My Complicated Love Life

Chapter 6: Raised From the Dead,

Or was it. It felt like someone had just brought me back from the dead, and put oxygen back in my lungs. I started coughing until my throat was sore. 

"She's alive!" someone yelled. I slowly opened my eyes. Luna, Lacy, and Jade were standing over me, smiles on their faces. I sat up, "Oww." I screamed. 

It felt like a giant blade was stuck in my back, as it streamed with blood. I looked to my right. There was Hunter, just as drenched as I was. His lips were pink, I don't know why, and don't care. I was just glad that I wasn't dead. 

"How did I end up here? I thought I was dead." I asked, every word slowly putting my back in more pain. "Everyone was looking for you, since you didn't come to diner. And when I came back down to the lake, I noticed something floating in the water." Hunter explained "So, I went underwater and realized you were drowning. And pulled up to shore." 

"The part he's not telling you is that he tried to give you CPR." Lacy replied. "Really?" I asked. Everyone nodded. "Gross." I yelled. "All that aside, we need to get you to a hospital. Your back is covered in blood." Jade remarked.

Just at the mention of blood I started feeling queasy. "Okay." I said, slightly light headed. Hunter and Jade pulled me up, and helped me walk to the infirmary. If nearly drowning didn't kill me, blood pouring from my back definitely would.

My back was covered with blood, and the only thing Mr. Clark did was wrap a large band-aid around my torso. What was that gonna do to stop the blood? 

"It's okay Ms. Smith. There should be an ambulance should be here soon." Mr. Clark told me. Hunter ran through the door, still dripping wet. 

"The ambulance is here." he announced. "Mr. Payne, you should go to. You took in a lot of water and Ms. Smith needs a friend at the hospital." Mr. Clark said. He tightened the band-aid, helped me get on the stretcher. 

Hunter followed close behind me, keeping his hands as far away from me as he possibly could. The paramedics and EMT loaded me into the ambulance, and drove to the ER.

"I don't want to die like this." I mumbled. And of course, I didn't realize that Hunter was close enough to actually hear me. 

"Who said you are gonna die?" he asked. He was sitting in one of the hospital chairs that were on the right side of me. "I'm just saying in case there's nothing the doctors can do to save me." I told him. 

He stood up, looked over me, and grabbed my hand. This didn't feel as weird as I thought it would, probably because Hunter was holding my hand for comfort and moral support, not because he liked me, at least I don't think he did. 

"You're not gonna die Phoenix. Not yet." he said "You have a whole life ahead of you, waiting for you to get there." "Thanks Hunter." I replied, slowly wrapping my hand tighter around Hunter's.

The one thing that worse than drowning, is feeling every drop of blood spilling out of you back. And trust it's probably the most painful feeling on earth. 

"Aah.... I can't breathe." I screamed. "It's okay miss, we will be at the hospital in less than five minutes." an EMT said. I screamed again. "Phoenix it's okay. I'm here with you." Hunter said. He still had his hand wrapped around mine. "Thanks." I mouthed to him. 

I know you might be thinking, 'Hunter has a crush on you.' But maybe he was holding my hand because he wanted me to feel comfort as I am on the verge of death. Which was the reason I was fine with it. 

Hunter smirked at me, his eyebrows doing a weird quirk like they usually do. I smiled back, as you do. I was happy that Hunter was here with me of all people. The last thing I remember was smiling at Hunter, gripping his hand. I'd peacefully drifted off to sleep.

I woke up in a lit room filled with doctors and nurses. All of which were frantically running around screaming. 

It was kind of weird watching adults in a nervous state of mind. My parents only did that when I severely injure myself, which happens about twice a month. I was attached to four different containers of fluid, two of them filled with blood. 

"Where is he?" I asked furiously. "Where is who darling?" one of the nurses asked. "Hunter. The boy who came here with me." I stuttered. "Oh yes. He is outside, worrying himself about you." the nurse replied. "Can I see him?" I asked her. "Umm.. Sure, I'll send him in." she responded.

I waited for Hunter to come in, and after what felt like many moons, he finally arrived. 

"Hey Phoenix," he said "Are you feeling any better?" I nodded. "Considering that I almost drowned, then I found out I had a giant, bloody hole in my back. Yes, I'm doing just fine." I said. Hunter sat down on the bed, he grabbed my hand and squeezed it. Thankfully there were no nurses in the room, otherwise this would've looked so weird. 

"How long have I been here?" I asked. "We just got here yesterday evening, and I was talking with the doctor and he said you should able to come back to camp next week. If the surgery goes well." Hunter explained. 

"What.... What surgery?" I asked. "It's so they can patch up your back, so you don't have a giant slit in it." Hunter told me. "Oh, that sounds... pleasant.." I stated sarcastically. 

"Well, at least you're not dead like you said you would be." Hunter said. "You insist on bringing that up now," I said as a snarky remark 

"How do I know that the doctors and surgeons will be able to perform the surgery in a way that does not end in me dead." A tear streamed down my face. "I'm sorry if I jinxed it Phoenix. I don't want you to die, you don't deserve to die." Hunter apologized. 

"I like that about you." I mumbled. "What?" Hunter asked. "I like that you think about others not just yourself. That you apologize for stuff that you don't need to apologize for." I told him. 

"I only apologize because most of the time it's my fault." Hunter said. "How is this your fault?" I asked. "Had I stayed with you down at the tree you would have never drowned. You wouldn't be here. And it's my fault." he explained. 

This hit me hard. Like someone had purposely thrown a baseball at my gut. Suddenly, the door swung open. A doctor, surgeon, and about five nurses entered. They stopped and realized that I was having a private conversation with Hunter, which definitely didn't help the current situation. 

"Hello Ms. Smith." the surgeon said, "We are about to begin the surgery. So, your friend can stay and watch or go back out to the waiting room." I looked at Hunter. His eyes were as shattered as glass, but he didn't move a muscle. "I'll stay with her for moral support." he stuttered.