Page 85 of Crystal Iris
“Careful,” I warn, stepping back.
“Iris, what happened?” His voice is full of concern.
“I… needed to know what was going on.” I walk back to the couch, my head still spinning.
He glances around and notices the candle on the floor. “Did you?”
“I heard everything—well, most of it.”
“You were there?” His gaze sharpens.
I nod, sitting back down on the couch. My head is pounding.
“You don’t look well,” he says, kneeling by me.
“I think I stayed too long.”
“We should get you to a doctor.”
“No, I’m okay.”
“You’re covered in blood,” he insists.
“I just need a shower.” I stand up, holding onto the couch for support, and slowly walk toward the bathroom.
“Iris,” he calls after me.
“I’ll be right back,” I answer, trying to steady myself.
My vision is still spinning, but I push forward. I turn on the water and let it fall over my face, watching as the blood runs down the drain.I must look lovely.I’m rinsing out my shampoo when everything goes dark again.
When I open my eyes, someone’s lifting me up. By the time I realize it’s Hoyt, he’s already placing me gently in bed.
“How are you holding me?” I whisper, feeling completely weak.
“Turns out we just needed more water,” he says softly.
I try to sit up, but pain shoots through my arm. “My arm,” I tell him, wincing.
“Don’t get up. I think you hit your head.”
I look at him; he’s soaked.
“We’re going to the hospital,” he says, pulling clothes from my closet.
I’m still too weak to move; he helps me get dressed. I hate that this is how he’s seeing me naked for the first time. However, there’s no room for modesty. I’m too dizzy, too weak. Maybe I have a broken arm.
“The ambulance is almost here. I can’t… bring you downstairs.” I can see he’s upset.
The next time I wake up, I’m lying in a hospital bed. Hoyt sits in the nearby chair.
“Hey,” I say, and he lifts his head from his phone.
“You’re awake.”
“Thank you for bringing me here.”
“The paramedics did all the work.”
