Piper hands me the ring with a look of confusion on her face. I adjusted the bed so I'm comfortably reclining. Though nothing I do is really comfortable right now. Everything is aching and painful.
I grab Piper's hands and let her sit on the bed facing me.
"Okay, here goes". I said nervously. My chest is beating so hard I think I can hear my heart pounding in my ear.
I look at Piper in the eyes and she gave me an encouraging smile. Okay, I have to do this. I haven't really thought about what to say to her but everything just flow naturally.
"When I think of the future, I like to picture us together because I know you're the only one I want to share the rest of my life with".
I started saying and Piper's eyes began to water.
"All my life all I wanted was someone to care for me, all I wanted was someone who would be there for me and all I wanted was someone like you.
I want to spend the rest of my life with you and I want the rest of my life to start as soon as possible. So please stay with me, and hold my hands.
I promise to love you a little bit more every day and I'd rather die tomorrow than live a hundred years without marrying you".
Piper, then just burst into tears.
"So, Piper Elizabeth Chapman, will you marry me?".
Piper is weeping and she couldn't speak.
"I'd give up anything just to hear a "yes" from you right now". I said.
"Oh Alex, yes!". She shouted.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Yes I am going to marry you!". She said finally. It feels so gratifying hearing her said those words.
I grab the ring and slide it on her finger and I pull her face closer to me and I kissed her gently and softly. I would love to hug her tight but this will do for now. I'll wait till I get better.
"I'd get down on one knee but...". I said jokingly and Piper, laughed.
"You're okay". She assured me.
"I love you so much, Alex!".
"I love you too, Piper".
"I wish Nicky was here". I mumbled.
"I know, she'll be here later". Piper said and she kissed my cheek.
"Yay! We're engaged!". Piper, exclaimed.
*******************************
The pain meds they gave me is totally wearing off. God! This is terrible. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath trying to calm myself, ignoring the spasm of pain. The medicine they give me is making me sleepy and I couldn't afford to close my eyes now.
A nurse came bustling in to check all my tubes and wires.
She was checking the paper readout on my heart monitor.
"Are you feeling anxious? Your heart rate got a little high there. Do you need another pain meds?"
"I'm fine". I assured her.
"Okay". she sighed "Call me when you're ready".
She anxiously glance at the machinery one more time before leaving.
"Why did you refuse the medicine?". Piper asked and her forehead creases.
"I don't need it yet".
"Alex, you're in pain. You need those medicine so you can heal. Why are you being so difficult?"
"It's making me sleepy and I'm not going back to sleep". I argued.
"Babe, you need rest and all this arguing isn't good for you. I'm calling back the nurse".
"Fine! do what ever you want" I challenged.
"Nice try". She said and walk out the door.
"No! Piper!" I yelled.
Shit!
She walk outside and she came back with a different nurse. She looks friendly and she's like in her late 50's.
"Ready for new pain meds, dear?". She asked.
"Yes". I groaned.
She checked the monitor and my vitals.
"See your heart rate here? it's elevated and your blood pressure increases it doesn't look good". She point to the monitor screen.
"Yes you definitely need some pain meds immediately. No need to be shy to ask for it next time,
okay?". She said and look at me under her glasses.
"This can be very dangerous to you dear, it can lead to severe cardiac episodes, stroke or even death and we don't want that". She informed.
Piper, glare at me and gave me that "I told you so" look. She has been bugging me to ask for another dose of pain meds.
The nurse inject the medicine in my IV and check on my vitals one more time. She made sure that my wires are still properly hooked to the right machines before she left.
Piper's POV
Alex is very opinionated and I like that about her because she doesn't easily get swayed by other people's opinion. She has good survival skills and she's smart and calm but she's also very stubborn and she knows what she wants which makes it very difficult for me to deal with her sometimes. She aren't afraid to argue for what she believe in and she doesn't let anybody mess with her.
I wish there's an on and off button somewhere on her, so I can easily persuade her when necessary. Like getting a pain meds.
I don't understand the psychology of it why she refuse to have them. I mean, my brain cannot fathom why?
"You heard what she said?" I started.
I'm starting to get pissed off. After everything that happened to her, I cannot go through that again.
Alex, didn't speak. She just roll her eyes at me. So stubborn.
"You will die if you keep doing that, refusing to get medicine!". I reminded her.
"You know that's not what she said. She said It "can" ". Alex, shot back.
"Okay enough! Stop arguing with me. From now on you will have to listen to me or I'm leaving you here alone. I'm not kidding, Alex!. I threatened.
"Stop making this lightly!".
I shouted.
I can't stand her making fun of her life when I nearly lost her. Seeing her unconscious and broken everyday and not finding out whether or not she will ever wake up. It almost killed me. Some very unpleasant memories were beginning to come back to me.
"You have no idea what I've been through". I continued.
I have to get out of here. I'm so furious. I grab my bag, turn around and walk to the door.
"Where are you going? Piper!".
"I'm sorry okay?".
She apologized but I just kept walking out the door.
I can't believe I lost my temper but she has to know that this is not something to be taken lightly.
It's her life we are talking about.
The elevator opened and Nicky step out.
"Hey, Piper. Where are you going?". She asked.
"Can you watch after Alex today? I wanna go home". I was hoping Nicky would say yes.
"Yes of course, we have so much to catch up on. I'm so pleased she's awake".
"Wait, are you okay?". She asked.
Nicky, behind her humor is very perceptive, she immediate always know when something wrong is going on.
"I'm just tired, that's all". I lied.
"Yes, you don't look good. I'll take care of her you go home and rest. I know you've been so stressed out lately. You don't have anything to worry about now.
Go home! Sleep!". She said dismissively.
"Thank you, Nicky". I hugged her goodbye.
I drove myself home. God, it feels so good to be back. I wasn't able to go home for 2 weeks and I haven't been sleeping well and eating.
The house is clean when I came in. Nicky, must've been spending most of her time cleaning here. She really didn't have to do that.
I went straight to bed. My sheets are clean and they smell so good. Yes, she definitely is cleaning here.
I collapse into bed and the moment my head hit the pillow I just burst into tears. I feel like a heavy weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
I am mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted. My body aches, my back hurts and my head just started pounding.
I am a little bit relieve that Alex finally woke up, she still has a long way to go and her recovery will take a very long time but atleast she's not in danger anymore.
After crying I drift off to sleep.
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Thank you guys for the lovely and sweet messages on my last story. It means a lot to me that you like what I'm doing and it inspires me to write more.