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“Are you family?” the paramedic asked me, motioning for me to step out of the ambulance. The paramedic’s question takes me by surprise, and I can only manage a tight-lipped nod, not letting on that I don’t know what I am to her.
I look at Ava as she lies unconscious, pale, and vulnerable against the stark white of the interior, “Yeah, I am.”
“Alright, you can ride with us or drive to Harborview Mercy Hospital.”
Without hesitation, I climb inside to take her hand in mine, feeling its icy chill and praying she will make it through. “I’m coming with,” I reply, sitting next to Ava, holding her cold hand in mine.
“I’ll take care of things and meet you at the hospital after,” Everett tells me, giving me a thumbs up.
I nod, and the ambulance doors close.
At the hospital, I remain at her side every second, watching the doctors stitch her wounds and nurses attend to her. I count each and every stitch they make; eight on her side, three on a laceration at the back of her head, and steri-strips on her cheek to minimize scarring.
But for all their efforts, none of it seemed to matter - because I know that I almost lost her. The guilt wells up inside me until it threatens to choke me - if only I hadn't been such an idiot, she never would have gone to the bar searching for someone else's love.
An innocent bystander got caught in our drama that night, too - poor guy. I am not happy that he touched the girl I love, but he did not deserve what happened to him.
His mangled body was found barely recognizable, inflicted with over twenty ax wounds. The killer had vanished into the forest without a trace - not a single footprint survived the torrential downpour that followed.
Ava had escaped twice now, but I knew that sooner or later, Lady Luck would turn a cold shoulder. With a silent oath beneath my breath, I vowed never to let anything like this happen to her again. I should have told her how I really felt that day instead of the cruel words I gave her instead. All I can do is hope that she will forgive me when she wakes up.
I should have protected her, and I make a vow that from now on, I will. No matter the cost.
TWENTY-FIVE
AVA
The incessant beeping snapped me awake, and my vision was blurry and unfocused. I groan in pain as I survey the sterile hospital room and the monitor to my left that keeps beeping. My throat is dry and scratchy as I call out for James, asleep on the chair, his eyes still closed and his grip on my hand tight. He stirs at my voice, his exhausted blue eyes slowly opening and widening when he sees me awake. The corners of his mouth turn up into a relieved smile, white teeth glinting against his tan skin.
"Ava." His voice is a soft whisper.
"How long have I been out?" I ask, dreading the answer.
"Two days," he responds without hesitation.
“Damn,” I groan and attempt to sit up.
I try to sit up, and a white-hot pain sears through me from the injury on my side. I press my hand against the wound, a reminder of what happened that night at the bar. James quickly moves to assist me, placing his hands around my back with caution and care.
"Take it slow," he murmurs softly as he helps lift me onto the bed.
Looking down at him, I can see he hasn't changed since that night - same clothes, same anxious facial expressions, yet somehow more comforting now than before.
"Did you stay here the entire time?" I question as I reach out to touch him.
He looks away nervously before facing me again with an affirmative nod, “Yeah.” My heart swells with admiration for this man's devotion - small habits like the way he averts his gaze or rubs the back of his neck. Those little movements that make him who he is have grown on me over time.
"Thank you, James," I murmur as I intertwine our fingers together in gratitude. He looks up at me with his gentle blue eyes and offers a quivering smile in response.
A part of me hoped that Colin was still alive, but it seemed that the darkness that had taken so much from me had claimed another life. Tears brimmed my eyes, blurring my vision as I searched for answers in James' expression.
This was all my fault. I put him in danger, and now he is gone forever. My tears poured down my cheeks, and I choke, "Did you find him?”
I study his face.
James uttered a single word that ripped away any last shred of hope I held onto.
"No. There’s no trace of him. We searched for two days. Forensics is analyzing the blood left at the scene, hoping to find a match. They mentioned evidence of a struggle in the entryway. You managed to wound him?”
