Page 413 of Seasons of Love
Easier said than done when the men wouldn't stop the chiseling. Come on. Lunch break, anyone?
Another memory came to me. Someone throwing a rope and telling me to tie it around my waist. Being pulled up. Slipping and hitting my head.
I must be at the hospital.
Everything was fuzzy at first, and my eyes didn't seem able to focus. I could tell there were two things next to me, but I couldn't tell what they were.
I blinked a few times and willed my eyes into focus. It happened slowly, and as the faces became clear, the headache subsided a little. Or maybe I imagined it.
Was this real? Were Mal and Jake really here? Together?
I smiled at them, and they smiled back.
"Man, whatever drugs they gave me, can I have a daily dose? Like, forever?"
Their hands were on mine, so that explained the warm weight. I brought them up to my face and inhaled before gripping tighter and resting them on my chest.
They weren't going to get away from me. Ever.
Mal leaned over and caressed my face with his free hand before giving me a kiss. Oh, how I’d missed him. So much.
I needed Jake too, so I reached out for him. He looked at Mal, who nodded, and when I pulled him in for a kiss, he came.
My two favorite pairs of lips.
"Hmm, that's better. I can die now."
I closed my eyes again. They felt heavy, and I was glad I'd managed to keep them open long enough.
Mal chuckled. "You're not dying, baby. As for the drugs, I'm not sure yet, but sleep if that's what you need. I'll be here when you wake up."
"Promise?" I slurred.
"With my whole heart. Always."
I was going to collect on that promise later, but there was somewhere else I needed to be first. I just hoped there was a dream Mal and a dream Jake to keep me company because I didn't want to have to wait to wake up again to see them both.
The next time I came back to consciousness, my head didn't hurt as bad. Maybe the tiny men had finished for the day. I could only hope.
This time the weight on top of me was Mal's head. He was asleep.
I ran my hand over his forehead and the crease between his brows relaxed until he opened his eyes and smiled when he met mine.
"Hey, sleepyhead," he said. "How do you feel?"
"Much better."
"Good," he said before standing up and then lying on the bed next to me and pulling me into his arms.
"I was so scared," he said. "I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life…when I couldn't get ahold of you…"
"Hey, it's okay, I'm here, and you're here," I said.
Mal kissed my head and ran his free hand down my cheek until it rested over my heart.
"Do you know when we can go home?" I asked.
"The doctor came in earlier while you were asleep. You have a concussion, which you apparently sustained not when you were falling down a bunch of rocks, but when they rescued you." He chuckled, and I felt him shake his head.
