Chapter 45
Avidya
Thirty-six hours after I had first woken up in the hospital bed, I was now nearly crawling out of my skin. I needed out of this room. I needed to see my husband-to-be.
I wasn’t able to walk on my leg, and given the pain that any pressure that was put on it, I didn’t want to. Using crutches was out of the question with my broken arm, as was a shower.
Man, I so wanted a shower.
I was able to wash my hair, pretty good one handily if I said so myself. Jonas had been the one that had helped me dry and brush it out as Travis had been sent out to rest. Not sure what good that would have done. Travis would just go home. Maybe take a shower and change clothes, but he wouldn’t sleep.
I didn’t want to sleep either, but the pain meds I was now on still made me tired. Not nearly as tired as the morphine, but tired enough I could easily sleep every single waking moment. That could also do to the fact that a nurse was constantly coming in to check my charts and IV.
Today, the IV was removed, and about time. I was able to keep food down and learned how to move around somewhat with one arm and leg. Sucked I couldn’t get in and out of bed very well on my own, but at least in a few weeks, I’d be able to move around more.
I had looked at my reflection in the mirror after going to the bathroom after my hair was washed. The tinted red in the water from my makeshift bath was enough to give me shivers. My hair was still stained red in spots from all the blood.
A cut along my cheek was stitched with four black lines. My once bright eyes were dull and tired. Other parts of my body were also covered in bruises and cuts, but I would heal in the end. I was happy to be able to wear some real clothes that were more comfortable.
Currently, I was wearing one of Zachariah’s shirts that buttoned up, knowing I couldn’t have gotten my arm cast into anything else too well. I also wore a pair of his boxer shorts so I could have some dignity while my leg was wrapped. It was better than wearing the hospital gown. Anything was almost better than that. It wasn’t like I was trying to impress anyone.
“Ready for that walk?” Jonas asked out as he readied the wheelchair for me. He seemed way to happy, but I guess he’d been stuck in the same room as I had for the most part.
Travis, Jonas and Carlos, and I guess in turn Kent, refused to leave my room without someone else there to keep watch over me. The car accident was staged, and so was the gunshot wound. The men weren’t sure why the shooter didn’t just kill us completely off, and there were no leads yet. But because neither Zachariah or I were killed, they were sure that someone would try to come finish the job. They took turns staying in my hospital room and Zachariah’s room.
I had waited way too long to see him, but it wasn’t like he’d really realize it.
Zachariah has been shot not once, but twice, along with getting a piece of glass stuck in his head. He had to have surgery due to a concussion, and he was still in an induced coma until the swelling went down on his brain.
He certainly had it worse off. He’d live, but if there was brain damage wasn’t yet known. Travis and Jonas were both positive that he’d had much worse and survived, and he’d be the same after he healed.
It did nothing for my own worry. Would he really be okay? How did he get hurt more than me when we were in the same car?
Once I was as comfortable in the wheelchair as I possibly could be with a soft fleece blanket over my legs, Travis began to push me towards the ICU unit. I couldn’t help but fiddle with the edge of the blanket as I was pushed through the halls.
It didn’t take too long to get to Zachariah’s room, as it was one of the first rooms in this part of the hospital. Julia sat there in the chair beside him, reading a book. She looked up when she heard us coming and was quick to come to my side and bend down to give me a gentle hug.
Jonas nodded to both of the guards that were stationed at the nurse’s desk. The one guard that had been by my hospital room had been released at the same time.
Julia had been staying with Zachariah most of the entire time he’d been here, which was what any mother would have done. Apparently, she’d asked Travis and Carlos hourly on how I was doing.
“How are you?” she asked, her eyes a bit glossy as she looked me over with a frown.
“Better now that I get to be let go,” I tried to joke.
“You’re being released?” she said surprised.
“About time,” I muttered out. “Yeah. I can move around on my own as much as I need. Sorta. Have to have a babysitter.”
“Hey, am not a sitter,” Travis said quietly as not to disturb the other patients.
“That’s good,” Julia stated with a small real smile.
She looked tired, but we all did.
“I’ll let you see him for a bit. I’ll head on home to clean up and be back around dinner time,” she said, looking between all of us.
After she gathered up her book and purse, she gave me another hug before leaving us be. Jonas pushed me up right next to Zachariah’s bed, and I didn’t hesitate as I took his hand in my own.
His head was wrapped in white gauze, a part of his hair shaved off from one side of his head. Even though he was sleeping, and would be for who knows how long, he looked tired.
“Where was he shot at?” I asked, knowing that one of my followers would answer.
“Right side of his chest, and one in the same arm,” Jonas answered for me. “The bullets didn’t go near as deep as yours.”
“He was on my side when he shot,” I stated, not taking my eyes off of Zachariah.
“Figured as much,” Jonas said. “I’ll stand out here. Let me know when you’re ready to head home.”
“Okay,” I said, glancing over at him.
I watched as Jonas walked over to one of the men that stood guard and began to talk in hushed voices before I turned my eyes back to Zachariah.
I sat there for a few minutes, not sure what to say. Could he even hear me if I did talk? I’d heard stories of where coma patients could hear everything around them at any given time.
My heart hurt looking at him. He was so weak just laying here not moving. He had a breathing tube stuffed down his throat to keep him breathing, and wires nearly everywhere.
“Please,” I begged as tears gathered. I wasn’t sure what I was begging for, but it seemed like nothing made sense anymore. “Don’t leave me. You can’t.”
So many thoughts of what I could say raced through my mind as I let my tears fall. I hadn’t cried the entire time until now. I didn’t think I’d break down here of all places, but yet it was maybe the best time to do so.
“Please come back to me, okay,” I stuttered out. “I know you’re in there.”
I paused, trying to not sob out my words. I prayed silently to keep him alive, to keep him safe and as the man I already knew.
“I’m okay. I was released today,” I gave a sad, teary smile. “Stuck in a stupid chair, but I’m okay. I’ll get better so I can take care of you. Maybe it’s my turn to show you that I can be strong. Strong enough for the both of us for a bit.”
“I love you, Zach,” I whispered out, knowing my words were true. I felt my love for this man deep in my heart, and I’d never give up on him. Whoever tried to kill us would pay with their own life. “You may own me, but I own you just as much.”