The Hard Truth
"Ahem," the nurse from the doorway, drawing the attention to herself. "Ms. Johnston, I am going to alert your family to your current condition. After I do, we will have to run some tests, and we will get you off the ventilator.
I nodded my head, she left and when to alert my family. I looked back toward the strange guy. He was staring at me with a slight frown for quite some time. I ended up giving him a puzzled look because after what seemed like forever, he spoke.
"Why?" was the only thing that escaped his lips, and he looked as if he were about to cry.
I stared at him, confused, and just shook my head at him. As if saying, I don't know what you mean.
"I know that you were trying to kill yourself. I just can't figure out why. So I'll ask you again once you are off the breathing machine." He said as he stared into my eyes with an incredible amount of intensity. So much so that I had to look away. I ended up choosing to look at my hands. That was when I noticed he was still holding my arm. It was as if he was transferring all his warmth into through that one small spot. It felt so warm and cozy. I didn't want him ever to let go.
"Cheyanne!" my mom cried out in desperation as she ran into the room and wrapped me in a hug.
Tears started to stream down her face, and my heart wrenched. I hadn't thought about how my decision would affect them. I just made my decision and stuck with it. I didn't care what it would do to my family, and it was horrible.
"I am so glad that you are okay," she said as she rubbed my back, still refusing to break the hug.
Her hair was still wet, which meant that my dad must have sent her home to shower, and that's why she wasn't here when I woke up. She must have been on her way back when she got the call that I was awake. I nodded my head and let her hold me. She must have been so afraid. I noticed that my dad was in the room, but he didn't rush me as my mom had. Instead, he gave her space and let her take her time. He looked over at the boy and nodded his head and shook his hand, muttering his thanks. It seemed as if they were comfortable around each other. I wondered how my dad knew this guy who was still nameless to me.
"Adrian, it's good to see you again, dear." My mom said to the dude sitting in the chair.
"It is food to see you again, too, Mrs. Johnston." He said, nodding his head slightly.
"Okay, everyone, I am going to have to ask you all to step out of the room, please. We need to take out the ventilator." The nurse interrupted from the doorway.
After a short while, it was done, and everyone was allowed to come back in. I still wasn't quite sure who the guy named Adrian was or what he was doing here. Everyone took a seat around the room, Adrian was still sitting near me, but this time he was at the foot of the bed holding on to my leg, allowing my mom to bed at the head of the bed holding my hand.
"I am just so relieved that you are okay. I was so worried about you." Mom said tears were forming in the corners of her eyes. "I don't know what we would have done if you weren't there, Adrian." She said toward him.
"Yes, if you hadn't seen her hit her head and fall in, we might have lost her. I don't know what we would have done." Dad chimed in from the corner with a look of concern across his face that hasn't left since he came in.
"I am just glad that I was there too. If I had been any later for our date, I would have missed Cheyanne falling in." Adrian said, looking right at me as if he was explaining the cover story he came up with.
"Yes, I am very grateful you showed up when you did, Adrian," I said, trying not to sound surprised or suspicious. Adrian had covered for me, and it was the least I could do to play along with it...