42nd Country Road

Medic!

"Mark... d-did you ever have red hair before?" I asked him touching his black hair.

"No," He answered, "Do you have a doctor or someone with medical experience?" Mark asked.

"Where's Reese?" The man called.

"Right here," A younger man approached.

"Reese here was in his junior year of medical school before it all ended, he'll take care of her," The man said, "My name's Adam, by the way,"

"Thanks, Adam. I'm Mark, this over here is Jack, and this is Ems," Mark responded. Mark set me down and handed me over to Reese. Reese pulled out a needle and poked my neck. I squeaked a bit. Mark's reaction said everything. He always hated it when other people were responsible for me. I fell heavy into Reese's arms.

"Mark?" Reese was calling Mark over. I could smell Mark pick me up. I lost consciousness soon after.

I woke up to a dark room. Yet again, I was wrapped in Mark's arms. I could feel wires and tubes running out of my arm to the floor below the bed. I laid flat on my back and stared at the ceiling with the broken light bulb dangling from it. I heard a voice from down the hallway. It sounded like...Ethan? I got up from the bed ripping the tubes and wires out of my skin. I walked to the door and slowly opened it.

"Ethan?" I said quietly. I felt like I was in a dream. The man turned around. It was only Reese.

"Ev, what are you doing up?" he asked.

"I-I thought I heard someone I knew," I said. He grabbed my arm and ushered me back to Mark and I's bed.

"Oh really?" Reese responded, "Who?"

"My friend Ethan," I replied. Reese put the tubes and wires back into my arm.

"We have an Ethan here, but I doubt he's yours," Reese said

"What does he look like?" I asked suddenly more interested in the conversation.

"Blonde hair, blue eyes, he was a German exchange student at one of the high schools here in town," Reese replied

"Oh," I said, "Thanks Reese," He nodded and left the room. I laid back down and stared at the empty ceiling. I put my hand in the air inspecting my thin fingers and the torn center. Another hand joined mine. I looked over at Mark. His eyes were gazing to the ceiling and a smile broke his lips.

"You know what I love about holding your hand?" He said grabbing my hand gently in his. Our fingers intertwining.

"What?" I smiled at him.

"They are always so soft," He said, "You know what else?"

"What else?" I said still grinning

"I always know that they're yours," He said. We put our hands down. I curled into a ball near his chest. Our noses gently touching. Mark laid there. His brown eyes meeting my green. Our hands were still intertwined with one another.

"Promise me, you won't let go," I whispered. Closing my eyes.

"I promise," He said faintly smiling. I closed my eyes as he pulled me into his warmth.

"I won't ever let go," He said. Those were the last words that I heard before I fell asleep.