7-Eleven [Lashton AU]

Chapter 37

Thank you, lashtonxtop, for making a Portuguese translation of this story (:

*Ashton's POV*

I woke up to the sound of a monitor beeping. My vision was blurry when my eyes opened, but I could make out that I was in a room with white walls. I blinked a few times before I let my eyes wander the place, seeing that the room that I was in was a hospital room. An IV cord was in my arm and I was wearing a hospital gown, my own clothes' location unknown to me and I saw them sitting on the counter on the other side of the room.

In an attempt to sit upright, I felt an unsettling feeling in my chest and started to lower myself down slowly. I placed a hand over where it was feeling uncomfortable as I groaned quietly.

I vaguely could recall the events that happened, but then I remembered that I had gotten shot in the chest. They must've removed the bullet and that's why my chest feels so weird.

Minutes later a nurse walked into the room, her large brown eyes looking at me. They became even larger and then she immediately fled the room, calling for the doctor to check on me. I didn't know why she was in such a panic. Probably one of those new people who've no idea what to do with a patient.

Soon after a doctor arrived in the room with the same nurse by his side. The nurse looked calmer this time and the doctor had a smile on his face.

"Ah, finally woken up after a few days, I see," the guy said. "I'm Dr. Acierto. Did you have a nice rest, Mr. Ashton Irwin?"

It was almost instinct to tell him my name wasn't that because of how much I was used to people calling me by that other name, but I stopped myself from saying that and ended up nodding instead.

"My chest hurts though," I told him, pointing to the left side as I looked down.

He chuckled. "Don't worry, the discomfort will wear off in a week. After all, you did have a transplant."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Transplant?"

"We had initially planned to perform surgery on you to remove the bullet, but as we examined the effect it had done, you needed more than a simple bullet removal. You had to get an entirely new heart since yours was dysfunctional."

"So, what you're telling me is, someone else's heart is inside me?" I questioned and he nodded. "So whose heart do I have? Do you know?"

"The donor wished to remain anonymous. I think that is enough questions for today. I suggest you get something to fill your stomach. Is there anything you want to eat or drink?"

I thought for a moment before finally requesting, "Actually, could I have some chocolate milk?"

"Very well." Dr. Acierto told the nurse to fetch me some chocolate milk and she scurried off. He told me to just relax and then left me by myself in the room.

"A heart donor," I said to myself, tracing random patterns over where the heart was. I tugged at the hospital gown and looked down. I saw a large patch over my chest, most likely placed there after the surgery had finished.

I still can't believe some random person gave me their heart. That means they don't have a heart and that... they're no longer alive.

If it weren't for this donor, then I would be dead. Whoever this person is, I'm grateful for them. They donated their heart to the hospital for people in need of a new heart like me.

By the time my glass of cold chocolate milk came to me, I was already feeling a little tired, despite sleeping for God knows how long. I gulped down the entire cup, placed it on the table by the bedside, and let my eyes close.