These blue and red lights are becoming too familiar…This canular in my arm hurts more every time it inserts into my vein…I'm tired of this surgery light above my head but there's one thing I can't get tired of. This warmth on my hand grasping me tightly like if you released your grip, I would let go…
I'm exhausted…where's my mother is she alright. I feel dizzy, the places he touched me are burning. Make it go away, overwrite this agony someone please help me.
"Mia…" Aiden watched her long black lashes flutter, her eyes squinting under the bright hospital lights. In a daze she looked around, it wasn't a nightmare after all. Aiden stroked her bruised face as tears began falling from her faded blue eyes.
"M-My mom…where's my mom?" she said in a panic trying to sit up, Aiden stood up and gently held her down.
"She's fine Mia, it was only a few bruised rips and lacerations. You need to be more concerned for yourself." He said almost angrily, Mia sighed in relief. Thank god her mother was alright. Aiden was slightly unnerved Mia didn't seem panicked or in pain she was generally quite accepting to her predicament.
"Mia, your still in shock you need to rest." Mia squeezed his had and smirked.
"I think I've slept enough…It's hard to believe how much I complain about living but when that was about to be ripped away, I've never strived for something so desperately in my life." Aiden stroked her bruised forehead; this was good that she was talking.
"Talk to me what do you mean?" Mia smiled and looked up at the ceiling reminiscing her thoughts before she passed out on Aiden's lap.
"I thought about all of the people under my care and how hopeless they would be without me, my mother in particular. Then, I thought about you and how comforting it was to die in the arms of my first love. But as those thoughts crossed my mind, I realized I was giving up, I was being too accepting. So, I begged, and I cried, and I fought to stay alive because I know you wouldn't know what to do without me." Mia was chuckling and crying at the same time, Aiden was also teary eyed, it must have been terrifying for her.
"What's the damage?" she said worriedly, she could feel the pain radiating around her broken body. Aiden looked away for a second, it would be hard to tell her this.
"Your ribs are broken, and you have a fractures wrist, your legs are bruised but thankfully not broken but you stab wound caused a lot of complications…" he said painfully attempting to ease her, but his eyes were full of devastation.
"It's okay I can take it." Mia already knew what he was going to say, judging by the depth and area of trauma she could guess what had happened.
"The doctors told me there may be a chance… you can't have children, but it's not set in stone. I-I'm so sorry…" Aiden coiled like a dead spider in guilt as Mia sat up in shock. Not only had Sam broken her body but her future too.
"Is that so…I'm sorry too. I guess I was too reckless." Aiden looked at her with such sympathy it made her heart break.
"Why are you apologizing to me? Mia you did nothing wrong, I'm just happy I can still talk to you and touch you." Mia stroked his face adoringly; she had also decided something else in her last moments. That if she survived, she would stop punishing him.
"It was always our plan to have children, I guess I've ruined that too." Aiden's eyes widened in hope.
"Are you saying?" Mia nodded her head.
"I lied when I said I was happy without you; in truth I was miserable. When you cried for me it made me realized how much you treasure me, and if you'll still have me, I would like to stay by your side. I-I k-know that selfish of---" Before Mia could say another word Aiden rushed up and pressed his lips against her so forcefully it took her breathe away. It was as if he'd been holding back since she left him.
"No, you're not selfish it just makes us even now. Does that mean you forgive me?" Mia was still stunned and her face blushed bright red. It was strange how much you miss a sensation after going without it for so long.
"You were never to blame in the first place, but I know if you hadn't of been there that night I would have died. You saved me Aiden. Thankyou." Aiden wrapped his arms around her after pushing her head into his chest, Mia could hear his heart beating heavily and smiled a wide grin.
"I'm surprised, I never thought you would let me hold you like this again." He said in disbelief even when Mia was on deaths door, she always had a way of reassuring him. His heart was so content he never wanted to let her go again.
"Me neither but we always get brought back together one way or another so maybe it's time to stop fighting fate…and each other." She said cheerfully on the end, Mia pulled away and leaned to kiss her once more when they heard her hospital door creak open.
"Mia!" Mia eyes filled with tears seeing her mother run over and hold her. It was like being a nurtured child again, it was bliss being cradled by the woman she thought would be lost in her mind forever. Mia pulled back and began assessing her body for injuries.
"Are you okay?" Mia said worriedly, Jane began chuckling.
"You can't be serious sweetheart; you were like a warrior in there. You saved us both and your asking if I'm alright." Aiden sat back and watched the nostalgia radiate from Mia like a heat wave. It was warm and comforting. Mia slowly began to realize that this was the first time Aiden and his other had been in the same room since they dated in high school.
"Aiden…" Aiden startled looked up at Jane sheepishly. Mia could see the guilt in his face but what happened next made her the happiest girl alive.
"You saved my daughter yet again; I would like to thank you for that. Also…I have no hostile feeling towards you at all, if there's one thing Mia as taught me is just because you are born from bad eggs does not mean you cannot be kind. I see how happy she is with you and I would like to ask you to care for her from now on." Aiden mouth was wide open, he expected to be yelled at, hit but praised? His mind couldn't keep up. Mia began crying yet again she took Aiden hand for reassurance.
"I'll be in your care then." She said playfully. Aiden nodded and bowed to Jane as a sign of respect.
"Thankyou, I will take good care of her."
----------------------------Two weeks Later--------------------------
"Dr. James your recovery has been remarkable, but we would still recommend some bed rest before you return to work, your injury can't be strained, or it will open up again." Mia listened obediently to her doctor.
"I understand thankyou very much doctor." Mia stretched as she stood up and walked up to the open window, the cherry blossoms were blooming again. Its pink delicate petals floated through the window lighter than clouds. Mia looked down seeing her saviour rushing through the visiting doors below still dressed in his Armani suit.
Mia quickly glanced in her bedside mirror and sure enough she still looked like a sick person, but Aiden never really seemed phased by that sort of thing, he still walked in and admired her like a jewel regardless.
"Hey." His cheerful smile peaked around the door, Mia walked over and hugged him tightly. Aiden tried not to squeeze her too hard, he treated her like glass she thought but it was cute, so she kept her mouth closed.
"Should you be walking about?" he said concerned, Mia flicked his forehead.
"I get discharged tomorrow then I'm free as a bird. Have the detectives been in contact yet?" Aiden rubbed his neck nervously; Mia had noticed he'd lost some weight after her accident probably lack appetite due to stress. His cheekbones were much more pronounced, and his jawline was sharp enough to cut skin.
"They have a court date set for a few weeks when your fully recovered, Sam's still in custody and his bail was denied so you don't have to worry." Mia was still looking at him curiously, Aiden raised his eyebrow as her fingers began tracing his facial features.
"Your pushing yourself too hard, come on were getting dinner." Before he could object Mia gripped his hand and dragged him to the dining area. Aiden couldn't object as she ordered for them both, Mia was full of energy today.
"What is it?" he said subconsciously rubbing his cheeks, Mia chuckled and shoved an egg roll in his face. Aiden smirked and opened his mouth; Mia had also lost some weight laying around. Since the attack she hadn't eaten very much at all everything she tried tasted like ash, memories of Sam's lips on hers would haunt her. Mia tried to eat as carelessly as she could, but Aiden could see each bite was a struggle.
"How was work?" Aiden shrugged his shoulders; work was work it wasn't as interesting as Mia's, but she always asked anyway and secretly it made him happy she worried about him.
"It was hectic after I called off my engagement with Alice. Paparazzi have been swarming the place." Mia felt the fork slip from her hands banging off the table, people turned around to look as Mia sat there motionless.
"Y-You called it off. What about your parents won't they—"
"Mia." He said sternly, Mia gulped she never expected him to call it off so soon, but it made her overjoyed.
"I was never going to marry that awful woman to begin with, so it wasn't much of a shock to them and even if it was, I don't care. I want you end of story." Mia settled herself but couldn't help the small smile creep up on her. Aiden could see her radiating happiness and smiled widely. Then, something his parents mentioned crossed his mind, but he wasn't sure if Mia was up for talking about it.
"Was it true you went to see my parents the day he broke up?" Mia's body froze up, she prayed he would never find out about that. Hesitantly she decided that now was not the time to bring it up.
"Um…I did but can I tell you about it when we get home please…" Aiden nodded and took her hand. A conversation with his parents was never something to chat happily about so he completely understood.
"Your mother seemed pretty happy with her own apartment; she didn't mind me helping her move in either. I don't know what you said to her but I'm grateful she treats me like a friend rather than an enemy." Mia felt that warmth washes over her again, it was a miracle her mother accepted Aiden, so the feelings attached were still raw.
"As much as I enjoy telling people how amazing you are, my mother made that decision herself. When we were dating, she always used to comment how happy I was, and I guess she wanted that for me again. Trust me, your privileged." She chuckled. They laughed and talked the rest of the meal and slowly began to accept that the feeling they had for one another was stronger than ever and the disaster of a cohabitation they previously had was just testing the waters. Now Sam was in jail they had one less person to worry about but there was one person that Aiden couldn't get out of his mind…
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Aiden scowled as Mika walked in with his shiny white teeth that he would love nothing more than to knock them out.
"I'm doing good, I get out tomorrow so I'm feeling revitalized." Aiden watched them chatting in their own little bubble trying not to get too jealous. Mia could feel the gloom dancing over Mika's head as Aiden's eyes burned into his skull. Mia tried her best not to burst out into laughter seeing his sulking face.
"We should have a drink to celebrate I your up for it?" Mia was just about to answer when Aiden objected.
"Sure, where were you thinking?" he said sarcastically, Mika glared at him. Mia put her hand over her mouth trying to hide her smile.
"Wherever Mia wants to go, who said you were invited?" Aiden smiled at Mia, sending her a secret message which she deciphered perfectly.
"I can't drink with the painkillers I'm taking but maybe when I'm fully recovered, we can all go somewhere together." Aiden grinned in victory, that was his girl. Mika grumpily accepted and left not long after. Mia yawned in exhaustion she forgot how draining human interaction was, but she never got it with Aiden. They were like gasoline and fire; he knew how to make her happy and vice versa. Sneakily he lay down in her hospital bed and hugged her tightly under they embraced each other hanging on so they wouldn't fall off.
"So, are you moving in with me again?" he said cheekily, Mia pushed him until he was basically dangling from the bed. She panicked as he was about to fall and pulled him close until his aquamarine eyes were inches from hers.
"Have you missed me that much?" she said tauntingly, he nodded enthusiastically.
"Can I ask you something? Why did you come back to me?" he asked intrigued. Mia took a deep breathe that was a tough question for her.
"Honestly when we talked in the rain it reminded me that you know me better than anyone and I know you. I thought it would be a waste after all of that time we spent getting to know each other again. Plus, if I saw another picture of you and that woman, I was going to kill you." She joked but Aiden was looking at her intensely, she suddenly realised it was like a confession and she went red from ear to ear.
"I'm happy you gave me another chance; I swear to you I will never hurt you like that again." Mia snuggled into his chest; his scent was such a comfort for her. It made that protective bubble envelope her again.
------------------------------Discharge day--------------------------
Mia packed up all of her belongings and began sorting through the hospital draws for her discharge papers, Aiden finished at 7pm that day so she had plenty of time to relax but the excitement of going outside made her giddy.
"Dr. James how are you feeling this morning?" Mia rolled her eyes slightly, she felt like her day was looped hearing the same question and voice every morning.
"I feel great, the wounds healing fine. My boyfriend will be here to pick me up this afternoon." The doctor sat down and began writing notes, the click of his pen grinded on her there was nothing more she hated than unnecessary noise. Mia ignored his presence and continued packing.
"Okay, we have organized a referral for you, they should be in contact within the next couple of days." Mia froze and gave him a peculiar look. Wasn't that a check-up? Why would she need a referral her name was registered under this hospital?
"Excuse me but what would the referral be for?" she said nervously, the doctor looked a little afraid to say anything but plucked up the courage to discuss it with her.
"Dr. James you're the best mental health clinician in Hangzhou but we are concerned about the after affects of the trauma you experienced." Mia felt suddenly inferior; they wouldn't have made a referral without evidence of emotional distress which she hadn't identified herself.
"What would I be treated for; I feel perfectly fine." Her doctor stood up awkwardly, it was tough breaking new like this to someone in the same profession.
"We've been assessing you and you have shown signs of Post traumatic stress disorder which is perfectly normal after what you experienced so we would like to refer you in order to be on the safe side." Mia was completely dumbfounded, she felt like the tables had been turned on her.
"That's not possible, I can't work in my sector with PTSD if you diagnose me this will ruin my career. I'm perfectly fine please cancel the referral." She said sternly, this was the last thing she expected to come of this situation and the fear in her heart was extreme.
"I'm sorry but we cannot due that it is our jurisdiction to support you with your illness. Your career may have to be put on halt for now and I apologize for that. We just want the best for you Mia." Mia felt like caving his head in, this couldn't be happening to her.
"Bullsh*t, I haven't come this far to be reprimanded now. I have patients waiting for me that need serious treatment, I am the only one qualified to help them my staff are not trained efficiently in that area. You can't do this to me please." The doctor looked away sadly, it was clear how important Mia's job was to her and this must have come as a shock.
"I'm sorry but I have no choice please keep your phone on for the next few days and I wish you a full recovery." With that he left before the conversation could get any more heated. Mia slumped down on her bed, she felt totally defeated. Sam had taken her future, her mentality and her valuable time in the space of twenty minutes. The rage inside of her belly was formidable.
"You'll pay for this…" she whispered behind heavy tears; Mia was ready to fight for her resolve. It was time to make sure that man never hurt her ever again.