Page 27

The sound of machines beeping echo loudly in my ears. “Sweetie, try not to panic, the nurse is coming.”

Unsure of what is happening, I try not to panic, even though I can hear lots of muffled voices, but I can’t make out what they are saying. My head is all fuzzy. I open my eyes, but I can’t see properly, my vision’s blurred.

“Oh, thank God,” I hear my mom say, and I try to respond, but my throat hurts too much. I blink repeatedly, hoping to clear my vision. It helps a little, and I can nearly make out my mom's face. I lift my hand up to her when I notice my wrist is bandaged, what the hell? I scan around me panicking, where am I?

Mom must notice my discomfort as she grabs my hand. “It’s okay, Raine, you're okay,” she whispers as she kisses my hand, and I lean back and close my eyes as I have a pounding headache, and it hurts when I breathe, because my throat is on fire.

I must have fallen asleep, because when I open my eyes again, my mom is not beside me. My vision has cleared, so I sit up, taking in my surroundings. It looks like I’m in a hospital, Mom and Dad are asleep on chairs at the end of the room in the corner. Ever so carefully, I try to get up, but stop when I hear a voice from the opposite corner to my Mom and Dad. “No, Sweetheart, don’t get up yet, you need to rest.”

“Don?” I say, my voice hoarse and cracked.

“Yes, I’m here, Sweetheart, you didn’t think you could get rid of me that easily, did you?” He says with a smirk as he walks over to me. Lovingly, he caresses my hair, as he lays me back down with a kiss to my forehead. “You have to take it easy,” he says, pulling up a chair and sitting beside my bed, he takes my hand in his and gently strokes. “Do you remember anything, Sweetheart?”

“J-ac-k…” I try to respond but he cuts me off.

“No, don't try to speak, it’s too soon, just nod.” So, I nod at him.

“So, you remember?” I nod again. Unexpectedly, it’s like a dam burst and everything that happened comes to me at once, my tears come in the form of a flood and I’m unable to stop them. Don climbs up on the bed beside me and cradles my cheeks in his hands, kissing me, he whispers, “He won’t get away with this.” I nod, trying my best to stop the waterworks, but I can’t. I’m defeated and hurt. I trusted Jack, I have known him my whole life. I loved him and that hurts me more than the injuries I’m suffering from. Don lays down fully beside me and gently pulls me into him, kissing me on the top of my head. “Get some sleep, Sweetheart.”

A while later, I wake up to someone clearing their throat. Opening my eyes, I see my mom standing over me. “How are you feeling?” She says lovingly, taking a seat in the chair beside me. “Your dad went to get coffee; he won’t be long.”

“Mom, I love you,” I respond, my voice still coming out hoarse, but nowhere near as painful as it was.

“I know, Sweetie, and you know me and your dad love you more than anything else in this whole world. If we knew…” her voice breaks and tears form in her eyes.

“No…no…it’s not your fault,” I croak out as I attempt to sit up, but something is holding me down. Discreetly, I glare over and see Don fast asleep; he’s so handsome, he makes my heart flutter.

Just as I go to wake him, my mom stops me, “Leave him, he hasn’t had much sleep these past few days.”

“Days?” I say, confused.

“Yes, Sweetie, you've been here for three days already, he hasn’t left your side. He was out of his mind with worry.”

“Yes, the poor guy,” my dad chimes in, as he comes into view by the doorway. A big smile covering his face as he walks up to stand next to Mom, holding four cups.

“Dad,” I say, tearing up again. Carefully placing the cups down, he leans in and kisses my forehead.

“How are you feeling?”

“As good as I can be,” I shrug, as Dad passes me a cup and I take a sip. It burns like hell when I try to swallow, like a fire burning in my throat. “Shit, that hurts,” I grimace, putting the cup down.

“Sorry, Sweetie, I didn’t think,” my dad says, a worried glare shines from his eyes. As I go to speak again, I feel movement from beside me.

“Morning,” Don groans, rubbing his eyes, and sitting up.

“Good morning, Donovan,” my mom replies, and from out of the corner of my eyes, I can see my dad gently coaxing Mom out of her seat, a hint of amusement in his expression.

“Come on, let's give them a moment,” he says to her, smiling at me and Don.

Don nods at them and with a husky voice he says, “Howard, Rose.” They both nod back and smile, grabbing their cups as they head out. Once they get to the doorway, my mom takes my dad’s hand in hers, and looking up at him lovingly she says, “I’m so glad they found each other, aren’t you?”

“Did you hear that?” I say with a croak, glancing at Don.

“I did,” he replies, grinning smugly at me, as he pulls me down to lie down with him. We sit silently in each other's arms, surrounded in comfort. In this intimate moment, I can’t help but feel that this is the most incredible feeling ever.

The nurse comes in a few minutes later; she silently cuts her eyes at Don but doesn’t ask him to move. She gives me a full work up, telling me everything is healing well and that I will be discharged in a couple of hours. A knot of anxiety forms in my stomach at the thought of going back to my apartment. I hate it, I hate this feeling. I love my apartment, and because of Jack I don't want to return. Unexpectedly, or maybe because he can sense how unsettled I am, Don asks me to go back to his house. He tells me that he has already had a discussion with my parents about it.

He goes on to tell me Jack has not been found yet. He thinks that Jack is on the run. The police and Don’s men are looking for him, but haven’t found anything yet. He explains that it will be safer for me at his house, as he has security in place, he even offered my parents to stay but they refused. Even in the state I’m in, this man still sends my heart racing. I bite back the urge to straddle him and take him right here and now, but sadly it’s not the time or place. I wish it was though.

When my parents return, we tell them that I’m getting discharged in a couple of hours and will be staying at Don’s. They seem to approve, and even offer to head by my apartment. They discuss with Don what items I will need, and their smiles and laughter fill the room. I can’t help but notice how much they seem to enjoy his company, it genuinely warms my heart at their connection.