“Gone? Like in jail?” The thought of him going to jail doesn’t really sit well with me. It sounds more like a free ride for him than anything.
“No, Elyse. He’s dead,” he says the words without showing any emotion. “I killed him.”
To my utter surprise, my first thought is Hero might go back to prison. I’m not scared or shocked. Above all, I’m scared to lose Hero. “What about the police? Does anyone know?” I whisper, like someone might be listening from the corner of the room.
“Damon took care of it,” is all he offers.
I decide to leave it at that. I really don’t want to know any of the details. I’m just glad he is gone and Hero is safe. Maybe all can finally be right in the world again.
“Your parents stopped by to see you.”
My eyes go wide at his words.
“I didn’t let them in, though. I didn’t think you’d want them here, so I sent them away. I also may have threatened them.” He gives me a pant-melting smile that leaves me weak in the knees.
“Good, I never want to see them again. I never want to be in the same room with them again. I hate them. I truly do!” The image of my mother walking away from me, leaving me in that basement will haunt me forever.
“Did you know they were there? They came to get me. I begged them, Hero. I begged for her to stay, and she left—walked right up the stairs. She fucking left me there.” Emotions swirl out of control inside me. It’s like a raging wildfire is taking place and I have nowhere to escape from getting burnt.
Hero nods, and his jaw tightens. His emerald green eyes fill with a fury that matches my own. “Well, you don’t have to see them ever again. If that’s what you want, baby, I’ll make sure of it.”
I hold Hero’s hand in mine and thank god I’m here with him. That I can feel his touch, that he made it to me in time.
We sit in a comfortable silence for a long while.
The nurse comes in a short time later and takes me off some of the machines so I can start getting up and moving around. I’m still sore all over, but being able to walk around the halls and to the cafeteria is nice.
Even nicer is when Hero helps me into the shower. He washes me from top to bottom, taking care of me better than any nurse ever could. By the time I’m done, I feel ten times better. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Most of my injuries are purple and green partially healed bruises.
Hero presses kisses against the entire side of my face, telling me how perfect I am.
As promised, the doctor runs more tests on me, taking blood samples, urine samples. Like I haven’t been poked with needles and ordered around enough already.
By the end of the day, I’m so tired of this hospital, I just want to go back to Hero’s place. I want to go home. After nagging the doctor and nurses all day, I’m told I can go home in the morning if all my bloodwork comes back normal.
When I’m too exhausted to keep my eyes open any longer, Hero folds open the recliner next to my bed and lies down on it.
“I can’t wait to sleep in bed next to you,” I mumble, my eyes heavy. Hero’s hand remains in mine, centering me, reminding me I’m not alone and never will be.
“Tomorrow, baby. Tomorrow,” he whispers, moving enough to press his lips against my forehead. “I love you, Elyse. I love you so much.”
His I love yous are like a lullaby lulling me into a restful sleep.
***
I’m woken in the morning by a soft knock I’m already familiar with. It’s Dr. White. As soon as I realize it’s her, I’m wide awake sitting straight up in bed, a smile lining my lips. “Please tell me you are here to let me know all my bloodwork is good and I can go home?”
Hero stirs beside me, probably from the excitement zinging through me.
“I did get your bloodwork back and you are very healthy and ready to go home.”
I sigh in relief at her words.
“But before I can release you, I need to talk to you about something I noticed when I was looking at your results.”
“What’s wrong?” Hero asks the question running through my head. He’s now sitting straight up, his eyes open wide, as he waits for her next words.
“Well, nothing is wrong…not really. It’s just that you are pregnant. Very early stages, but we were able to detect the hormone change in your blood already.”
I keep blinking as if to make sure I’m not imagining this. It takes a minute for what she just said to sink in. “Pregnant? Like a baby?” My words are shaky.