Her Escape, His Safe Haven

Chapter 56- Call A Code

Yes, same song two chapters in a row :)

Eli's POV

She's okay. Well, not okay, but she's okay. Okay enough for now. 

We can't see her yet, something about wanting to reduce the risk for infection? I don't know exactly. I may have stopped focusing after he said she made it through surgery. 

I just want to see her. I need to see her. I need to touch her. I need to know that she's really okay. I need to know she didn't leave me. 

I don't deserve to see her. I don't deserve to look into her beautiful hazel eyes. I don't deserve for her to look at me with love, the way she always does. I don't deserve to hold her. I did this. I put her here. I endangered her, and I can never take that back.

How did I think I could be good enough to keep her safe? How was I so delusional, that I thought if I wanted it enough, she would just be safe? 

"This is my fault." I told dad while we were sitting outside of her room, waiting to be able to see her. "She's here because of me." 

"Don't do that to yourself kid. You know that if you had the ability, if you knew what was gonna happen, you would have done everything in your power to stop it." He urged. "She would be so mad at you for blaming yourself. Don't give her anything else to stress about. Just, be there. Help her get better." I nodded. 

I can do that. I can be there for her. For her, I don't deserve to be there for me. I will spend my life making this up to her. I will do anything and everything in my power to right what I have done. 

I never should have let Beatrice's get this far. I should have done more to make her understand that her and I would never be anything. I should have done more to prevent this.

"Is she okay?" I heard. I shot my head towards the voice and saw my best friend tugging his girlfriend over to dad and me. "Is she okay dude?" He asked again before pausing. He looked at my face and he paled. His features twisted into a look of sheer devastation. I must look amess.

"We can't see her yet. The doctor is worried about infection. She made it through surgery, but they don't know if or when she'll wake up." Dad answered the lingering question when he noticed me just staring at the two. 

I opened my mouth to say something to them, but nothing came out. I just stared at them. I know what she means to them. I know what she means to everyone. She's this force that has impacted our lives in a way she will never understand. 

"She'll be okay, remember she's strong. So much stronger than any of us." Savannah insisted through her tears.

"Dad?" We heard a tentative voice from behind Mark and Savannah. "What's going on?" She asked confused by all of the sadness she was seeing. Dad didn't want someone else to tell her what was going on so he had Tanya's mom drop her off saying dad wanted to see her. "Eli?" She questioned. Then as if it clicked, recognition registered on her soft face "Where is she?" She asked biting back tears of worry.

"Sweet girl, come here." Dad called her to sit between us. She walked hesitantly to the empty seat before lowering herself to sit down. "Something happened at school today." He started and paused. I noticed his eyes become glassy. He's hurting by all of this too. He's trying to be strong, but I know how much he loves Athena. How much she has done for him. For us.

"Just tell me dad." She insisted boldly. 

"It's bad, sweet girl." She gulped and nodded slightly, telling him to continue. "Someone went to her school today and they brought a gun." She gasped knowing where this was going but she didn't say anything. "Deliah, Athena was shot." Dad said and I felt my heart break all over again at hearing the words once again.