Chapter 2: Alone

Chapter 2: Alone

Bella POV

Water flooded down my throat, choking and burning. The iron bar seemed to be dragging me, pulling me away from Edward, deeper into the dark ocean floor.

My eyes are searching; searching for the exit, the escape button, the switch. They won’t open, but it’s like they can’t close. Something is throbbing, but it’s not a real pain, just a strange feeling. I can’t find it, though; I can’t make out where it is. Maybe I’m dreaming, I’ll wake up and nothing will be the same as here, it will be all right again, how it’s meant to be.

Patient POV

“Her vitals are improving, but we’re still uncertain. The scans are inconclusive, so we’re going to run a few more tests today, take some samples. With any luck we’ll have news by Friday.”

“I hope so. Thanks doc, I really appreciate it.”

The man’s voice broke, whimpering as the doctor reassured him.

“Don’t worry, Charlie, we’ll save her.” The doctor cooed.

There were light footsteps prancing into the room, I looked up, hopeful that George had brought my tea back from the cafeteria. Such a simple gesture seemed confusing to him, I doubt he’ll be back by three. It was a slender girl, her dark hair bouncing with each gentle step as she danced over to the doctor.

“Don’t worry, Charlie, she’ll be fine.” The girl said, rubbing the old man’s shoulder.

He shrugged her off and left the room in a trail of mumbles.

She always had visitors, the girl next to me, it was a real shame she wasn’t awake to see them. I could imagine her surprise, smiling and laughing at all the balloons, tearing the gifts open. Tears brimming from her, her, I wonder what colour her eyes are. Perhaps I’ll never find out.

“Mag, what’re you thinking of now?” George asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Oh, nothing George,” I sighed as he handed me the polystyrene cup.

He rolled his eyes, silently pushed his glasses up his nose and stared blankly at his watch.

“C’mon Maggie, I’m not stupid. She’ll come at five, be on her way here, no doubt.”

“For goodness sake George, she’s always ‘on her way.’ Don’t try and fool me - she isn’t coming, not now, not ever.” I huffed, taking a large gulp from my steaming coffee.

He shrugged and sat at the end of the bed, patting my leg.

Bella POV

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, oh Bella, I’m so sorry,” Alice whimpered, breathing deeply in my ear. She’d been panicking, talking through her plan as she marched up and down.

“Bella, can you hear me? I’m so sorry! Why did I leave you?”

It was Edward speaking - he was apologizing to me; smiling, he had peonies in one hand- I could smell the fresh blossom -his other arm outstretched, cupping my cheek. I blinked rapidly, grinned, and searched the room to meet his worried expression. He beamed and we passionately embraced, tears flooding, until we could not identify where my tears started and his finished. He held my face and started laughing hysterically until he was trembling with delight, face crinkling immaculately. “I thought I had lost you, forever” he whispered, placing tender kisses that covered my moist face.

“Wake up, Bella, please, Bella, just wake up!” Alice cried, dragging me from my dream. She was dialling, jabbing numbers swiftly into the keypad. Her voice was quivering as someone answered.

“Rose, get Edward! Just get him! He needs to come here - you all need to,” Alice continued as Rosalie replied with what seemed like an essay between each word.

“It’s important! Yes, of course it’s about her! What do you mean Rose?! Ugh, I’m at the hospital, look, just get Edward! Yes, now!”

Edward? He’s coming? Oh, Alice! He’s really coming back? What about Jake – he’ll come too won’t he? Maybe I was asleep and didn’t hear him, yeah; Alice probably just scared him off. He’ll come back, I’m sure, and he can’t just leave me here. Alone.

Frustrating, that’s how it feels. I wish I’d just wake up, get this over and done with. Forget this ever happened. I was so stupid, so naive. It was only a voice, just an imaginary hallucination, a fake. Still, it was better than nothing. Better than anything, than this. Maybe this is what it feels like to be dead. People will forget about me soon, they won’t bother to visit, they won’t care about me. I’ll be alone for the rest of my life, hearing patients leave as the doctors wait. They’ll get tired of waiting for me to wake up; they’ll get tired of putting their lives on hold. They’ll return to normal and just get on with their lives. Well, it’s no use, not like they can hear me in here - and if they could, I doubt they can speak crazy.

Jacob POV

“You look so peaceful, Bells. Ugh, I feel so dumb, talking to you like this. Just wake up, for me, Bella? Can you hear me?” I whispered, leaning onto her hospital bed.

I stroked her face with the palm of my hand, hoping the heat will bring her back to me. Then the idea just appeared out of the blue, why didn’t I try this earlier?

“Okay, Bella, I know you’ll probably hate me for this but then again, if it brings you back then, hey – why not!” I leaned over her and held her head in my sweating hands. She was so pretty even with the mess of tubes sliding into her. I checked the heart rate monitor - phew, still alive. I leaned into her so the tips of our noses were touching, and then slid down to place her plump lips onto my moist mouth. She’s gonna kill me. I checked the heart rate monitor again.

“Damn, no change.” I sighed, still hugging Bells to me.

“LEAVE THAT GIRL ALONE!!!” There was a booming yell followed with a heavy object smacking into my back as I rolled from the bed onto the cold floor. The room seemed to double in size as a short woman in a hospital gown started beating me with a pot plant until I could only hear her as a faint cry.

“GEORGE! GET IN HERE!!!”