Chapter 18
“Annabel...”
I didn’t know if I had really heard my name or it was just my mind playing games with me. I was trying really hard to open my eyes, but they felt so heavy.
Someone was holding my hand, and there was something resting on my stomach. I could feel the pressure from the weight, but I didn’t know what it was.
“Wake up. Come on, I know you can. You just moved. I didn’t imagine that.”
It was Aaron. His voice sounded distant, but it was there.
I tried to pick up my hand, to run it through his hair, but I couldn’t.
“I’m sorry,” he said, just before I drifted off.
My breathing was leveled, and I was fighting with myself to wake up. My throat felt really dry and I desperately needed a drink of water.
After slowly managing to crack my eyes open, I found myself in a dimly lit room. I took a moment to inspect my surroundings, before my eyes landed on Aaron.
He was asleep in a recliner chair right next to the bed. I couldn’t tell what time it was, but it was dark outside. Only a nightlight right behind my bed was lit on. The rest of the room was enveloped in darkness.
I was about to get up to use the bathroom, when Aaron opened his eyes.
“You’re awake!” He said and a bright smile took over his lips.
It was then when I noticed one of his legs was in a cast. His movements made the light hit his face, and I was able to see bruises around his eyes, which looked red and puffy. There was a small white band on the bridge of his nose, which was also bruised.
I could see few other bruises in his arms. No doubt there was more hidden under his clothes.
“Hey,” I said with a croaky voice.
“Are you thirsty?” He asked.
Aaron pulled out a bottle of water from his backpack, which was resting right next to his broken leg.
“I bought this one earlier,” he said, bringing up the bottled water. “It’s room temperature, but it should be good either way. They brought your dinner, even though you were asleep, but they took it back when they went around picking up the trays.”
“It’s fine,” I told him, gratefully taking the water from him.
He didn’t let go of the water though. Aaron helped me take a few sips. I was thankful that he hadn’t let go. My arms felt really weak, something that I hadn’t noticed until I picked them up.
“How do you feel?” Aaron asked, caressing the side of my face and then tangling his hand through my hair.
“I’m okay, I think,” I replied, unsure of how to feel about anything.
“Your parents are here.”
“They are?”
“Well, not here in the hospital, but they arrived early this morning. Your dad had to take your mom away. Nurses said you couldn’t have overnight visitors or something like that,” he shrugged.
I raised an eyebrow, only to have him grin at me.
“I’m still checked in here. I’m in the floor above this one, but I snuck in your room about two or three hours ago,” he said, his grin growing wider.
