I wake up to the sound of machines beeping next to me. The lights are too bright so they hurt but only for a few more seconds as I look around. I try to move but a stabbing pain instantly shoots up my chest, causing me to hiss and lay back down for a few seconds so I can look around.
The sterile smell of antiseptic hits me— Same way the wires all connected to my body do.
I force myself to sit up even though it causes the machine next to me to start beeping loudly. A lady rushes in, a nurse, and hurries to me, her hand instantly going to my back as she says, "You really shouldn't be moving, Miss. You have some fractured ribs. You—"
"Where's my husband?" My throat is parched and talking hurts. Like every vibration my throat makes causes a headache to grow in my head. I hold her hand. "I need… I need to see my husband,"
She's already pushing my hand away gently, her voice slightly worried but reassuring all the same, "We can find him after you fill in certain documents so we can know who you are—"
"What?"
"Someone brought you to the hospital unconscious and left you here with your phone and car keys," She says, her eyes now going to the IV fluid connected to my arm.
I watch her readjust it, my brain scrambling. I'm losing Ethan. I can't— I look around for my phone and just as if she can read my mind, she picks it up from where it is and hands it over to me. "I'll be going to get the Doctor. Just try not to move too much, okay?"
The moment she's gone, I try to call him, it doesn't go through and soon enough, he blocks me. The growing panic in me worsens as I call the only person I know won't hesitate to help me. Her phone rings and soon enough, it goes through. "Mom? I—"
"She doesn't want to talk to you right now, Liana."
Helios's cold voice is the first thing I hear. It's nothing like the one I'm used to hearing. It's more disappointed. Frustrated. "W-What does that mean? You don't understand. I need to—"
"Oh, for hell's sake, just shut up," I freeze as the resentment in his voice shoots through my veins. "My mother's tired of your constant desire for pity and attention. Do you think she wants to handle you in whatever state you're in right now? No. And honestly, neither do I. You're sick, okay? Focus on getting some help and keep my family away from your bullshit."
And then the line goes dead.
For the first few moments, all I can hear is the beeping. It's as if I no longer exist in my own body as I try to figure out what's going on. What did Helios mean? My constant desire for pity? Attention? Did Valerie say that? Did Ethan? What did that mean? Why would he say such a thing?
No. No. I can't lose her too. I can't, I can't.
There's static in my head as I move. Pain ricochets through every part of me but it doesn't compare to the adrenaline bursting in my veins now. I can hear the machine beeping loudly again but I waste no time in ripping out every wire connected to my body and flinging it.
I can't be here. I have to fix my family. I don't want to be alone again.
My legs are shaky as I go off the bed and the blooming fire that erupts all over my body reminds me that some parts of my body is bruised and I shouldn't be walking but I don't care. I don't matter anymore. I never have.
My family was the only thing that was important.
I try to move carefully as the pain worsens, small pants leaving my lips as I find my key on the desk and move out the door.
Every step feels like I'm walking on hot coal but I manage to stay upright, biting down hard on my lips as I fight the urge to cry while I move down the hallway. The hospital is busy— Far too busy to even notice me walking out of the nearest exit back to the real world.
My vision is blurry and I suddenly feel like throwing up as nausea swirls through my belly. I quickly press the buttons on mykey, my car loudly blaring in response to my call.
I hurry to it, trying not to trip over my feet as I reach the door handle and enter. The second I'm in, I rest my head on the headrest and close my eyes before reopening them and staring at my rear view mirror.
One side of my face is bruised and my entire skin is pale— There's sweat all over me as well and I look like I'm about to pass out any minute now. I feel like it too but I also fight down the pain.
The world spins again but I grip the steering wheel tighter, forcing myself to stay focus and awake before I start the engine and drive the car out of the parking lot.
The car swerves easily the moment I start the drive but I manage to regain control of it. The need to throw up fights it's way up my throat again but I swallow it down. The pain in my chest is agonizing, like the more I continue this… Madness of mine, the more prone the rest of my ribs were to fracturing.
But none of it mattered. If I could just talk to Valerie, if I could make her see that—
The sound of my phone ringing instantly snaps me out of my thoughts as I swipe the phone and put it to my ear, raspily saying, "Hello?"
There's static on the other side of the call so I can barely make out what the person's saying. I'm trying to fix my eyes on the road while paying attention to the person on the call. "Ethan? Baby, I—"
"Do not go home."
This voice is rough. Strange and at the same time, it sounds like someone I should know. I take my eyes away for a second as my brain scurries together trying to piece what I can together and when I take my eyes back on the road, the sight of a cat in the middle of it causes me to swerve sharply.
And I lose control of the wheel.
Everything that happens next is in slow motion. The tires screech loudly and for a split second, I try to regain control but it's useless. The steering wheel jerks violently in my hand and the world is suddenly twisting around in a sickeningly terrifying angle.
I feel the impact before I hear it— The car tumbling as metal slams on asphalt, glass shattering all around me with tiny shards stabbing my skin, one large one in particular lodging into my chest, instantly killing me.
And yes, that is how I, Liana Cox-Blake, died.