A New Beginning • Emmerdale

Chapter 30: "I Don't Feel Safe Anymore"

Joe's POV

i paced back and forth down the long plain hallway in the hospital, but this time i wasn't here for sarah. but for kennedy. i was lucky i found her in time, the images will never leave my memory, her lying on the ground lifeless before the guy who hit her jumped back into his car and sped off before i could reach him. it all seemed too surreal, i couldn't loose her. not now, not ever.

"you may see her now" the nurse said as she exited kennedy's room, giving me a small smile before returning her focus to her clipboard before walking off.

i eagerly headed over towards the entrance to the ICU, i hesitated. both my hands on the door, i couldn't bring myself to open it, not wanting to see the state she was in. she barely made it, and i don't think i wanted to see her battered and beaten body knowing it would kill me as soon as i laid my eyes on her.

after a few minutes, i regained my strength and pushed open the doors. my eyes instantly watered as i looked at my girl laying lifeless on the hospital bed, an oxygen tube in her mouth, bruises and cuts all over her face. i couldn't stand seeing her like this.

Kennedy's POV

it's all weird, i can hear but i can't move or speak, i can't remember much. i can hear people faintly talking outside, a certain voice sounded familiar but i couldn't put my finger on who it belonged to.

my throat felt like it was slowly closing up, i felt like i could hardly breathe. i don't know what was going on.

THIRD PERSON POV

joe awoke to a hand shaking his shoulder gently. he looked up to see her nurse stood above him.

"sorry to disturb you mr tate, we believe that miss dingle is suffering from a concussion, she may suffer from headaches, dizziness and possibly some memory loss" she gave joe a sad smile before removing the tube from her mouth.

joe zoned out completely, thoughts flooding his brain. will she remember what happened? will she remember anything from before hand? will she remember people? her parents? family? him?

he had never been so worried, his main focus was now trying to find out who did it. he gazed out the room door seeing two police officers who were waiting for kennedy to wake up to get her statement.

two hours later

joe's head snapped in the direction of the bed hearing stirs from the girl on the bed, he instantly jumped up grabbing her hand crouching so he's eye level with kennedy.

"what happened" she choked out, her throat evidently dry.

"you were hit by a car sweetheart" joe said gently rubbing her hand, her face scrunched up and she pulled her hand away.

"are you my doctor?" she said innocently fiddling with her jumper sleeves. joe's face dropped as he held back his tears.

"no, no i'm not" he backed up at sat back down in the chair looking in his lap.

"then who are you?" she furrowed her eyebrows squinting at him expecting a good answer of why this random guy was in her room.

"i'm joe, look are you okay? you know.. after everything" he questioned due to her extremely pale face and her constant fidgeting.

"i don't remember anything, i just have a horrible feeling.... i don't feel safe anymore" she confessed, looking toward the wall in embarrassment, not wanting to sound stupid.

"look, i'm not leaving your side. as long as i'm here, you're safe" he hesitates before grabbing her hand again, she gives him a confused look but let's it slide and allows him to hold her hand. for a reason, she felt safe around him, she just couldn't put her finger on why. she just knew.