Blood Mates

Trauma

Paige woke up in the hospital sore all over and confused. When she sat up, she felt her neck was stiff as hell. Fingers lightly fluttering over it, Paige felt a band aid was slapped over it and breathed out confused as she looked around.

As her heartbeat began to race, her monitor went nuts causing two nurses to run in. Her mom, Rita, following with a watery cup of coffee in hand looking exhausted.

“Baby?” Rushing to her daughter, Rita looked her over as the nurses explained to Paige what happened. “Paige sweetie you’re in the hospital but you’re safe now okay?” An older brunette told her gently. Paige slowly nodded and as the other nurse left, the brunette, Melissa, turned to look at her.

“Do you remember what happened sweetie?” Paige shook her head, head hurting as she whispered, “No.” The nurse looked at Rita who nervously stroked her daughter’s hair. “Well our neighbors heard something in the back yard. They found you face down in snow bleeding from your neck. It looked like some kind of animal had attacked you.”

Paige felt fear rise in her every time she tried to remember what happened. She felt it like ice going through her veins making her heart race.

 Melissa calmed her, “Don’t push yourself sweetie. You lost a lot of blood and you were almost hypothermic when you were brought in. It’s okay if you’re having trouble remembering, maybe even better for you.”

Rubbing her hair, Melissa gently told her, “We’re going to bring you something to eat yeah? Chocolate or vanilla cake?” Paige smiled a little at the kind nurse, “Chocolate.” Melissa left to get her food and Rita looked down at her daughter seriously, her dirty waitress uniform looking even dirtier in the florescent light.

“Were you on something?” Paige didn’t even bother to look at her, “No.” Rita blew out an aggravated breath, “Don’t lie Paige. They know your history and did a drug test. If your P.O finds out you were on something-.”

Paige looked at her mom angry now, “I wasn’t! I was found in the backyard after being attacked by some f*****g animal waiting for you to come home! Because I don’t feel safe in it alone with just him!” Rita stiffened as she tensely whispered, “That’s not fair.”

Turning away from her, Paige hissed, “Sure it’s not.”

Rita said nothing but instead looked at her watch and then the door. “I need to go home and rest. I have another shift in three hours. Get yourself home and lay down when they discharge you.”

Paige said nothing and instead just listened to her mom rush to the door. After she was gone, Paige went to the bathroom and felt her breathing pick up. Running her hands through her hair, Paige’s view was fuzzy as her head throbbed.

Leaning against the sink, Paige panted as she braced herself. When she looked up, she screamed when she saw Donny standing behind her in the mirror. But when she turned, she was still alone.

“Paige sweetie are you okay?” Paige heard Nurse Melissa asking the question, but she couldn’t answer it. Not when she felt like she’d never be okay again.