Page 72 of Exposed to Him

“Can I see her?” I query. He nods yes, leading me to her room. When I enter and see her lying there looking so pale, I lose it. My first instinct is to be near her and hold her hand.

She still is the most beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on.

“Baby,” I whisper, then kiss her hand. Her long dark hair falls over her shoulders. Her long lashes fan on her face. She looks peaceful. There’s no response, no movement whatsoever. So I sit next to her and pray that she wakes up soon, because the thought of losing her sends a stabbing pain through my chest.

Erica

I feel something touch my hand, but when I look down there’s nothing. I am still in the open meadow. I’m not sure what to do.

I hear my name being called, and it sounds like Jared so I start to look around desperately. My first thought is to run and run fast.

So that’s what I do. I run like I’m flying and my feet actually lift in the air. It's a never-ending meadow with no sign of life.

“Jared! I’m here!” I yell, and my voice echoes in the distance.

“Please,” I whisper to myself. This is one of the moments when you know you’re dreaming but you can’t wake up. I have had vivid dreams before, but not like this. There seems to be no way out for me, so I sit on the ground with my head on my knees.

I rock back and forth, saying his name over and over again. All of a sudden I feel a slight pinch of pain on my side. It’s tolerable, but I know it’s there. I look down and now I’m in a hospital gown. My hands are covered in blood and the meadow that was once before me is no longer. I am in the hospital outside my window. I can see Jared, and he has tears in his eyes while he holds my hand.

Am I dead? What is this?

I start to bang on the window to get his attention for him to realize that I’m here and I don’t want to leave him.

He remains glued to my side as I fight my way to him. I’m not going down without a fight. I will make it back to him.

Jared

“Please, baby, wake up. I need you so bad. I love you so much.” I sit there waiting for her to wake up. It’s been two days and nothing. She hasn’t moved or even hinted in the slightest that she was okay. The monitors have been steady and I’m on constant alert. They said her heart stopped during the surgery, so that alone has me staring at the monitors non-stop.

There’s a rapid knock on the door. I look over to see Tony walking in, looking just as bad as I do.

“How is she?” he asks with complete sincerity in his tone. His face looks guilty. There is something off about him, but I can’t figure out what.

“The same,” I reply. Tony has been here with me the past couple of days. I can see that he cares for Erica. I just hope he doesn’t feel anything romantic for her, because I can’t even fathom that.

How do you not fall in love with her, though? She is pure of heart and the best person I’ve ever known. She likes to believe there’s good in all people. That’s what makes her so special. She saw good in my dark soul. She doesn’t know this, but she saved me. I never wanted to be better until her.

Tony sits down on the other side of her and holds her hand as well. Here it looks like we are two brothers in love with the same girl. The look in his eyes confirms my suspicions.

“I hope she pulls through, Jared. I really do. She’s good for you,” he admits, and I just continue to stare at him while his gaze is glued to her face.

“When did you know?” he asks, and I’m not sure what he means.

“When did I know what?” I rasp.

“When did you know you loved her?” he murmurs, and the worry is apparent on my face.

“I know we have had our issues in the past. I would never try anything with her but if you hurt her in any way just know I will be there picking up the pieces.

When she wakes up hold on to this one,” he tells me, and then leaves the room.

He can’t have her. Over my dead fucking body.

It’s been a week and I’m feeling hopeless. She still hasn’t woken up and I’m not sure what to do. All of a sudden I feel a light squeeze on my hand. I shoot upright to get a little closer to her. I’m still holding her hand.

“Erica, are you there? Squeeze my hand again, baby.” The hope in my voice is obvious.

She does it again and I buzz the nurse right away. Doctors and nurses come barreling in and start to check her over. When the monitors start to beep like crazy, panic seizes my chest.

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