Their Little Princess

Chapter 19

Waking up scared and alone is one of the worst feelings in the world. It's a cold, deep pain that creeps into your bloodstream. It takes over every nerve and causes burning, stabbing pain. You can't do anything about it. It's there until someone or something takes it away.

I shot awake from a cold sweat. My breath was out of my lungs and I couldn't catch it. The oxygen in the room seemed to be non-existing. My hands were shaking and my heart was beating out of my chest. I wanted to crawl out of my skin. All I heard was a high-pitched ringing and a faint sound of someone screaming. I didn't realize it was me who was screaming. My shaking hands grabbed my ears, trying to stop anything. My eyes refused to open, scared of seeing the man that haunts my dreams. Lights shined on my closed eyes making the pounding headache worse. Hands grabbed mine and tried to pull them away from my head. Blurred voices surrounded me and I couldn't tell what was happening. Coldwater touched my head and my eyes shot open. Nurses surrounded me and I didn't see any of the boys. The cold water was the result of one of the nurses putting a cold towel on my head.

"Calm down sweetie." One of the other nurses told me in a motherly voice. It brought tears to my eyes. She reminded me of my mother and how she used to calm me down. The nurse had short brown hair. She was pretty tall and was in shape. She looked like she could snap me with her fingers. She looked young. In her late 20's or early 30's. That nice nurse came over and tried to ease me back down on the bed. As she came closer and put her hands on my shoulders I flinched and shrieked.

"What are you doing?" I asked, panicking once again. She was quick to give me room.

"You just need to relax sweetie." She then looked at everyone in the room and realized how much stress everyone in here is putting on me. "I can take it from here guys. Thank you." They all gave her the "are you sure?" look. She just nodded and they slowly left the room. The nurse then grabbed a chair and set it next to my bed. Before she sat down, she came over to my bed. She reached out for me again and I let her this time. She gently guided me back on the bed and rubbed my shoulder a little. "Hello sweetie, my name is Paige. Can you tell me your name?" I looked at her and took a shaky breath.

"M-M-My name is B-B-Bri." I stuttered out from the stress. She gave me a huge warm smile and grabbed my shaking hand.

"I love that name! I have always wanted to name my daughter that name." It was my turn to return a smile. "I'm sorry you had to wake up to everyone around you." I just shrugged and shivered. I reached up with my other hand and removed the cloth from my head. Paige was quick to take it from my hand. "I'm so sorry dear. You must be freezing." She got up and took the cloth and put it in the waste bin. She then came over and draped a blanket that the boys must have left here over me.

"Thank you," I whispered out. She gave me another award-winning smile. She came over and sat next to me again.

"Do you know what I do Bri?" Paige asked while looking at me.

"You're a nurse?" She smiled at me and shook her head. I started to get nervous again and started to scratch my hand. She was quick to grab my hands in both of hers.

"No need for that honey." She rubbed her thumb over my hands. "I am actually a psychiatrist. I was called here because of your dad actually. He was very worried about you. How do you feel about talking to me about things?" I looked at her shocked. I wasn't sure how to feel about that. I am so happy he cared about me but he also didn't talk to me about it. I know he wants me to be okay but I thought I was. Do I look like I'm struggling? I was cut out of my thoughts by Paige squeezing my hand a little bit. "Hey, talk to me. What's on your mind?"

"Um, I'm sorry. I have never done this before."

"Don't worry about it." Paige's calm voice soothed me.