Chapter 27- Awake

My throat felt like the Sahara Desert as I felt my toes twitch.

The enhanced sound of a constant beeping was almost deafening to my ears, and my nose twitched under the strong smell of hand sanitiser and bleach. My eyes felt glued shut as I tried to open them, and I noticed it felt like days since I've used any of my senses.

I tried to shift, tried to move, but a sharp pain in my lower back and waist sent me in a stiffened, still state. I heard myself wince, which only sent more unwanted dry air to my parched throat. I erupted into a series of coughs, and I heard a low gasp near by me as I finally forced my eyes open.

The first thing I was met with was a bright, white tiled roof. My vision was then invaded by a woman's face and brown curls. I blinked a few times to get my vision clearer, and eventually, I recognized her as my mother.

"Mom?" I tried to say, but erupted in coughs again due to my throat.

I was grateful when I felt the plastic rim of a bottle being put to my lips, and I greedily gulped it all down, forcing my hand up to even grab it from my mom. I noticed I had a drip in my hand, and I was connected to a machine, which oddly worried me. That's when it all came back. Jason confessing. Mia being caught. An officer stabbing me. How was I even alive?

Nonetheless, it didn't matter. I was just happy to be alive, despite the uncomfortable feeling in my back. I could hear the door opening as I attempted to get up.

I felt starved, my body felt weird, and I couldn't feel all my limbs. It then occurred to me that I was stabbed in my back. Could it have damaged my spinal cord and my ability to move? Panic rose in me as I darted my eyes around the room, feeling like I was about to cry.

I wasn't even hearing what my mom was saying--or apologizing about. I just heard 'sorry' a lot, but my brain was still adapting to the environment.

A middle aged man came in my view, and it was quite obvious that he was the doctor. I was relieved and scared at the same time. He was going to answer all my questions. How bad was I? How long was I even out for? I felt like I needed Tristan too. I couldn't shake the disappointment I felt when I saw that he wasn't here.

But then again, I had no clue how long I had been sleeping, and I'm sure he didn't stay here with me 24/7 as it seemed my mom did.

"Hello Cianna. It's nice to finally meet you. I'm Dr. Monroe." He greeted me as he approached me with a clipboard and a huge smile. I nodded, since my mind couldn't form words just yet. "I'm just going to do a few tests okay? To see if everything is good with you"

I nodded again before he did simple tests, checking my pulse, listening all over my body with his stethoscope, and shining a light in my eyes. Everything, to him, was okay so far. And I dared myself to ask what the question that had been on my mind for minutes.

"Um..D-Doctor?" I coughed as I regained control over my voice. "I cant feel one of my legs. Is it-will it be permanent? I was stabbed in my back. Does that mean..." I trailed as my eyes watered.

I've seen enough movies to know how dangerous a damaged spinal chord was. But luckily, he offered me a small smile.

"That's normal for someone who has been out that long. Luckily for all of us, the knife was only an inch away from your spine. You got lucky" He explained as I let out a breath I'd been holding. That was good to know.

"How long was I out for?" I asked, as he looked towards my mom and me. "Huh?"

"You were out for four days honey" My mom told me, and my eyes widened in horror?

"Four days?" I echoed. "Wasn't it just a stab?" Anyone who heard me probably thought I was crazy. Of course it was dangerous, and most definitely scary. But I wasn't in a car accident or anything.

"It took a while for you to stabilise Cianna. Pretty normal" I nodded as Dr. Monroe finished, as I remembered it all over again. I was stabbed.

I was freaking stabbed in the back.

If I can't trust the cops, then who should I trust?

"How are you feeling honey?" My mom's voice broke me from my train of thought, and I simply shrugged at her.

"I'm feeling a bit hungry. But you look like you are too" I pointed out with a frown, not really liking how she looked. Her eyes were puffy and held dark circles. Her hair was loose over her shoulders, but it seemed as if she had been running her hand through it over and over.

"I am" She chuckled, yet she didn't look bothered. "I'm so happy you're awake. I haven't left this bedside for more than two hours. I was so worried about you Cianna, and it all got me thinking how I could..How I could've lost you, and never apologized for being such a bad mom"

"You weren't a bad mom" I tried to reassure her, not wanting her to cry. "You know I never held your actions against you mom"

"I know. That's why I don't deserve a daughter like you. You're so golden and I want to be a better mom, if you'd let me" Her eyes were pleading, and the Cianna four days ago would've scoffed. But the Cianna who survived her fourth murder attempts, had a different look on life. It's short.

"I'd like that mom" I mumbled as I pulled her to my chest. "But you know what I'd like now?"

"What's that dear?"

"A meal" I admitted with a chuckle. She smiled a little as she wiped a tear and grabbed her bag.

"I'll be back in a few minutes." I watched as she strolled towards the exit, looking exhausted and very much needing a bath.

I sighed as I watched Dr. Monroe on the other side of the room talking on the phone. I looked around my resting place, wiggling my toes from time to time, desperate to feel my feet again.

I grabbed a metal tray that was lying beside me on the small table filled with flowers and balloons, two I noticed were from Jessica and Emily. I guess the news really got around.

I eyed my reflection in the tray, almost gagging at how pale I looked, and how I looked like I hadn't eaten in days. Well I haven't, but I didn't know it would've been obvious. I suddenly had the urge to get out of bed and get myself pretty again, but I knew I wouldn't be allowed.

"Okay Cianna, I've called Detective Deckor. He was already on his way over here. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you awake "

Tristan.