“Yes, what happened?”
He exhaled, lifted the blanket to my waist, and pushed the button until I was again sitting.
“Doctor?” I asked, wanting answers.
“My name is Neil, I’m your nurse today. You’re very lucky.”
The muscles in my face twitched as I adjusted to the position. “I don’t feel lucky.”
“Not everyone shot at close range wakes up to talk about it.”
Shot.
Van
Iwas shot.
Liv came forward, speaking from behind Neil’s shoulder. “Thankfully, the ambulance was on the scene right away and the bullet missed vital organs.”
“Then why do I feel like I’ve been to hell and back?”
Neil nodded as he held his reassuring smile. “The bullet ruptured your intestines, causing infection.” He sighed. “It’s very common with such a wound.”
None of this was making sense. It was as if they were talking about someone else. “You mean, I had an infection.”
Liv nodded as Neil spoke, “You did. It was best for you to stay asleep, giving the antibiotics time to work.”
“Asleep? Did they?” I asked. “Did the medicine work?”
“Yes, Donovan, your white blood cell count is improving, meaning the infection is nearly resolved.”
My intestine…
Shit.
Literally…shit.
“What damage is there? Will I…?” I wasn’t completely certain what to ask.
“This is where you were lucky,” Neil said. “The surgeon was able to remove the damaged tissue and reconnect your intestine. It will take some time, but you’ll be one hundred percent back to your old self.”
Exhaling, I laid my head back.
“Do you think you can drink for us?” Neil asked.
My gaze shot to Liv.
“He’s stubborn.”
“Fuck that,” I murmured. “I’m not stubborn.”
“Here’s the thing,” Neil said, “the sooner you eat and drink, use the bathroom and walk, the sooner you’ll be going home.”
“I’m kind of tied to this bed.” As the words came out, I was struck with the hole in my chest. It wasn’t from the bullet, but from the loss of my wedding—of Julia. I could see her in my thoughts, teasing me about the forgiveness of satin. Closing my eyes, I saw her—her arms bound to the headboard and her blue gaze fixed on me.
Neil continued speaking even though I quit listening.
Forcing myself to leave my visions of Julia behind, I spoke, “Someone tell me how this happened and where my fiancée is.”