Page 98 of Boundaries

Once I saw Mason, I’d feel better.

The smell in the air wasn’t nice. Very clinical and chemical-like. I decided at that point that I hated hospitals. It was busy too with people rushing around and beds with patients lining the corridors. It was almost like they were running out of space.

Mason was still in the same room, but this time, I would get to go inside and didn’t need to view him through glass. Like a fish in a tank or a bear at a zoo more like.

I wondered what they had done to him during surgery. The thought of him being prodded with needles and tubes coming out of his body made me feel ill.

As we got to the door, the doctor turned and looked down at me. A cold chill slivered down my arms.

“He had a slight bleed on the brain which we have managed to stem and clear. He’s stable but badly bruised. So, just keep it light, and be there for him. Please don’t be alarmed if he doesn’t seem like himself. He may have some memory loss of the actual accident, but he’s been assessed for amnesia and he does know who he is.”

I nodded and moved past the doctor with a thank you, and he held the door open for me.

A nurse was standing at the bottom of the bed with Mason’s chart in her hand, she was making notes and I smiled before moving my line of sight toward the bed.

My breath caught in my throat. Mason was still laid on the bed in that same position, slightly propped up by several pillows, his head was still bandaged but only on one side. He looked pale and there was now a cast where the bandage had been over his right hand. His left hand was still attached to a drip. Most of those machines surrounding the bed were now off, but there was a monitor on his thumb which must have been checking his pulse.

His eyes were open and he attempted to crack a smile when he saw me. I could see it pained him to do so and moved quickly toward the top of the bed. I so wanted to hug him, to transfer some of my strength. To throw myself into his arms and tell him how much I loved him.

The nurse left us and we were alone.

There was a beat of silence as we just drank each other in. I could see he was pleased to see me.

“Hey you,” I said, my eyes pinned on his.

“Hey yourself,” Mason replied in a quiet voice.

His body was still covered by that white, crisp sheet, his chest gently rising and falling. His pallor was dull and tired, but at least he was awake.

Seeing someone who was usually so strong weakened like that was a tough pill to swallow and another surge of compassion entered my chest.

Pursing my lips I added, “I thought we weren’t doing labels,” with a warm smile, referencing the girlfriend comment. Keep it light the doc had said.

He cleared his throat, “I knew you’d like that one,” he croaked out. His voice was deep and scratchy. My heart squeezed in my chest that he still had the disposition to make jokes, even though he must have been in pain.

I moved to sit on the winged-backed chair set next to the bed, careful not to catch his body anywhere.

“I did, very much,” I whispered down at him shyly. I still had nervous knots when I saw him. He was just so perfect to me now.

His eyes closed briefly before they reopened and he gave me a direct look, “Good, because that’s what you are, Amy. More than that.”

Joy surged up in my chest as he made it official.

“If you’ll have me,” he questioned, his weak eyes still having enough energy to search my face for my answer.

I tilted my head and smiled my reply.

My eyes scanned his body again, “So, I won’t ask how you feel, like crap I imagine,” I whispered.

A slight smile tugged the corner of his mouth, “That about sums it up. Is everyone else, OK?”

Trust Mason to worry about others when he was in such a state.

“Everyone is fine, thanks to you. You saved my life and Chrissy’s. You do remember that don’t you.”

He slowly nodded but again I could see this caused him pain. I would have done anything to have traded places with him.

“I remember everything apart from the fall, but I know you held my hand on the way here.”

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