Down the Rabbit Hole (Stuck On You)

Chapter 36: Ticking Time Bomb

The first thing I did when I was formally released was go to Hayden's room. I just sat by his bedside, holding his hand. I couldn't really do anything else but wait; so that's what I did. I stayed in his room for days. I didn't eat. I barely slept and if I did, it was in the chair in Hayden's room. "Jo, you have to eat something," he dad said. "That baby is going to die if you don't," he added. I sighed and looked at Hayden's still face.

"I don't care," I said hoarsely. I was feeling weak and dizzy but I didn't care. I was more concerned about Hayden. "I'll eat when Hayden wakes up," I argued.

"No, Jordyn, you are going to eat something. You have someone else to think about now. How could you be so selfish?" my dad said. I looked at him in shock as I stood up.

"Selfish?" I breathed. "My boyfriend. The man I love. The man I would've 4married is lying in a coma and I don't know when he's going to wake up. And you're calling me selfish for being concerned?" I said in disbelief.

"No, I'm calling you selfish for not thinking of that baby that is growing in your stomach," he yelled at me. I flinched at his words. My dad had never really yelled at me like that before.

"You have no idea what this feels like... to be in this position," I said softly. "It hurts," I cried. My dad sighed and pulled me into a hug.

"I know honey... I know," he shushed me softly. I couldn't hold it in any longer. I started sobbing. I hugged him back tightly and let my eyes shut.

"It's not fair," I sobbed.

"I know," he said softly. "It's hard. Remember; we were here with Thomas. I have been through this; maybe not in the same situation as you are right now, but I have been here." How could I forget? I stood there crying on my dad's shoulder until I couldn't stand any longer. He sat me back down in the chair and shushed me.

okay," he whispered. I eventually passed

my dad made me go home. They said that being here was toxic to my own health. It didn't help at all. I tossed the keys on to the counter and sighed as I looked around. Everything in the apartment reminded me of Hayden. Eventually, I went into his room. I put on one of his favorite shirts and curled up on his bed. I hugged one of his pillows to my chest and cried. I slept there for two days straight. I barely moved at all. I only got up when a persistent knocking woke me up. I sighed and stretched my stiff limbs

were probably bloodshot and puffy, my skin was probably pale and ghost-like, and I probably looked like a skeleton. I hadn't looked in a mirror since the wreck, but I was assuming that that's the way

knees up to my chest. I put my head on my knees and closed my eyes. Tears trickled across my face and landed on my knees as Quinn ran the bath water. She practically gave me a sponge bath. She ran the water over my body before she picked me up out of the

I said hoarsely. I hadn't talked in days so my voice was scratchy and sore. Quinn laid me down on my bed and put my head on

my eyes to keep from crying. I didn't have enough energy to cry anymore. After a while, Quinn dressed me and dragged me to the kitchen before she sat me at the table. She cooked some soup before she made me eat it. It was a slow and painful process, but I eventually

said, standing up

asked; my voice better due to the hot

she said. I sighed and shook

do?" I said hopelessly. She dragged me out

the hospital. I hated hospitals, but I did want to see Hayden again. Quinn left me alone when we reached Hayden's room. I sat in my chair by his bedside and sighed. I held his hand gently and looked at his peaceful face. "Hayden," I started. "I didn't tell you this earlier, but we're having a baby. Me and you. It would be better

but I couldn't help being hopeful right now. "I'm not sure if the baby is a boy or girl yet, but we can find out together. Luca told me about your plan to propose. I would've said yes," I kept talking. His brain monitor spiked again. I squeezed his hand gently. I knew he wouldn't wake up, but it didn't keep me from hoping. I stood and kissed his head gently. The monitor spiked again. I sighed and touched his head gently before I left. Seeing Hayden did make me feel better. After leaving the hospital, I grabbed

asked. I shrugged and used my fork to move my food around my

I said with a slight smile. "I

love him. You're going to want to hope for the best,"

after everything that he's been through. It should be me at that hospital in a coma, not

It could've happened to anybody," he tried to comfort me.

shouldn't have happened to him," I said in a whisper. I