Take Me Away From Here

Chapter 17

Tim POV: 

I can't feel much, except the throbbing on the side of my head. One of my eyes is covered with gauze, leaving me only with one swollen one to look out from. I can't tell who's here, and when they got there, but I know there's people in the room. I can hear their muffled voices through the bandages covering my ear. 

I feel like I'm trapped inside of a bubble... I can't hear anything clearly, nor can I see clearly. I'm just in a fuzzy state of mind. Time is either flying or crawling, and I'm in no condition to tell. I've either been in here for hours, or weeks... I tap my fingers on the bed to a beat in my head, feeling unable to do much else. My body is far too sore to move anything beyond my fingers. 

"Tim..." I hear someone release, as if they were calling to me from underwater. Their blurry silhouette leans forward, placing their hand on my arm. Their touch feels numbing, like they had a numbing spray on their fingers. I turn my head slightly toward them, trying to focus in on them. I can tell they have long blonde hair... it's probably Faith... but then again, I'm not sure. "Are you okay?" They ask, before leaning in closer. I nod by the smallest increment, causing a smile to come upon their face. They're wearing glasses, making me back away from assuming it's Faith. They sigh, before looking down at what appears to be a book or notebook on their lap. "Do you want me to read to you?" She asks, a certain rasp to her voice, bringing me back to it being Faith. I nod slightly, listening to her clear her throat, before propping her book up on the edge of the bed. 

"People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave. A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life, then introduce you to your spiritual master..." She reads, before looking up at me. The silence confirms that it's her. I look down at the book's cover, causing her to look down at it as well. "Eat, Pray, Love. I started it a couple days ago." She says, running her fingers across the cover. She sniffles a bit, probably crying after letting herself think too much again. 

She sets down her book, before running her fingers down my arm, wrapping my hand around hers. "I love you... I really do..." She lets out quietly. I simply stare at her, unable to speak with the breathing tube in my mouth. "I swear, everything is going to be alright. I promise..." She tries to reassure me. I honestly couldn't care less... I've kind of given up trying to have any expectations. If I die in a couple hours, so what? If I live till eighty, that's great. I know I don't have a damn bit of power over what's going to happen, so I might as well lean back and take my time. She pats my hand slowly, before someone knocks on the door, the sound seeming to echo. 

"Hey, Baby?" I hear a man call out, causing her head to turn. "You about ready to head home?" He asks. She takes a deep breath, glancing down at me, before nodding slowly. She stands up, leaning down to kiss my forehead, before removing her hand from mine. She walks out the door, leaving me to sit in silence. 

A couple hours later, a nurse sympathizes with me, leaving the tv on for me. She places the remote under my hand, giving me the opportunity to change channels. I slowly travel through the stations, each press of a button straining my muscles. A local station plays the eleven o'clock news, as the nurses turn out the hall lights. I try to listen closely, but it's hard with all the gauze covering me. 

"Two shot on the south side after a man was mugged... Massive back up on the southern I-65 corridor... Still no comment from country mega-star Faith Hill, after rumors of her ex-husband and fellow country star, Tim McGraw's attempted suicide. According to a source, the event occured two months ago, after the singer's final show before a scheduled medical leave. McGraw's management has put out a vague statement, ensuring that McGraw is healing at Vanderbilt Medical Hospital, but neglecting to say what he's healing from." The tv rings out. I watch as they play clips from my final show, playing a bit of the duet Faith and I sang. God, she sounded beautiful...