Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

116. First Suspect

Chapter 116

“What do you mean she slipped into a coma?” Theo asks with an unmistakable tremble in his voice.

My heart was once again thudding against my ribcage. It felt like it wanted to punch a whole right through my fucking chest.

I try to think clearly, but it’s like my brain can’t function. Time slowed down as the doctor spoke. All I

heard was a ringing in my ear.

I stumble back and fall on the seat I had vacated. Gabe and my dad put their hands on me, but I shake

them off. I didn’t want their comfort. I wanted the doctor to tell me that the surgery had been a success

and that in a few hours Ava would wake up.

“She had a total of four bullets. One hit her head, the second hit her chest, the third hit her stomach, and

the final one hit her thigh. We were able to remove three of them successfully, except for the one in her

skull. It was lodged too deep and removing it would have killed her.”

Fuck. I don’t know what to feel or think about that. He is telling us that Ava will have to live with a bullet

stuck in her head. How is any of that fair? She was okay this morning before things took a turn for the

worst.

‘At least she’s alive,‘ a voice whispers.

I ignore it. She was alive, but would she stay alive? That was the main fucking question.

2. over, had to drill her skull to drain

“We were able to stop the bleeding, both internal and external. We,

fluid, which helped with the swelling in her brain. She flat–lined twice. It’s after the second time that she

slipped into a comma. For now, she’s in ICU.”

If I thought nothing could hurt me worse than seeing Ava get shot, then I was wrong. Hearing that we

almost lost her twice destroyed me. It is like being stabbed by a thousand sharp knives. I wouldn’t wish

anyone this fucking pain. Not even my worst enemy.

“Will she wake up?” I breathe hoarsely. “Will she be able to make a full recovery?”

“At this point, we can’t really say. This isn’t an induced coma, and we can’t assure you that she’ll wake up

in a few days. She might wake up tomorrow, in a few days, in a few months, or she might not wake up at

all. For now, we’ll give it a few days to see whether she’ll wake up.”

she might not wake up nearly brought me to my

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+15 BONUS

push those thoughts away. I can’t think like that. She’s strong; she’ll wake up. In a few fucking days,

glaring and snapping at me.

Will living with it have any effect on her?” Nora asks as

her cheek.

how hard this must be for her. I can’t ever imagine facing the likelihood

too

lives, and there are others who are

remembering things, have speech and hearing issues, or have trouble recognizing

just a few things that might be affected by the kind of injury

can’t say for sure. We have to

If she wakes up,

in the way he looks at

Theo pulls her into his

couple I know is nowhere to be seen. The only ones standing in their place are two

heartbroken parents.

already past visiting hours, you’ll have to come back tomorrow, and even then,

in the room with her. Now, if you’ll excuse

leaves just as mom comes back with

immediately comes to me, while Gunner goes

mom okay?” He looks up

of being a parent. Knowing whether to tell your kid

him that the doctors aren’t really sure his mother will wake

him

aren’t sure, Bud. We’ll just have to wait and

wakes up, he would end up hating me for lying

anything. Just looks at me

1

few minutes of silence,

think you should all go home, get some rest, and

tomorrow.”

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+15 BONUS

the same

know if something comes up, but they refuse to budge. In the end,

agree to go home only after I tell them that Noah can’t stay in the hospital and that he needs someone with him. Cal agrees for the sake of Gunner. The boy was

little talking. Mostly we just sit in silence,

arrives.

We had to interview the witnesses about Ava’s

happened to her.”

I nod my head.

“Have you found anything?”

anything beyond what we already know

would

in any state to be questioned?”

it’s not his fault since he doesn’t know the details,

just pisses

a coma,” I

says remorsefully, but it doesn’t do anything to elevate what I

you can give me? Has anyone been threatening

information, no matter how small, could

my head.