Emmalin
Saltwater lagoon. Our own personal oasis. Pure heaven. I floated deeper down, feeling my hair spread out around me. The water felt great. I could stay here all day. There weren't problems here. You were free here. Everything felt right.
"Enjoying yourself, love?" I smiled, turning toward Grayson, and froze. His body that floated next to me was gray in color. His skin had started to decay.
"I told you I would kill him." I jumped as I turned around to see Carson on the other side of me, smiling.
I sat up, gasping for air. A gentle hand grasped my shoulder.
"Ms. Ross? Ms. Ross, you're okay. You're in a safe place."
I looked at the unfamiliar place, then looked around the room. "Where am I?"
She smiled. "You were brought in by ambulance after you passed out. Can you tell me the last thing you remember?"
I tried to piece together the last thing few hours of my foggy memory. "I was visiting a friend."
She nodded but gave me a stern look and sighed. "Ms. Ross, you came in with a mild concussion and a broken rib, as well as some bruises around your neck that resembled finger prints." I reached for my neck. "Ms. Ross, do you feel like you're in any danger in your home?" My head shot up. I knew what this looked like, and it killed me that Tyler, and now this doctor, was labeling Grayson as being the domestic abuser.
I hardened my eyes. "No, Doctor. My boyfriend is not abusing me." She didn't look convinced.
"Can you tell me the date of your last period?"
I paused, trying to think. "My periods have always been abnormal due to birth control, so I don't have an exact date."
She nodded. "Here's a prescription for the pain you'll have from the broken rib. Just take it easy; you'll have some discomfort. Just follow up with your primary care physician. Is there someone that can watch over you the next few days?" I nodded, thinking she had no idea how Grayson was. He would stop the world if he could. Grayson. I needed to call him. I also knew I wasn't prepared for it.
"Ms. Ross, your lab results should be in within a half hour." I nodded as she left the room. I moved to get off the bed, and winced as I shrugged off the hospital gown. I hated hospitals. I could rest at home. I got dressed as best I could, pushing through the pain, and walked out into the hallway. I gripped the wall as nausea overcame me, and leaned against it for support.
"Emmalin?" I looked up into the eyes of Molly, with Tyler closely behind her, and Hawkins close on his heels.
"What the hell are you doing out here?" Tyler gently tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. Even when pissed, he showed he cared. I sighed.
"I wanted to leave." He shook his head. "No. Not until you're given the all clear, Emmalin." Hospitals gave me anxiety. I needed to leave. I peered over his shoulder looking at the exit door. I felt myself starting to panic as he guided me back toward my room. "We'll be right out here, okay?" I nodded as I walked further into the room. The nurse walked in a few minutes later. "Ms. Ross, you should lie down."
I shook my head. I could feel my anxiety going through the roof. "I need to leave."
She smiled and grabbed the remote. "Perhaps some TV would make you feel better?"
Is this bitch blind? I was two seconds from ripping her head off. I took the remote from her and threw it across the room and it shattered against the wall. I had her attention now. "You don't understand. I'm leaving." I grabbed my bag.
"Ms. Ross, I strongly advise you stay. It's not safe for someone that's suffered a concussion. The doctor also wanted to go over your test results. I can see you’re upset; perhaps the doctor can give you something to calm down."
I gritted my teeth. "I'm leaving AMA, with or without the doctors permission, and I certainly don't need yours." I shrugged out of her grip, heading back to the hallway, and made sure to go the opposite direction of the waiting room. Tyler would make me stay. If I stayed, I would lose it, and I was already well on the way. I headed for the stairwell and kept going until I was outside. The cold burned my lungs, but I didn't care. As long as I wasn't in there, I felt free. I could breathe again. I slumped against the brick wall, trying to catch my breath. I was tired. So fucking tired. I dug through my purse, looking for my phone. I needed Grayson. I needed to at least hear his voice. I had to tell him I was sorry, and that I tried. I looked at my phone. Dead. I laughed. Of course it was. I walked gingerly to the streets and hailed a cab home. At least I could wrap myself in bed that smelled like him.