Folktale

Chapter 35

Edward's P.O.V

Two days. 

It's been two days since Bella was shot and she has not woken up, nor is she off the ventilator. Two days of agonizing waiting, praying, trying to keep Toby happy just so he won't notice her absence, but it only has a momentarily effect. He keeps asking for her and I can't let him see her like that. Not this fragile, pale, connected to machines and with a tube down her throat that's the only thing keeping her alive. Family comes and goes, but I stay, sleep by her side, bathe her, hold her hand. 

Currently, it was just Alice and me with Bella. 

"Edward, you should go home and rest," Alice said. "You're exhausted, you haven't since she was brought in and you've been sleeping curled up in a plastic chair. Your neck needs a rest."

I shook my head, laying my head beside Bella's hand. "No, I'm fine." 

There was a short pause and then she sighed. "Fine, I was trying to be nice. You need to go home and take a shower, you stink. I can smell you from across the room. And you need to shave, that scruff has aged you ten years."

"If I leave and she wakes up and I'm not here, I won't be able to forgive myself." 

"I'll be here with her. She won't be alone," Alice assured me. 

I chuckle humorlessly. "No offense, Alice, I get you want to make things right with Bella and I appreciate that and have accepted that. But doesn't know. I don't think you're the first person she wants to see when she wakes up." 

"You're right." She takes her purse from the floor beside her and stands up. "I have to get back to work, but please, Edward, go home and shower. Rest, she'll be okay." 

I give her a small smile and rest my head again near Bella's lap, holding her hand against my chest. Truth is, I am exhausted and I do smell, my neck could use a break but I can't leave her. I need to be here when she wakes up. 

I let my exhaustion take over and fall into a deep sleep... 

* * * 

The first thing I notice is the noise. It was faint at first, but the more constant it became, it became louder and even in my deep state of unconscious I knew what it was. It was the sound of gagging. And the second thing was the grip I found myself in. When I opened my eyes I realized it wasn't my grip, it was Bella's and she was choking on her tube. 

I sprung into action. 

"Nurse, I need a nurse right now!" I shouted as I pressed the call button. Bella's heart rate was too fast, she was scared. I quickly and carefully manage to get the tube out without hurting her as a group of nurses and Dr. Vulturi rush in. 

As soon as the tube is out, she starts coughing, gripping her neck with both hands. The monitor was going crazy and she was trashing on the bed. 

"What happened?" Dr. Vulturi asked as he pinned one of her arms on the bed. "Bella, Bella! It's okay, you're in the hospital. I'm Dr. Vulturi!" 

Bella lets out an agonizing scream. 

"Bella, please!" I pin her second arm to try to prevent her from hurting herself even further. "Love, you need to calm down!" 

"I need a sedative, now!" Dr. Vulturi shouted as he struggled with Bella's other arm. Two other nurses tried to hold her legs still before she could hurt herself even further. 

"I'm on it!" Nurse Lydia shouted back as she injected the sedative into Bella's IV. 

It took five seconds. Just five seconds and Bella's fell limp on the bed, and not once did she open her eyes. I fall back on my chair and let out a deep, exhausted sigh as Dr. Vulturi checks Bella's incisions and Lydia her vitals.