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He lets out a heavy sigh. “Still, if I wouldn’t have entered your life, you wouldn’t be in this hospital bed right now. If I stay out of your life from here on out, you’ll have a better future. I know it, and I’m sure you know it too, you just don’t want to admit it.”
His words shock me so much, I try to sit up. A sharp, radiating pain fills my body, reminding me of my injuries. “What are you saying, Hero?” I’m afraid to even ask.
“I’m saying I’m going to do the right thing and leave as soon as you’re better and out of here.”
His words hurt more than the current pain I’m feeling.
“Don’t worry, though. I can give you some money, so you don’t have to work while you’re in school. I always told you I’d take care of you, and I’ll help you out financially, but that has to be it. I can’t do the love, the touching and kissing. I can’t have you, Elyse. After this, I’ll stay out of your life.”
“I don’t want your money,” I growl, angry he even brought money into this conversation. I could be dirt poor and on the street, and I’d still choose him over anything else. “I want you.”
“I’m not good enough for you.” He holds his head in his hands, his fingers threading through his dark locks.
“Stop it!”
Hero’s head snaps up at my loud voice. I’m proud of myself, of how strong I sound. “Stop telling yourself you are not good enough. There is no one better for me than you! Don’t you get that? We belong together.”
Hero looks at me, and I can see the exact moment he starts believing it too, believes he is good enough for me.
He’s always thought the worst of himself, but I refuse to let him think that way anymore. He’s everything I want and need.
“I love you, Elyse, so fucking much. I love you so damn much, it hurts me. It fucking hurts me to think of losing you again. I cannot lose you again. I can’t.” He leans in to kiss me.
His lips are so gentle and soft, I want to deepen the kiss. A dark stubble covers Hero’s face. It’s the very first time I’ve noticed it since I woke up. “I love you too,” I tell him, nuzzling into his cheek. His touch makes me feel alive.
Our little moment is interrupted with a soft knock against the door. When neither of us say anything, the door opens, and a woman pops her head into the room. She smiles when she sees me looking at her. “You’re awake.” She is way too damn happy for someone like me. She opens the door the rest of the way, putting the door stop into place before walking inside.
I take in her light green scrubs and the stethoscope hanging around her neck. My eyes catch on her nametag. Dr. White. I watch her as she casually grabs a clipboard hanging from the bottom of my bed.
Her eyes go to whatever is written on the clipboard, then she starts talking, “Elyse, my name is Dr. White. I’ve been overseeing your care for the last five days.”
Five days! What the hell have I been doing for five days?
“It looks like you have been healing well. Are you in any pain right now?”
I blink, completely forgetting her previous question. “Wait, did you just say five days?” My gaze swings to Hero, and he shrugs, like he doesn’t have a clue why I’m upset. Five days is a long time to just be sleeping in a hospital bed, doing nothing.
“Yes.” She smiles at me like this is completely normal. “Don’t worry. You went through a very traumatic experience. Your body needed the rest, so we made the decision to put you into a medically induced coma to help you heal faster. You are doing well now and should be able to go home in a few days.”
I feel a little less tense hearing her say that, but going home…scares me.
“Now that you are up, we are going to run a few more tests and make sure everything is all right. We’ve also got you going home on some prescriptions.”
“Okay,” is all I can say. What else am I supposed to say? This entire thing is a mess. I just want to go home and crawl in bed with Hero.
What happened to Hero’s dad? My parents? How did Hero find me? After she leaves, I turn my attention back to Hero. “Hero, what happened to your father?” Just thinking about him makes my stomach churn, the contents threatening to come up. Watching Hero’s face fall at the mention of his dad lets me know he feels the same way.
“Don’t worry about it, baby. You never have to worry about him again. He’ll never hurt you or anyone else. He is gone.”
