, frustration, love, and so much more, all at once. "What is it, Cinderella?"

"We are in a hospital. As in, we will need to pay bills. As in, they will need to know information about us. Our names, birthdays, family relation, etcetera." I whisper.

"Why are you telling me things I already know?"

"I don't know..." my voice feels small, and I feel like I am closing in on myself. 

"Hey. It's okay. We will sort it out somehow."

We sit in silence for a few moments.

"Hey, Maddy?"

"Yes, Ariel?"

"What is your last name?"

"Layne."

"Okay.

"Why?"

"I don't know. I just... I don't know. Sorry." Why do I feel so small all of the sudden? He sits up a little, closer to me, and looks in my eyes.

"Why are you sorry?"

"I... I don't... I..." I trail off, my words ending because of Maddy. He presses his lips softly against mine, and I lean in. It feels good and oddly familiar, as if I have known it my whole life. But it is over faster than it started, leaving me with that feeling of wanting again, breathless. 

"I meant to to that earlier, when you told me to, Belle." His voice calms me, and I try to bask in this moment because I know this will all be over soon. I stand up, not even feeling the pain, and stumble back to my bed and under the warm covers, in a daze. I press the button for the IV drugs again, and the mixture of the drugs and the kiss are too much. I try to enjoy what will probably be my last life high, for awhile at least.

I soon feel drowsy again, and slurr a goodnight to my knight in shining armor. Maybe I was a damsel in distress. Maybe I let him save me, out of my tower of trouble. But then again, maybe I saved him. But I'm no princess.

I don't want to say goodbye, but all fairy tales have to end eventually.