54. Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Willow

I look at the clock, it feels like a fucking traitor with how slow it moves. I know I should be hungry, but I feel empty and full at the same time. My brain just adds up the time since I've seen Tripp, since he's been at the hospital.

Finally, the doctor returns. Everyone is on their feet, waiting for an update.

"Tripp is awake and stable," he says, pausing. Sighs and "thank gods" fill the room. I step closer to the doctor, not wanting to miss a single word while Wendy wraps the man in a hug.

Emilie comes up next to me and is rubbing my back. When it clicks that Tripp is okay, I turn and put my head on her shoulder.

The doctor awkwardly pats Wendy on the shoulder before she lets him go.

"He also has some sort of shoulder injury. We'll do a full work up to see what's what after he's had time to rest. There's no rush," the doctor says, crossing his arms.

"Can we see him?" Wendy asks.

"You can but we need to be gentle," he makes eye contact with everyone in the room. "Tripp needs rest from bright lights, loud sounds, and shouldn't be overly stimulated. One person at a time."

Wendy's hand finds mine. She's obviously going to see him first. She hugs me and whispers in my ear, "I'll be right back." She follows the doctor out. I finally feel like I can breathe. I slump back into one of the terrible chairs and move my shoulders away from my ears.

Emilie hands me a bottle of water—she truly thinks of everything. I open the bottle and drink half of it.

"He's awake. He's going to be okay. Try to relax a little before you see him," she says while sitting down next to me.

Her suggestion feels impossible.

Minutes crawl the slowest they ever have in my life. My body feels like it's living in slow motion. Wendy comes back, looking relieved, her cheeks red with tears. She smiles at me and nods, indicating it's my turn.

I make quick work of the hallway but stop right before the door. I'm trying to mentally prepare myself. I don't know what to expect.

My fists are balled up, knuckles white, as I try to steady my breathing. I shake my hands and stretch my neck from side to side. Deep breaths in and out. In and out. My heart feels like it could run out of my body.

After stalling long enough, I open the door and walk in.

There he is.

Tripp is in a hospital bed, his arm in a sling, and connected with wires and machines. His bed is up at an angle, so he's kind of sitting up, but his face is expressionless, and his eyes are closed.

When he hears my boots, these stupid fucking boots, he opens his eyes. It takes him a second to register but then he gives me a dim version of the bright smile I'm used to.

A wave of relief hits me hard enough that I have to stop. I'm awkwardly standing in the middle of Tripp's hospital room.

"Lo. You came." His voice sounds small but still like Tripp.

Surprisingly, I still have tears to cry.