Bring Me Back by Taryn Plendl Read Free Book Online

waiting room.  It is very early morning.  I’m alone, but I can’t seem to bring myself to look around.  My heart is beating so rapidly that I swear I can feel it in my throat, making it hard for me to swallow. Remembering what was, accepting what now is, living with what will never be the same again, is the part that causes the most pain.  I miss Laney so much it kills me.  Just being here, a place like where I was forced to spend so much of my last year with her, brings the pain and loneliness straight to the surface, and I realize just how fresh my wounds still are.
“Mr. Rhodes?”  I jump up too fast, and a hand grabs my elbow to steady me.  “I’m sorry Doctor,” embarrassed that I am such a mess.  He smiles gently at me and motions me to sit as he sits in the chair next to me.  ”Miss. Mitchell is in recovery.  She did well during the surgery, and it’s a good thing we got her in when we did because her appendix looked like it might have ruptured at any moment. “I nod because I’m not sure what else to do.  “We were able to do the surgery laparoscopic, through small incisions and a camera.  I would like to watch her for the rest of the day.  If she is able to start walking, we will think about discharging her this evening.”  He continues, “She will be pretty sore for the next 3-5 days.  I assume she won’t be alone?”  He asked raising his eyebrow at me.  “Um… of course, I will plan on staying with her.”  What? I can’t believe I am agreeing to this.  He nods and tells me they will come and get me when she is moved to her room.  “Thank you.”  I manage, before he leaves.
***
When I walked into the room, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.  I made it around the bed where Ally lay sleeping and plopped myself down in the chair by the window.  The view out the window was beautiful.  I could see the mountains and my heart longed to be out of this suffocating room and back on my porch, away from the memories that had been closing in on me since I set foot into this hospital. I needed to feel the mountain breeze on my face and smell the fresh pine and rain that had been a source of comfort for me.
I heard Ally move and moan just a bit, and was immediately brought back to the reason why I was here.  I watched her closely as her eyes fluttered a bit, but remained shut.  She really was a stunning young woman.  Her hair was a chestnut brown with what I could only assume were natural highlights, as I didn’t think she would have gone anywhere to get them done.  It was very long and lay cascading around her pillow.  Her skin was light with a sprinkling of freckles across her nose, and her lips were full and slightly parted as she slept. 
She turned her head again and I was stunned to see what looked like a long crescent shaped scar running along the right side of her head, above her ear.  I stood up to get a closer look.  It could easily be covered by her hair, but at the moment it lay exposed.  What happened to you Ally?   My mind screamed as I slowly reached out—before I could top myself—and ran my index finger along the length of the scar.  It was smooth, and obviously well healed. I pushed some of the hair that had fallen against her cheek, back behind her ear and sat down, resting my head in my hands once again.
     

Chapter 17
~Ally
I opened my eyes and it took a minute to remember where I was.  I felt carefully along my belly and my breath caught as I came in contact with the three small bandages.  They were very tender, and the rest of my body felt stiff.  I tried to move a little, to shift up in the bed, but a sharp pain shot through my stomach and I gasped.
“Ally?” I looked to the right and saw a very worried Ian staring at me.  “Hey.”  I managed through my scratchy throat. “Hi. How are you feeling?”  He asked with his eyebrows knitted together tightly.  “I feel like I got kicked in the stomach by a horse.” 
“I’m sure you