Cara
The way to the hospital was a complete blur of terror and tears. Aidan's mom said to stay calm before we know what exactly happened and the damage that was done. Apparently there was a man talking on his phone as he runned over a red light. Aidan tried to swerve the car but the damage was already done. I can't even imagine the sound of glass shattering and the squealing tires.
He hurt his face and nose when he hit the steering wheel and the airbag, that leaving green and purple bruises all over his perfect shaped face. Fortunately, there was no internal damage, just some sore ribs and an almost sprained wrist. The doctor told us not to panic as there was signs of recovery already, because of his history with injuries from his hockey career. Just to be sure, they wanted to keep him under observation at least five days more, depends on the time his body decides to wake him up. He also had sings of a pretty bad concussion so we'll see what can be done on that. Right now, all it matters is for Aidan to wake up soon, and fine.
Florence bought us coffees, a decaf for me and some pastries from the hospital cafeteria. Aidan's sister, Sarah, along with her husband and dad were on their way over here, and Elle and Jake went to bring me a change of clothes from home. Florence insisted to sleep at home but that was impossible. Aidan would've done the same for me, if not a lot more. It's times like this when you actually realise the importance of someone in your life, and also the love you carry for them. If you told me two years ago I'll be on a hospital chair, waiting for Aidan, my boyfriend, to wake up, while I softly tap my bump just to feel our baby girl moving inside me, I would've laghed in your face. Crazy what a birthday party can do. Crazy, but damn wonderful. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Except for Aidan to come back home. Come back home to us, to me, to our perfectly messed up life. My breath catches in my throat and my heart rattles in its cage as my chest constricts. I can feel the tears burning the corners of my eyes again and I'm a damn mess all over again. The tears fall down the sides of my face and I glance out the window as I wipe them away. He has to be okay. Everything we have can't end like this. Our story isn't over yet. He promised. Aidan promised me forever. And I believed him. I still do.
I find an empty seat along the back wall, away from most of the people waiting, and I drop my head into my hands as the tears completely consume me. A sob racks through my body and the panic sets in. I know I was more in shock when it first happened and now the reality of the situation is setting in. A million things run through my mind. The way he hit his head, does he have some kind of head trauma? Jesus, this is too much. I don't know if I can even take it. Without thinking, I rise to my feet and leave the waiting room, the cold evening air stings my face as I step outside and begin to pace. I pace back and forthâback and forth. I'm losing track of time. I'm losing my mind without knowing what is going on. My feet don't stop moving until my legs are aching and my heels feel like there are blisters forming.
"He'll be okay, Cara." Ella murmurs, brushing my hair back with one of her hands. "This is Aidan we're talking about. He's always been one stubborn asshole. You know he'll make it out of this."
Turning my head to the side, I rest my cheek on her chest, my tears soaking through her sweatshirt. "But what if he doesn't?"
Ella doesn't say anything and only hugs me tighter, her hand still stroking my hair like mom always did when I needed to be comforted. I want to believe her, to agree with her and be positive. I want her to be right, but what if he's wrong about this? I need her to be right.
I need him to be okay...
Because I'm not so sure I can live in this world without him.
____________________________________________
Aidan
My head throbs and screams in protest as I attempt to peel my eyelids open. They feel so heavy, as if they're weighed down by sandbags. I hear a faint beeping sound in the distance, but I can't quite make out what it is without fully opening my eyes. Even though my body fights against me, I slowly open them.
The lights in the room are dim and it's quiet, except for the beeping from a machine to my right. The throbbing in my head increases as I turn it to the side, finding my mom sitting beside my bed. My hand is in between both of hers and she rests her forehead on the mattress.
"Mom?" I croak, my voice rough and harsh. My throat burns as I struggle to get the word out, but she hears me.
She lifts her head in a rush, her bloodshot eyes wide as they find mine. "Oh my god, Aidan." She breathes, a smile forming on her lips as her eyes fill with tears. "You're awake."
I attempt to lift my head, the confusion hanging heavily in my hazy brain as my eyes try to scan the room. My vision goes blurry for a moment before focusing again, and I drop my head back down in defeat. "What happened?"
Her eyes are soft, her eyebrows drawn together with nothing but sympathy swimming in the blue depths of her eyes. "You don't remember? You had a hockey practice last night and had a car accident after." She pauses, exhaling a deep breath. "You had a pretty bad concussion and have been out for almost twenty-four hours. The doctors said there was no bleeding or swelling, but your brain got rattled hard enough to have you sleeping that long."
My brain struggles against the memory, but it comes back to me in a rush and I remember it all. The sound of the tyres, the bright lights. Fuck. Cara's baby shower.
My heart crawls into my throat. "Where is Cara?"
"She's right there." My mother smiles, pointing to the other side of the room where Cara is curled up on a couch. "She hasn't left since we got here."
Goddamn. I can't even stop it as tears fill my eyes. My heart swells in my chest and a lump forms in my throat as I stare at her small form sleeping peacefully. I never would have expected her to stay by my side this entire time, pregnant and pretty miserable herself, but that's Cara Davis. Davis, for now.
She's a ride or die type of girl.
My type of girl.
"Do you want me to wake her up?" my mother asks softly, her eyes searching mine.
"Hell no." I smile at her as I wipe the tears from my eyes. "Let them get some rest. I'm sure they're exhausted if she's been here since the game."
My mom's lips curl upward as she flashes her bright white teeth at me. "Actually, your entire team is here." She pauses, squeezing my hand that she's still holding. "They've been camped out in the waiting room since your accident."
"Are you serious?" My voice cracks. Having Cara here means the world to me, but knowing that my entire team is hereâmy entire familyâI don't even have words for it. When bad shit happens, it's funny how it really brings everyone together. How they actually show up for you. Those are the important people in life, the ones you should never let go of.
My mother nods eagerly. "Let me go get the nurse so the doctor can come check on you. Jake and Ella had been asking to come back as soon as you were awake."
I nod, my heart crawling into my throat. "Go get the nurse?"
"On my way now." My mother smiles as she rises to her feet and presses her lips to my forehead. "I'm so goddamn happy to hear your voice."
"I love you, mom." I tell her, my eyes growing heavy as she says it back to me before leaving the room. I let my eyelids fall shut and drift back asleep for a few moments until the nurse and the doctor walk in.
They do an exam, carefully checking over me to make sure everything seems okay. The doctor turns to talk to me after hanging her stethoscope back around her neck. "You seem to be doing well and being awake is a good sign. You didn't sustain any significant injuries, but you had a pretty bad concussion. Your brain still needs time to heal, so you're going to have to take some time off from hockey until a neurologist clears you."
"How long will that be?" I can't contain the panic that snakes itself around my words. I've had concussions and injuries in the past, but nothing this significant.
The doctor puts her hands in her pockets as the nurse checks my vital signs one last time and asks my mother if we need anything. "It could be anywhere from two to four weeks, so it isn't that much time. But we're going to set up a follow-up appointment for you with neuro once you're discharged, so they will clear you after your appointment as long as you don't have any symptoms."
"Okay." I nod and wince, glancing to the other side as I see movement from the couch. Cara slowly sits up, throwing the blanket off of her. Her eyes find mine and they widen as she sees I'm awake. A smile forms on my lips and she covers her mouth with her hand.
"When will I be discharged?"
"We'll probably keep you one more night, just for observation, and then I don't see why you wouldn't be able to leave tomorrow morning, depenind on your symptoms."
Cara rises to her feet, as quickly as an almost eight months pregnany woman can, and my mother thanks the doctor before she and the nurse leave the room again. I look back at Cara, my expression soft as my eyes search hers.
"Come here, baby."
My mom turns around, her gaze following mine as she sees Cara walking closer to the bed. She looks back at me, her eyes wet as she smiles brightly at me. "I'll give you guys some time alone." She tells me as she rises to her feet and moves out of the way for Cara who walks directly toward me. "Jake wants to see you next, so let me know when I should send him in."
"Thanks, mom." I tell her before directing my attention back to Cara as my mom slips out of the room. Lifting my arms, I reach out for her and she drops down onto the mattress beside me as I wrap my arms around her, enveloping her against my body. She's warm and shivering and smells just like vanilla, like my girl.
"I was so worried about you, Aidan." She breathes, wrapping her arms around me as she rests her head on my shoulder. "When I saw you unconscious in bed, that might have been the scariest moment of my life, Aidan Powell. Don't you dare scare me like that ever again."
A chuckle vibrates in my chest and I bury my face in her hair, breathing her in as I press my lips against the top of her head. "I wasn't trying to scare you. I'm really sorry about your baby shower."
She looks up at me, rolling her eyes.
"Really? You think that's important?"
I smile and put my right hand on her moving belly. "How's my girl?"
"Happy her daddy is awake and fine." She puts her hand on top of mine, moving them where our unborn daughter kicks up a storm agains her mom's skin.
"I love you, Cara Davis. I love everything about my life since you came in it."
She wraps her arms around me. "I've waited my whole life to hear someone say that." She looks up at me. "I'm so glad it's you."
"Fuck, me too, sweetheart." I kiss her long, forgetting our worries now that we're back togheter.