Waking Up

JOSIE

The faint be-ping sound pulled me out of my unawareness. I felt as if I were slowly rising from the depths of the cold, dark waters to the surface. The pain struck a moment later. It seemed to flood my entire body. I groaned—or at least I thought I did—as I struggled to open my eyes. The light hurt, perhaps even more than the radiating pain. Sensing everything at once was overwhelming, but then I felt something else… A touch. Someone's warmth. Killian… He was sitting by my bed. He was holding my hand. I slightly lifted my head and stretched my lips, trying to smile at him.

“Josie?” I heard his hoarse voice, and my chest tightened.

“Killian…” My voice cracked, and a hot tear fell down my cheek.

“Don't cry, my little daredevil,” he whispered, leaning over and kissing the place marked by the tear.

That, of course, made me cry even more, and I couldn't stop the tears I shed. They were like a waterfall of emotions; they were unstoppable. Killian gently pulled me up and wrapped his ar