Canon

Chapter Twenty-Two

I woke up in the hospital.

When I tried to sit up, I felt dizzy.

As I tried to touch my head, I felt a bandage on the left side of my forehead and a bandage wrapped around my left arm.

What happened?

Oh, right. The taxi I was riding in bumped into something.

What was I doing in the taxi again?

Oh right. Adrian, Carter and I rushed out of the competition to visit Katrina because...

Adrian! Where is he? Is he all right?

I remembered clinging on to him as hard as I could. I remembered his arms all around me... I remembered darkness.

"Adrian? Adrian!" I screamed, even though people stared at me.

"Honey, calm down!" my dad suddenly arrived from who-knows-where, with my mom beside him.

"NO!" I screamed hysterically. My eyes scanned the room for any sign of Adrian. "Dad..." My voice cracked, "Adrian... Where is he?"

"He's very hurt, dear..." My mom began.

"I'M NOT ASKING YOU!" Tears began to well up in my eyes. "Dad..."

"Dear, you see... Adrian tried to protect you..." My dad sat beside me and stroked my hair gently.

"What do you mean?" I was starting to become hysterical again.

"He hit his head, and he's lost a lot of blood..." My dad explained slowly.

I stared at him, mouth and eyes wide open. I let the message sink in, but I didn't want to believe him.

"Where is he?" I asked, but I didn't really want to know the answer.

"He's in the room beside yours, but he's unconcious right now," 

Without even thinking, I ran out of my room despite my father's calls.

There was only one room beside mine, since the other side was already the wall.

I gave a small knock on the door bearing "Adrian Mason" as its patient.

When no one answered, I let myself come in.

And I cried immediately.

Tubes were attached to his body and he was on oxygen support.

He looked so pale and weak. And it's all because of me.

His parents were there and so was Carter. 

Carter had bandages on his arms and right cheek, but otherwise, he looked okay.

"Adrian..." I whispered as I got near.

"He was on the side that was bumped and he covered you with his body so..." Carter was trying his best to explain in way that wouldn't make me guilty, but there is no such way.

"This is all my fault..." Tears streamed down my eyes.

"No Jazz," I felt a hand on my shoulder and a soothing voice. It was Adrian's mother. "He told me all about you. It's not your fault. He only tried to protect you because he loves you so much. Please don't blame yourself,"

I nodded, but I still blamed myself.

I got out of the room and visited Katrina.

"Jazz..." she looked so pale now, just like her brother. "Is it true?"

I merely nodded. I ran to her and hugged her and cried my heart out like a little kid.

"I'm so sorry, Katrina!" I sobbed.