Page 13 of I Promise You
I gasp for air as I shoot up from the hospital bed. My hands go straight for the railing to support my weak energy. I sit up, breathing hard, and feel my blood pressure drop, making me more disoriented. I’m no longer trapped in my body. My eyes explode open, andI am in a hospital bed.
I was right. White is all I see.
White bed sheets, white lights, and two pale faces.
Danny and my mother stare back at me. Their pale reflections are the only thing I see before I’m dropping back down on the bed, weak, my head hitting the pillow, and I wince.
The jolt of my body has me dizzy and lightheaded, but it doesn’t stop me from trying to breathe harder.
Danny grabs my hand and holds it tight. His familiar texture on mine makes me feel safe, like he always does.
“You’re awake,” Danny says in a comforting voice, forcing a small desirable smile with relief washed all over him to see me conscious, but there’s something more behind his eyes,something terrible.
“Mija! Ohmija.” My mom swarms me and envelopes me in her arms. She pulls me into her chest and I’m confused.
I let her hug me, but I don’t feel comfortable enough to hold her back.
I feel like I’m going numb. I blink hastily, touching my chest where it hurts, then my stomach, with perplexed fingers.
Where is Shane?
Oh no, is he somewhere close by?
Wasn’t I at my mother’s house?
I move away from her, retreating my hand from Danny’s hold at the same time. An IV is stuck into my other arm. It moves as my hands go to palm my lower abdomen. I can feel the confusion and anger building up inside of me, and I’m tempted to scream.
“Where is he?!” I shout out manically, looking around the room and into the hallways, dreading to see his face come after me again.
“Ari, it’s okay. He’s not here, and neither is Nora. You’re safe.” Danny stands from his chair with purpose, getting closer to me. He tightens his grip over the railing of my bed.
“My baby.” I blink rapidly, looking around the room, then back to my stomach. “Is our baby okay?” I ask, my voice cracking.
I tilt my head upward, meeting Danny’s gaze with my trembling lips, and eyes that beg for good news, and he clenches his jaw. He holds a cold stare, and I’m swallowing another drybump in my throat.He looks guilty.After what feels like an eternity, his expression morphs from guilty to stoic.
“Tell me!” I shout at them for answers, fisting my hand and I pummel the bed impatiently. I look at him and then at my worried mother, who holds her hand in front of her mouth like she wants to speak but can’t.
Then she shakes her head frantically, her bangs moving back and forth across her creased forehead.
“Mija. You lost too much blood. You’ve been asleep for days.Te moristes….” My mother cuts in, telling me that I died. Her voice shakes like she can’t believe her own words. She can’t look at me, so she looks down at her feet. She’s an absolute worried mess. Her hair is tied up in a messy ponytail as she holds her cardigan close to her body, trying to comfort herself. I know my mother and she does this when she’s anxious.
A bandage is plastered across her forehead. The same spot where I saw her bleed when I found her passed out on the floor. She looks stressed and frantic. She can’t look me in the eye, and I know this is bad.
I died?
“What?” I cry out. My eyes search for Danny’s and my mom’s, demanding them to answer my question about my baby. I look down at my stomach, but I can’t see anything. I’m in a hospital gown. I palm my stomach and something feels fresh with pain.
“You died,mija. And…and…” she cries, not letting herself finish.
I tremble as the words roll out of her mouth. My eyes widen and I can feel my eyes water full throttle.
Danny looks like he hasn’t slept in forever. His eyes are sad and his dark sandy blond hair I love so much is shaggy. He runs his palm through his beard, weary.
“But my baby?” I croak. A tear drops falls down my cheeks, passing my lips.
“Our baby didn’t make it.” Danny looks straight into my eyes and I think I’m about to faint.
No.
