the carpal tunnel of love [chapter fifteen]

Chapter Fifteen
A Widow or a Divorcee?
(note my chapter titles come from whatever I am listening to or whatever comes to mind)

Patrick's POV
"Alexis? Joe! Call 911 right now! Alexis, oh my God," I said, looking at her cheery face losing color and fast. I saw a trickle of blood come from behind her ear and I yelled, "Joe, no time for 911, we have to get to the hospital and quickly!" Joe came rushing in and stood in shock at the terrible sight. Hair straightener in one hand and a razor in the other. Joe just stood there as I said, "Come on, we have to get her up!" Joe nodded slowly and he grabbed her legs and I took her torso. In no time she was up and in my arms with Joe rushing downstairs to get the car ready. "Patrick?" I heard Alexis say in a faint whisper. "Yes, yes, I'm here," I said, brushing back some hair. "I don't want to die," she said in her last breath. I could feel tears come out of my eyes as I put her in the car and we drove to the hospital. It was a silent and depressing ride down to the emergency room. They took her from my arms and placed her on a stretcher and rushed her away. My heart felt so strange. I had only met the girl and I was already falling for her like a lead balloon falling to the ground. I sat down on the plain white couch which seemed to fade into everything in this sad place. People crying, some in joy, some just staring into space.

"Patrick? Patrick!" I heard someone yell from somewhere. I turned and it was Pete, Ryan, Brendon, Spencer, Jon and three girls I did not recognize. One of the girls rushed up and gave me an enormous hug and kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for saving Alexis' life," she said, wiping away tears. "Well thank you, but I don't know if I have saved her life, she is still in a bad coma," I replied, looking sadly at the white tile floor. I could hear the girl choke up again and she ran back into Spencer's arms, who started to comfort her and softly "Shh, Shh" her. I looked at Brendon and gave him a look of utmost dissatisfaction. Brendon just avoided my gave and turned toward the wall. "Where's Joe?" Pete asked. "He is getting Starbucks from a couple blocks down, he should be back soon. It's going to be a late night," I responded. I felt a tap on my left shoulder and it was a rather tired looking nurse with a look of somewhat cheerfulness on her face. "Mr., um, Stump is it?" she asked. "Yes, this is he," I replied, looking at her. "I have some good news for you. Alexis has had her head wound patched up and she is doing well in the ICU," she said. "Well that's great! When can we see her?" I asked anxiously. "In a couple of hours. We are still doing some more test on her," the nurse said, walking over to a couple with tissues in their hands.

I looked over at Ryan, who I had noticed was shaking rather intensely. "Ryan, are you okay?" I asked, walking over to him. "Um, yeah, I just need to sit down," Ryan said, sweat pouring from his temples. It was then I realized Ryan's past and that's why he was so upset. "Do I need to take you to the hotel?" I asked him, patting his back. "No, Patrick, I think I can handle this," he said, rubbing away the sweat but still shaking. I sighed and sat next to him. I layed my head on the soft white couch and slowly drifted into sleep.

I woke up to commotion within our group. "Brendon how could you? How the f**K could you?" I heard a girl shout. I looked up and it was Audrey. Oh, no. "Babe, I'm sorry it was just a fling with some girl!" Brendon replied. Some girl. I could feel my blood start to boil. "Hey! Cut it out!" Joe yelled, making a barrier between Brendon and Audrey. "Move Joe. Move," Audrey said in a calm creepy tone. "No," Joe replied. Audrey ran around him and kicked Brendon really hard in a spot where all men would agree that, "That hurts, man," and smacked him upside the head. "Goodbye, Brendon!" she screamed at him, running out the door. Some nurses had finally awakened from their tiredness and came rushing over. "What happened?" one asked, yawning and looking at Brendon. I could feel my lips begin to move. "Oh nothing, he just got hit upside the head and kicked in the balls and might I say he deserved it!" I said with some strange pride. The nurse looked at me and just scowled. She walked off and Pete said, "What was all that about?" "Well he did cheat on Audrey," I replied, shrugging, trying not to show my true feelings. Brendon, with the help of Ryan, struggled to his feet. Brendon made a face at me as he clutched himself and sat down.

Again, I felt another tap on my shoulder. "Mr. Stump, you may see Alexis now," the nurse said, leading me to a room. Room B13. I walked through the doorway into the periwinkle blue room. Alexis lay there on the white sheets with a pink hospital gown covering her porcelain skin. The heart monitor beeped and my heart jumped a little at the noise. I wondered why the others weren't coming in but soon that didn't matter.

I was alone with her. I moved aside some of her soft brunette hair and smiled. "P-Patrick?" she struggled to say under the influence of all the drugs that she was on. "Yes, I'm here," I replied. "Am I- Am I dead?" she asked her hazel eyes twinkling in the small light of the dark room. I laughed and said, "No silly, you wouldn't be talking to me if you were dead." Alexis smiled a little but then drifted off to sleep again. I leaned over and kissed her on the forehead and began to walk out the door. "Patrick!" she said in an urgent whisper, waking up slightly from sleep. "Yes?" I replied, turning around. "Don't- Don't go," she said breathing in heavily and passing out. I came over to her side at once and caressed her gentle hands. "Mr. Stump?" said a nurse from the door. "Yes?" I said, looking at her. "You must go now, the others want to visit and she may only have one visitor at a time," she said motioning to the others who had concerned looks on their faces. "Okay. Just give me one more minute, please," I said. "Alright, one minute," she replied, closing the door. I looked at Alexis again, who was fast asleep, care of morphine.

"Babe, if you can hear me, I have to go, the others want to visit, I will be here right outside the door if you need me," I said, squeezing her soft hand slightly and kissing her on the lips. I walked out of the door and I heaved a great sigh. The girl who was next to Jon went into the room next. She had silent tears on her face as she passed through the arch of the door. The nurse closed the door behind her and walked off to a couple rooms down. I sat down on the ground next to the door and layed my head against the cold white wall. The image of Alexis lying on the hospital bed could not be erased from my mind as I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, dreaming of her.