escape | ethan dolan

backtracking • 17

I had to do it. I had to turn myself into the police.

Silently in my hospital bed, I anxiously wait for the arrival of the police. I need time to clear my head and get my story straight. Because of everything that happened after my accident, it's hard to reminisce all of the details. Turning myself in is the best thing I could do at his point. I can't keep lying, the guilt is eating me up.

I didn't let Aria know what I was doing, all I did was ask to use her phone. After she said "okay", I asked her to get me a drink from the cafeteria. That's when I did it.

"Hello 911, what's your emergency?" The operator had said.

"Hi, my name is Harlowe Williams," I paused and took a deep breath. "I'm the girl that ran away from the orphanage. I'd like the turn myself in," I hadn't noticed but I had been squeezing my eyes shut. I suddenly opened them when I finished my sentence.

"Harlowe, where are you right now?" The operator asked. She had a soft voice, it made me relax. The way she spoke made this whole situation somewhat better.

"I'm at Mercy Hospital. I was... in an accident not too long ago," I hesitated. I couldn't believe I was actually turning myself in. Why was I doing it? I shouldn't be.

I remembered Ethan's face when he came into my room the day I woke up. It was full of sadness, anger, confusion. I was turning myself in so I could save them. I prayed I could save them.

"Harlowe?" The operator spoke again with concern, like she had been trying to get my attention. "Are you still there?"

"Yes, yes, I'm here. Sorry."

"How long have you been at Mercy Hospital?"

"Um," I tried to count the days, which all seemed to lump together in a blur. "I don't... I can't-" My heart began to speed up, all of this was becoming too much for me.

"Okay, Harlowe," She said calmly. "Take a deep breath. I will give you some time to calm down and I'm going to send some officers over later to discuss this. It's going to be okay."

"Thank you," I whimpered, and then heard the click of the phone line being disconnected. I took multiple deep breaths, trying to collect myself before Aria came back.

It has been over two hours since that phone call. Since then, I've just been sitting and thinking. I can't help but let my mind wander to think how messed up this all is. If I hadn't run away in the first place, Grayson would've never gotten hurt. They would still be living the life they were living before me. They would be going places and making videos.

But if I hadn't run away, I wouldn't have met them. My first kiss would've never happened. The feelings I feel for Ethan wouldn't exist. The idea of us- wouldn't exist.

My heart hurts thinking about that. A life without Ethan. The way he was so caring and understanding when I told him what happened to me. The way he promised not to tell anyone. He was so gentle with me. And I ruined it. He hates me now.

But still, no matter how or what he feels towards me, I have to see him. Slowly, I swing my legs to the side of the hospital bed. They feel numb. I realize that my plan might not work if I can't even walk. I'm hesitant to stand up, afraid I might fall right back down, but surprisingly, I'm able to hold my own weight.

I creep towards the curtain that leads to the outside of my room. I can hear the beeping of other monitors, the conversations of the nurses and doctors, and footsteps echoing down the hallways. I peep my head out the side just enough so I can see what's going on. Not many people are near, but there are enough to notice if I walk out of my room unattended. I decide that I just have to wait it out.

A few minutes pass by, and luckily for me, it seems that everyone has disappeared from this wing of the hospital- at least for the time being. I know it won't be long before someone comes back because they won't leave an area unattended for too long, so I know this is my chance to make a move.

I step out from behind the curtain and begin walking when I realize that I don't even know what room number Grayson is being held in. Shit. I think to myself, but I keep moving. I don't think I've ever been so determined for something in my life, besides when I was running away from the orphanage.

As I continue to scurry around the hospital wing, I realize how bad of an idea this was. I begin to head back to my room when I spot someone familiar through one of the glass windows next to the curtain. I look at the room number, which reads 35.

Adrenaline rushes over me. I feel a sense of relief throughout my entire body as I walk quickly towards room 35, and I keep my eyes on Ethan who sits just behind the glass window. He's right there.

Right as I'm about to reach for the curtain, I hear loud, heavy footsteps swarm behind me. There must be three to four people. I can tell that whoever these people are, they have some type of uniform on, because I can hear the clanking and thumping of the boots. The loud footsteps suddenly stop behind me, and everything becomes silent for a moment. The lack of noise sends an overwhelming chill down my spine.

I look over to Ethan, and even he has looked up to see what the commotion was. His eyes search for something once he spots the figures standing behind me. I knew right away that they're police officers. Maybe he's looking for me? I hope he's looking for me. But I'm too close to the curtain and too far from the glass window next to it. I'm just out of sight.

I want to shout and tell him that I'm right here, only a few centimeters away from where his eyes are looking, but I don't even have to. He's now this standing and looking right at me.

"Ethan," I mouth quietly to him, wanting nothing more than to feel his touch right in this moment. He knew exactly why the police were here and what was about to happen. "I had to do it."

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HEY BABES how are you???? sorry its been taking me so long to update and i still have to edit this chapter lmao but its only a few minor things❤️ love you and don't forget to comment and vote🥰