Hostages

twenty five

- Louis -

My eyes blinked open, slowly and lazily. They refused to fully open so I let them squint out from the harsh lighting. I struggled to catch the air that hung in front of me. Finally, it came to me and I caught my breath, coughing loudly. I checked out my surroundings. I was in a hospital?

I moved my head. A sharp and exorting pain seized in my left shoulder, burning with an agonizing pain. I coughed again but it only hurt twice as bad. I cried out, my eyes darting in all different directions. The doctor in the room turned to me with a smile.

"Good, you're awake." He greeted with a fake, plastic smile that didn't move me very well. He was older, obviously experienced. That rested me a little.

"Where am I? What happened? Where's Andrea?" I managed to croak with a quiet voice. It was extremely hard to breathe right now. I didn't like how uncomfortable this made me.

"Mr. Tomlinson," he spoke, firmly, and the smile fell. "We're going to have to ask you to remain calm for a moment."

"Oh no," the words fell from my mouth, the beginning of tears stung in the back of my eyes. "She's dead, isn't she?"

The doctor shook his head, "Oh no. Miss Chalmers is fine. She wasn't hurt. Came out with some bruising and scratches, but nothing serious."

The stranger doctor pulled out his clipboard, scribbling something down. He paced over, pressing a stethoscope to my chest. I don't understand why he would do that, considering the heart rate monitor was on and working fine.

"Then can I please speak with her?" I added, asking the doctor but it was more of an order. I needed to see her. She was the only thing on my mind when I was out. She was the only thing on my mind before I was out. She was the only thing on my mind after I woke up. I just want Andrea.

"Mr. Tomlinson, please, we just need you to relax for a moment as I ask you a couple questions." He instructed, sitting down in a chair next to me, preparing to write. I nodded and gulped a knot down my throat. "What do you last remember?"

I tried to think back to what had last happened to me. My memories were clouded and hard to see through, but I managed to make out an image. "Well, I was at this barn with my kidnapper. I remember him telling me about this hour glass he had and then the police came. He walked out but I couldn't hear what was going on. Then he came back in, hauled me out, and held a gun to my chest. And then everything went black."

The doctor nodded. "Okay good," he paused, noting on the papers, "and how are you feeling?"

"I have a massive headache and can hardly breathe, I'm also really exhausted. Can I please see Andrea now?" I asked again, desperation slightly hinted in my tone. I just want Andrea.

"Mr. Tomlinson, you are a very rare case you know. You were shot in the shoulder, very, very close to your heart, and ended up surviving. That doesn't happen often." He admired, proudly. "May I ask how did you keep yourself going?"

I gave a small smile. "Andrea," my smile only grew as I spoke her name. "She's on my mind both day and night. Whether I'm breathing or not, I can't stop thinking about her."

The doctor grinned. "Let me go grab her for you." He said, turning, and exiting, leaving me alone in the hospital room.

I was left for just two minutes until the doctor came back and grabbed his clipboard. "I'll leave you two alone." He whispered, departing.

Andrea stood in the doorway. Tears streaked her cheeks, her mouth slightly parted. She looked lost, broken, and hurt. She looked better than she did yesterday and I could tell she showered and cleaned up. But the bruises still shimmered and sheered on her body.

I managed a weak smile at the beautiful woman that stood there with such elegance. She started to cry, running into the room and threw her arms around me. She cried into me and it hurt a hell lot but her touch somehow made it all feel better.

"Shh," I whispered, attempting to soothe her. "It's okay. I'm okay now. The doctors fixed me right up."

Andrea sat up, looking at me but didn't pull back. She leaned her forehead on mine and choked out words, "I'm just so happy you're alive. I thought you were dead, Louis." She choked, tears running down her cheeks. The sound of her name making my heart beat a little harder.

The weak smile remained on my cheeks. "You're the one who kept me breathing, Andrea." I confessed, making her smile more. She probably thought I was just being sappy but no, it was true.

"Louis there's something I have to tell you before I can't again." Andrea spoke, concern in her voice, and her smile faded. She pulled back which made my heart sadden a little.

"Is everything okay?" I asked her looking at her, showing I was giving her my full attention. I gave her a little worried look. I would reach out to her and hug her but I'd rather not. I might really die this time.

She sighed. "I don't know how else to say it so I'm just gonna come right out and say it." Her words making my heart rate faster and faster, the monitor not keeping up to pace. Now I can understand why the doctor used a stethoscope.  "Louis, I..." She trailed off, biting her bottom lip. "I'm in love with you."

My heart stopped. In a good way.

"Ever since the first day I saw you in that advanced grade ten math class, I have never been able to get you off my mind. I think about you all the time. You make me crazy, Louis. Crazy for you. I don't understand why I never told you before but I am now and it feels so much better to get off my chest." She continued, piling all of this on me.

I was speechless. This has been everything I dreamed of. Maybe I really am dead. Maybe I did actually die and this is just heaven.

"Please say something," she said, a little bit of scarce in her voice. She started chewing on her fingers, obviously nervous.

"Andrea," I chuckled, my heart swelling so big I thought it was going to burst. "I love you too."