Lines Drawn (Drawn to You #2) - Ker Dukey Page 0,1
move past it. All I know is I love Finlay; I only breathe to love him.
“Antonia.” The sharp sound of my name on his tongue summons me from my mind.
My body trembles, dull aches pulsing throughout, my stomach churning with hunger pain.
Dragging my eyes to find the doctor talking to me, a frown mars my brow. He waits for me to focus on him.
“Now, can you tell me where you really are and what happened to you?”
His pen is poised, ready to write down that he thinks I’m crazy. I swipe my hand over the crisp white sheets of the hospital cot; the cotton is rough and firmer under my palm than my own sheets. I’m not in Finlay’s bed. I’m not happy. I’m not pregnant.
“I’M IN THE HOSPITAL, a bad phone call came in, and the shock caused a miscarriage.” My tone is flat, the warmth from before has left my entire body, and agony and misery adorn the spaces inside me. They told me it wasn’t the shock, just unfortunate and common.
Like it’s a freaking cold.
But I know it was the trauma of hearing his voice in my ear like he was standing right there, whispering into my soul.
“Do you understand why we have admitted you?”
He speaks slower than an average person, stopping every few words to make sure it’s sinking in. The torrential rain pounds against the window pane as if it’s trying to get inside to flood the room with the misery I’m feeling inside.
I hate the rain
“Because I didn’t want to believe it,” I croak, shifting slightly on the bed. My ribs echo pain from the fall down the stairs a couple of weeks ago.
“You were creating a separate reality as a coping mechanism,” he states, nodding his head, waiting for me to confirm that I know what he says to be truth.
“I’m not crazy. I just don’t want to live in reality right now,” I tell him firmly, sounding insane even to my own ears.
The door opens and another doctor enters, they talk in hushed tones, occasionally flicking their eyes to me. If I were crazy, the way they conduct themselves wouldn’t help me.
She leaves, and the first doctor moves closer to where I’m sitting on the bed.
“Doctor Evans has agreed to take over your care after you requested her. We would like to keep you for a few more days, but we’re happy for you to carry on your care outside of the hospital.”
Thank God.
As much as I don’t want to face the outside world, being in here will send me rushing to jump in front of the crazy train.
“Your parents are here.”
Just hearing the word parents builds a sob in my chest, desperate to rip free.
Who called them? What did they tell them? How long have I even been here? I’ve lost count.
My mind wanders back to the call, and me throwing the phone across the kitchen.
My cell makes an unfamiliar noise, distracting me from Finlay, Gavin, and Gaby’s drama. It’s the first time I’ve charged it since I’ve been home. When I answer, my legs weaken, forcing me to slip down to the floor.
“I can’t believe you finally answered, bro. I’m in trouble. I need money.” I bring the phone away from my ear and look it over. It’s the same model, but the chip mine has from me dropping it when Finlay surprised me in the kitchen is gone. The man on the phone has an evil voice… the evil voice of the man who stole my life. My hands shake as I place the phone back to my ear. “James, you still owe me. I need money.” I cover my mouth to stop a scream tearing from me. I’m hyperventilating, trying to grip on to reality. “James, don’t fucking ignore me. You owe me.” Tears burn my cheeks, and I finally find my voice.
“How do you know James?”
Silence. I don’t think he’s going to answer until he says, “Antonia?” My name on his lips twists my insides. His sick, deep laugh echoes down the line, mocking me. “Well, well. I didn’t think I would hear your sniffling cries again.”
“How do you know James? Who are you?” I scream.
“You have no clue, do you? Did he even tell you he had a brother? Of course he didn’t. Our parents wouldn’t allow that.”
“You’re lying. He would have said if he had a brother.”
“Oh, there’s a lot he wouldn’t tell his precious Antonia, like the fact that I went down for him