Come Back To Me

2

Hi guys!! So I had this wonderful cover made for me by @uzuriupendo and I just wanted to say I love it so much!! Thanks again :)
--------------------------------------

He meant it.

When he said that I could have him forever, he meant it.

Alex was never the kind of guy to say empty words. He kept every promise he made.

That night, as I closed the door behind me, I couldn't help but smile. It was everything I could do to hold back the happy tears again. My mother came out of the kitchen, wearing a blue plaid apron and holding a spatula. No doubt she was making cookies.

"Hey, sweetheart. How was your date?" Her perfect teeth and perfect smile made me jealous. My bottom teeth were all slightly crooked, and one of my canines was up a little high. But I never had braces.

"Mom, he really loves me," I whispered as I floated up the stairs. At that moment, I felt like nothing could get to me. Our relationship was perfect. I was going to college in a few months. Everything was exactly as it should've been. "He really does."

I kicked the heels into my parents' room and proceeded into my own. I smiled at the card he'd made me for Valentine's Day that I kept on my nightstand. I smiled at the pictures of us that were taped to my mirror. It was a perfect date, but I really needed a hot bath.

I laid my favorite pajamas from Aerie on my bed- a pair of blue and white striped pants and a tank top with a tiny hole in the armpit. I slipped across the hallway and into the tiny bathroom that nobody else cared to use. Our house had two full bathrooms, but nobody liked the one closest to my room for some reason. It was pretty much mine.

For a few moments I just listened to the water run. The rush of the liquid hitting the plastic tub had a calming effect to my giddy mood. I stepped in, the water instantly warming up my toes. I settled into the water and grabbed my book from the counter.

Yes, my favorite thing to do was read in the bathtub. Do not judge.

I was a total bookworm. Always had been. The most precious time in my days was always hanging out with Alex and reading. As I laid in the tub, enjoying a peaceful rest of the evening, I wondered what Alex was doing. Surely he was home by now. He only lived maybe fifteen minutes from me, tops. Most likely, he was working on an old jeep in his garage. He'd bought it for next to nothing a few months back, and was determined to get it running. I knew it was close to being road-ready again, but there were a few final tune-ups it needed first.

I loved that jeep, and I'd never even gotten to ride in it. I loved that jeep because he loved that jeep.

Stepping out of the bath tub twenty minutes later, I felt so relaxed and at ease. My muscles weren't tense, I wasn't stressed, nothing. I was completely calm. Slipping into my pj's felt so good. The cotton fibers warmed up my body and trapped the heat from the bath inside them. My slippers were so warm against my feet.

I flopped back on my bed, and just laid still. Only then did I notice my phone had been buzzing. The caller I.D claimed it was Nick. But why would Nick be calling me?

I swiped my finger across the screen to accept the call. "Hello?" Nick wasn't much of a 'talking on the phone' kind of guy. I was a little confused, to say the least.

"Han, can you hear me?" He asked. His voice sounded tensed; tight. Something was wrong.

"Yes, I hear you." I answered.

"It's Alex, Han. He's hurt." Nick whispered. Right there, my enitre world dropped out from under me. Something definitely was seriously wrong. "Just meet me at the hospital, okay? I'm on my way there now."

My head was spinning. I was dizzy. I couldn't see straight. At some point I whispered an 'okay' and hung up the phone. Truthfully I didn't even think. Couldn't even think. There were too many holes in the situation. The best scenario was that he just had a few cuts and bruises and that he was going to be able to walk out of the hospital that same evening. But a feeling in the very pit of my stomach told me that I knew otherwise.

I threw on a pair of sneakers and a jacket, grabbing my lanyard on the way out my bedroom door. Before I was even down the stairs, a small tear slipped down my cheek. My feet thudded through the hallway as I ripped open the door.

"Hanna, where are you going?" My father yelled from the living room. "Wait!"

"I have to go," I whispered, closing the door behind me.

I jogged to my car and threw the front door open. What if Alex wasn't okay? I couldn't even deal with that. I saw my mom open the door and look at me questioningly. I wished I could explain, but there wasn't time. I needed to go.

The entire 10 minutes that it took to get to the hospital, my mind was spinning. I could barely even see straight. This tiny thought kept telling me I was getting all worked up over nothing. But I knew something serious had happened. Alex would have called me himself if he was okay. What if...? No. I couldn't let that terrible of a thought seep into my brain.

Upon entering the emergency room, I saw Alex's parents and his older brother, all sitting in chairs. His mother was sobbing, while his father sat with his hands in his lap and his head downward. Nick jumped up when I came through the door and strode toward me. He stopped with about three feet of distance between us. I could see the water in his eyes.

"Nick, what's going on?" I cried as I looked at him. Nick couldn't even look me in the eyes. This was bad.

"Han, he-" He paused and wiped his hand across his forehead, trying to collect himself. "Alex was in an accident. Some guy plowed into his truck as he was going through an intersection. And-" Nick looked downward again. "And he's been unresponsive since."

My mouth gaped. I couldn't even find the strength to close it. I couldn't even fathom what was happening then. My heart raced as the spots I was seeing began to dance. Nick pulled me close in an attempt to keep me from falling on the floor.

"Oh, no," I whispered, and the waterworks began. The idea of living without Alex was unimaginable. We were together an entire year. He was the one for me, and all that was being ripped away.

For hours, the four of us sat in the waiting area, not hearing any news from any doctors. Eventually I called my parents and explained what had happened They offered to come sit with the rest of us, but I told them to stay at home. It would only be more sad if they showed up.

At 1:42 A.M. I couldn't sit stil any longer. I stood and walked toward the vending machine. Oh, except I didn't have any money, because I didn't realize I'd be sitting in an emergency room waiting for news about my boyfriend's accident. So instead I just leaned against the machine, using it as a place to rest my head. And for the first time in a while, I prayed.

Dear God, please help Alex through this. Please help me through this, and Nick, and Sharon, and Steve. It's going to be tough, and I don't know what's going on. Nobody will tell me anything. I just want to hear good news. I can't imagine not having him around every day. I really do love him. And I want him to be okay. So, if you could, please push a little good luck his way and heal him up fast. Amen.

I took in a few deep breaths and considered everything that happened. Alex had dropped me off after our one-year date. On his way home, a driver missed the red light and plowed into the driver's side of Alex's truck. A witness called 911, and police and ambulances were there within minutes. However, Alex had been unresponsive. His eyes were closed and he wasn't moving or talking. However, he was breathing. And after that point, I didn't know anything.

"You okay?" Nick asked, startling me from my thoughts.

No. "I'm fine," I answered, closing my eyes.

"Han, he's going to be okay. He's tough." Nick put his hand on my arm.

"I know, but there's always that what if-" He cut me off.

"He's got you to come back to. So he's going to be okay."