Antidote

Chapter 34

I'm startled awake by my own pounding heart. Sweat glistens on my forehead and I can feel my pulse racing beneath my fingertips. I stand up quietly, making sure not to disturb Lisa, Hannah, Reese, or Mrs. Foster. I stumble a bit, but catch myself. I try to peer in the window of Alex's cubicle. I can just barely make out the edges of her hospital bed. Quietly and stealthily, I tiptoe into the cubicle, despite the fact that I'm breaking about a dozen hospital rules right now.

Being careful not to tangle the multiple tubes and wires attached to her body, I sit down on the bed and take hold of her hand. I open my mouth, preparing to give one last plea for her life.

Alex's p.o.v.

Blackness. Utter blackness. I try to open my eyes so I can see light, possibly the light of heaven. But my eyes refuse to obey my commands. Struggling to raise my eyelids, I suddenly notice an annoying electronic beep. It beeps in regular peaks, in time with the beating of my heart.

Wait.

My heart.

It's beating.

My chest.

It's rising and falling.

I'm breathing;

I'm alive.

No! I don't want to be alive, goddamn it! Why couldn't it have worked? Did I not cut deep enough? Ugh! No! I don't want to be here! Tears leak from my eyes, which are still frozen in place. Angrily, I try to move my hands. They lay, stiff and unresponsive, on the bed.

The beeping grows louder, and I huff in exasperation. Or try to, at least. Suddenly, my hazy brain connects. The beep. It's a heart monitor, like the one my cousin had to be attached to when she was in the hospital a few years back.

So I guess I'm at the hospital, which means stupid Tristan or stupid Mom brought me here and tried to save me. Don't they see? I don't wanna be saved! Why couldn't they have just left me to die? And now, instead of dead, which is how I want to be, I'm lying here on this hospital bed, frozen and upset. Again I try to move, but I'm still bombarded with a negative response.

I recall a study I did in science about all that medical shit. Racking my brain, I eventually figure out that I must be in a coma. Comatose patients can't move, speak, or react in any way. I would have sighed if I could have.

Footsteps echo across the linoleum floor, and I assume it's a nurse, coming to check my blood pressure or something. I wait, but when the mystery person sits down on my bed and takes my hand, I know it's not a nurse, because only one person in this world can make me tingle like that.

It's Tristan.

How I wish I could give him a sign, something to let him know that I know he's there. Because I can't, I settle for listening to the beep of my heart monitor pick up pace.

I hear a low, throaty chuckle, and warmth floods through me. I know that laugh. "Your heart is racing, babe," a familiar voice whispers in my ear. "Didn't know I had that much of an effect on you." I want to smile. Even though I'm currently frozen and I did just attempt to kill myself, Tristan is teasing me like I can actually respond.

"So," he says, drawing circles on my face with his thumb. "I guess you know where you are, huh?" I try to nod, but my head doesn't move. I can feel Tristan's smile as brushes the hair away from my forehead. "Baby, I just want you to know how much I love you."

Despite medical science saying it's scientifically impossible, my breathing hitches. He runs his hand down my face, hesitating at my lips. Oh, how I want to lean forward just a bit and press my lips to his hand. He continues, "Alex, I know I've been an asshole to you. I've acted like a jealous bitch and it took me months to figure out how much I want you. I need you. I'm addicted to your love, Alex. One kiss and I couldn't get enough. I want to be able to claim you as mine, I want to wake up to your face every morning, and don't you see? You thought you didn't matter to anyone, didn't you? Baby, you're a hundred thousand times wrong. I love you more than you'll ever know. Please, baby, wake up. I know you can. I know you. You just don't want to. You wanted to die. But you're loved, Alex."

He pauses to take a breath, then pushes on with fierce determination. "Alex, I don't care how ugly you think you are. You're beautiful to me, and you always will be." I feel my breath catching in my throat. He can't mean that. He can't possibly think that I, of all people, is beautiful. Tristan forges on, unaware of my doubt. "I need you, Alex. You're the world to me and I'm so fucking in love with you it's crazy."

By now his hands are cupping my face and his mouth is mere inches from mine. My heart monitor is beeping rapidly, but neither of us notices. He begins to talk again, his voice fervent and full of passion. "Alex, when I first figured out that I liked you, I tried to get you to like me back, but you wouldn't hear of it. You were so stubborn at first. Then, eventually, I broke through your walls, and you broke through mine. When I figured out I loved you, I went crazy. You can ask Lisa. I came running to her when I saw you kiss Chad. Then I went to the party, and by the next morning I was on fire with love for you. And everything played out."

Shocked by his confession, I almost gasp, but, of course, I'm in a coma. Tristan says, "Alex, I know you can wake up. I know that nobody can make you wake up. It's solely your decision. But I'm telling you, you're loved. Hannah, Lisa, your mom, and Reese are all sitting outside, waiting, hoping, that you'll be okay. And if you choose to wake up, I promise you, I will be there by your side to protect you and help you through everything. I will never leave you, Alex. I love you. And if you wake up, we'll work it all out. Together."

With that, he kisses me on the lips and leaves the room, leaving me to ponder if I really do want to die.

AN: Yeah, I know, a little cheesy. But sappy stuff comes with the package in my romance books. ;) Anyways, hope you're enjoying this story. My ultimate goal is to get it up to one thousand reads. That'd be, like, OMG FLUFFING AMAZING!!!!! Anyways, I'm reading my absolute favorite book on Wattpad over again. It's called Falling Too Far and is kinda similar to this story. Check it out, if you would. It's by anifantasies. It's a really great book. Anyways, comment below how you liked it and don't forget to vote!

Next update: Tomorrow or the day after

All my love,

Em