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“You probably have what I have, check it out,” he said, standing up and pulling his shirt up, exposing his chest. She gasped.
He had dark purple bruising streaking across his torso, from his shoulder to his hip. Almost like he was wearing a bruise-colored sash. A dark purple line was just visible at the top of his pants, stretching across his stomach.
“What is that!?” she exclaimed. He straightened out his shirt and sat back down.
“Seatbelt. Saved my life. Apparently yours somehow got cut at some point while we were rolling,” he explained.
“Rolling?”
“Yeah. It was a pretty nasty accident. The Beast rolled like three times. We were upside down. One of the wheels got ripped off, like the entire wheel well. They found it a ways away in the woods by where we crashed. Pretty impressive,” he said, sipping his coffee.
Paige’s heart hurt. He was being so jovial.
“Parker,” she breathed, leaning her head back, “I was driving, wasn’t I?”
“Yes, but it wasn’t your fault. The other driver was texting. Should’ve listened to all those PSAs.”
“Parker, you loved that car. I ruined it. I ruined your car. You told me to stop, didn’t you? I think I remember that. God, I said something horrible, didn’t I,” she rambled, her voice falling into a whisper. He reached out and gently picked up her hand.
“It doesn’t matter. My car doesn’t matter. You’re alive,we’realive,” he told her, kissing her hand before pressing it to his cheek. She shook her head.
“God, I’m sorry, Parker. I am just so sorry,” she whispered, her throat clogging up. He glared at her.
“Stop that,” he ordered. She shook her head again.
“I was so awful to you! How could I do that? Why am I like this? I almost got us killed! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she whispered, staring at the ceiling. He jerked on her arm.
“I said stop it. You have nothing to be sorry for, okay? If I was ever mad about something you had done, I’m pretty sure seeing you dead –actually dead– on the side of the road made us even. We survived, we can move on, we still have each other. We can still be friends,” he said, wiggling her arm playfully.
She winced.
Friends.
*
SHE HAD BEEN AFRAIDfor awhile at what was going to happen with Trent. She just wanted the problem to go away, she didn’t want to fight with him in court or anything like that – but surprisingly, she didn’t have to. When the police had picked him up, they'd discovered a combination of coke, acid, and crystal meth in his system. They'd also found those three drugs in massive quantities scattered throughout his house. He had pled guilty to everything, had even called the hospital to apologize to Paige. She was surprised to hear herself wishing him well with rehab and jail, and really meaning it. Parker had simply snorted and given the phone the finger with the hand that was in a splint – his punch to Trent’s face had broken his fifth metacarpal; a “boxer’s break”, she learned it was called.
The nightmares started after the morphine was stopped. It was almost like she was remembering the accident, but from outside. Like she'd watched it happen from the side of the road. The worst part was always when Parker started screaming. That’s when she would usually wake up in a cold sweat, reaching out for him.
After nine days total in the hospital, they told her they were going to discharge her. The doctor proclaimed her to be his miracle patient and asked her if she would stick around San Diego, healing the sick with her blessed touch. She'd laughed endlessly at that idea.
Saint Paige, yeah right.
Parker had visited her all the time, spending all day in her room with her. He no longer had to wear the sling around his right arm, his shoulder had luckily only been dislocated. He would crawl into bed next to her and spoon with her while she watched bad reality shows. He taught her how to play poker and chess, and then beat her soundly at both.
She felt like those days in the hospital were some of the best she'd ever spent with Parker. He dealt with the doctors, collected and handed out all her insurance information, everything. He didn’t complain once, did it all with a smile. She finallyfullyappreciated him.
He's the most amazing person I know.
She'd changed into her leggings and pulled on a t-shirt. As fun as the breezy hospital gowns and shapeless hospital pants were, it felt nice to be in her own clothing. She was surprised to realize she'd lost a bit of weight. Apparently sleeping four days straight and then spending the next five laying down all day –everyday – wasn’t exactly good for a person.
“Whoa, looking good there, very punk,” Parker’s voice came from the doorway. Paige turned around and smiled at him as he shrugged out of his pink hoodie, tossing it in his chair. She ran her hand over the light fuzz that had started growing on her bald spot. She could feel the heavy stitches that lay there.
“You know, I’m kinda digging this look, maybe I’ll just shave one whole half of my head, really commit to it,” she joked back and he made a gagging sound.
“Sure, go for it. It would look great on you,” he said, keeping his face serious. She laughed and then noticed he was carrying a large grocery bag that was about to burst.
“What’s all that?” she asked, pulling her hair to the side and quickly braiding it.
