Chapter 2
Hello!!! I wanted to point out that i do not own the song "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri. but i wish i did, i love that song so much. enjoy :)
I looked at him incredulously. “What did you just say?” I asked, my voice shaking.
And then everything hit me. Everything that had been missing or didn’t make sense in my mind came together and clicked. It all made sense. I looked at my son as memory after memory flooded my mind. I just stared at him, speechless. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t think, I couldn’t speak. I was frozen. I few tears escaped my eyes and I tried to move to hug my son, but I couldn’t. I willed for my arms to move, but they didn’t listen.
“What’s wrong with my arms?” I asked, trying to keep calm, but I couldn’t keep the hint of hysteria out of my voice.
“What do you mean?” my son asked getting up, worry written all over his face. He rushed to my side and tore the sheets off of me.
My body was covered in bruises and scrapes. Both of my legs were in a cast and so was my arm. I started to panic, but looked at Carter, my son Carter, and tried to calm down for his sake.
“It’s ok baby, I’m fine. Just sit down.” I said and he listened. “Is your head ok?” I asked worriedly, trying to change the subject.
Recognition crossed his face as if he just remembered he had a huge gash on his forehead. His fingers moved to the gash and touched it, but quickly pulled away and he winced.
“Honestly, I didn’t really think about it.” He shrugged.
“Well, what did the doctor say?”
“I said that he should be taking it easy and that he should stay in bed for a couple of days to rest your body after your traumatic experience.” A voice said from the door way.
I tried to move my neck, but it was in some sort of neck brace and didn’t budge. My eyes shifted to a tall man in his 40’s in a white lab coat that strode through the wide doorway and took a seat on a stool with wheels on it. He scooted over to my bedside and took the clipboard off the hook next to my bed and began looking at the results.
Now that he was closer I could see he had short spiky blond hair and brilliant blue eyes. His name tag read Dr. Plunter and I stifled a laugh at his last name.
“Well, it’s hard to say the results.” He said, taking a quick glance at my son and then looked back at the clipboard.
I got what he was saying and turned my head to Carter. “Honey, I’m a little thirsty. Do you think that you could get me a cup of water?”
“Of course, I’ll be right back.” He replied hurriedly and stood up.
“Take your time.” I called after him as he dashed out the door and down the hall way.
I looked at Dr. Plunter and took a deep breath, preparing myself for the news he was going to deliver. He finally looked up from his intense stair at the clipboard and looked directly into my eyes. I could see the sorrow in them, and that only made me feel worse. I couldn’t take it anymore so I spoke. “Now doctor, I don’t want any bull shit. Just give it to me straight.” I stated bluntly.
“Of course. As you can see your legs and arm are broken, 6 broken ribs, and your neck was broken severing your spinal cord and rendering you paralyzed. You are incredibly lucky to be alive. I honestly don’t know how you survived, but it was a miracle.”
I was speechless. I was paralyzed? This couldn’t be happening. Then something in my chest didn’t seem right. I couldn’t catch my breath. The heart monitor next to me beeped frantically and Dr. Plunter stood up quickly. He checked all of the machines as blackness crept around the edges of my eyes. My eyes shifted to the doorway as nurses poured through, and then finally Carter stumbled in.
He dropped the water that was in his hand and rushed to my side. He gripped my hand that was lying lifeless at my side. “Mom! What’s wrong? You’re going to be alright, you have to be! You can’t leave me! You can’t leave me like dad did! Mom!” he yelled frantically into my ear.
Tears cascaded down from my eyes. Carter was ripped from the side of the bed by a muscular man and was carried out the door. I could feel a poke in my arm and I could instantly feel my muscles starting to relax. I eventually closed my eyes and drifted away.
“The killer must still be in this house somewhere, lurking, waiting for the perfect time to strike.” The detective stated and all of the surrounding people gasped. At the same time so did Carter and I, jokingly. We looked at each other and started laughing uncontrollably.
We were sitting in my living room on the couch wrapped up in a blanket. I had my head laid on his chest and my arm wrapped around his torso while his arm was draped across my shoulder. The only light in the room was coming from the TV that was playing an old black and white murder mystery.
“More popcorn?” Carter asked.
“Of course.” I replied and he plopped a couple of pieces of popcorn in my mouth.
It was winter break and my parents were out of town, so Carter was over to spend the night and keep me company. A horrendous blizzard was developing outside and the wind howled fiercely. I scooted even closer to Carter and held the blanket tighter. He looked down at me and smiled.
“Is someone afraid of a storm.” He asked.
“No, of course not.” I said sarcastically.
He puffed up his chest and said, “Do not be afraid, fair maiden, for I am here to protect you.” I poked his stomach and his chest immediately deflated.
“Oh, sure. My knight in shining armor.” I rolled my eyes but smiled.
Then the lights and TV sputtered out and the normal hum of the heater disappeared, leaving us in complete and utter darkness. With all of the noise gone, the ruckus outside was even louder and scarier. Branches scratched against the side of the house, pellets of ice and snow hit the shingles and then there was the chattering of my teeth.
Carter spoke, “The power went out.”
“Oh really?! Thanks for that tid-bit of information, captain obvious.”
“I just thought I would let you know.” His voice was calm and soothing. “I’m going to go get some flash lights. I’ll be right back. Just stay here.” He got up and wrapped the blanket tightly around me. Before he left I quickly gripped his wrist.
“Don’t leave me.” I pleaded.
He just looked at me. He bent down and kissed my forehead, “I will never leave you.” He said reassuringly and blindly set off for the kitchen.
I could here him shuffling about and then a cupboard squeaked open. He returned a second later with two flashlights and flicked them on. It was getting colder in the room by the second. I sighed and when I exhaled I could see my breath. I wrapped my arms around me and started shivering.
When Carter realized how cold I was he set me on his lap and started rubbing my arms.
A half hour later we were talking underneath a blanket while hugging each other for warmth.
“I’m so bored.” I mumbled.
“I know how to fix that.” He whispered.
“Carter!” I yelled and punched him in the arm.
He looked at me and realization dawned on his face as he realized what I was getting at. “No! Not THAT. Gosh, get your mind out of the gutter.”
“Then what?”
He held out his hand and I took it. “Follow me.”
He kicked off the blankets and led me to the center of the room. He held me close and we started rocking back in forth. It was then I realized how much he was shaking. Not from the cold, but from fear. Now that I was this close, I finally saw all of the symptoms of Carter when he's afraid. He was shaking, his breath was un-even, he was bouncing from foot to foot. But just as I was about to say something he started to sing.
Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How can I love when I’m afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow
I smiled as I recognized the song and closed my eyes, listening to his mellow voice and feeling his chest rise and fall against mine.
When the song was finished I didn’t feel cold anymore. I looked up at him and he looked down at me.
“I love you so much.” He whispered.
“I love you too.”
I got on my tip-toes and lightly kissed him in the lips. As I did the TV returned to life. We separated and looked around. A few seconds later Heat rushed out of the vents I sighed in relief and we shuffled back to the couch and settled into each other again.
Carter’s P.O.V
By the time the movie ended, Aubree was already asleep. I lightly brushed the hair out of her face with my thumb and placed it behind her ear. I kissed her forehead and whispered, “I will always be there for you.”
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