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What if We Drown 13
It had been two days since her encounter with Derek, and two days since Ashlyn had seen or heard from him. Early on Wednesday morning, she'd found herself standing outside his door; hand raised to knock. Before she could make those two gentle knocks, her apprehension stepped in and convinced her it was a mistake to see him. He wouldn't want to see her again anyway. It would only hurt her more when he shut the door on her, not that she didn't deserve it. Torn between the matters of her mind and her heart, she had trudged back downstairs to open the café. Thankfully she had a stack of textbooks to keep her mind busy in between customers. An hour and a half later, Ashlyn drummed her fingers against the counter in time with the Stevie Lujan song playing over the speakers, her eyes following the text on the page. A chocolate chip muffin sat half-eaten beside the coffee machine; the chocolate melted just slightly from the heat it was throwing off. The textbook and printed articles before
What if We Drown 14
Ashlyn pressed down hard and fast on Abels' chest, her lips moving hastily with silent protestations. Grief crashed over her in waves of fear and doubt, the reality of this situation too much to comprehend. Wake up, please. She pressed down on his chest with more force. "Jack, call 911," someone yelled, falling to their knees beside Ashlyn. "How long has he been down?" the man asked, his hands replacing hers, maintaining the same rapid rhythm. Ashlyn shook her head, leaning back, as the stranger titled Abel's head back. How long had it been? A minute? Maybe two? The aching within her chest was unbearable as she watched this stranger try to revive her friend. My fault. It's all my fault. Jack, she assumed, came to her side. "The ambulance is on its way," he stated, the distant sound of sirens splitting the silence. Jack placed his hand on her shoulder in a show of comfort, but Ashlyn couldn't feel it. Next to the pain constricting in her chest, everything else felt numb. "Ma'am, do
What if We Drown 15
Having realized what she had been about to do, Ashlyn apologized and brushed her arms. Her movements stopped suddenly, however, when she felt the raw scratches beneath her fingertips. Her eyes widened at the red scratches that throbbed against her left forearm. She'd been so caught up in what was happening to Abel, currently being administered to down the corridor that she hadn't even noticed that she'd been scratching. But now that she knew about them, she couldn't silence the dull throb. Ashlyn clenched and unclenched her other hand, cradling the inflamed arm against her chest. "Ashlyn, what happened?" Derek inquired, stepping forward and taking Ashlyn's arm in his hand before she could pull away. Her right fist clenched tighter. Gently he turned her arm to examine it closer. He swore under his breath, and her bottom lip quivered. "Why are you here, Ashlyn?" He asked, his tone apprehensive, his palm cupping her cheek. Ashlyn hiccupped, a tear falling from the corner of her eye,
What if We Drown 16
The doctor introduced himself to both Ashlyn and Derek, but she didn't hear a word he said. She was still caught up on his opening words. Abel was awake. He was okay. "Due to a build-up of fat, cholesterol, and, other substances in his arteries, the blood flow to Mr. Weber's heart was blocked, which resulted in the heart attack earlier today." The doctor spoke in facts, an air of professionalism exuding from him. "We've done some blood works, and..." Ashlyn nodded, though really, she wasn't interested at all in the medical diagnosis the Doctor provided. Her thoughts were already traveling to the Cardiac Care Unit, where her friend lay. "If you would like to follow me, I can show you to his room." The doctor gestured for her to step forward. "Would you like me to wait for you here?" Derek inquired, his hand on Ashlyn's arm stopping her from going forward. Stalled for a moment, Ashlyn glanced between Derek's calloused hand on her arm and the smooth, well-manicured hand of the Doctor
What if We Drown 17
"Go. I will be fine, Tochter," Abel spoke hoarsely, using the term of endearment he so often used with Ashlyn, who was like a daughter to him. With a feeble smile in Abel's direction, Ashlyn stood. Each time that he called her daughter in his mother tongue, it melted her heart, something which he knew very well. She kissed his cheek and gave him another hug, promising that she would return soon. Before she made her leave, she turned to Derek and held out her hand requesting his phone. Adding her name and number into his contacts, she handed the phone back, her hand lingering in his for a moment longer than necessary. You can do this; his eyes spoke as he squeezed her fingertips. Taking a deep breath, Ashlyn pulled back her hand and walked to the doorway, stopping for a moment to glance back at the man she so wholly adored, and the back of the man who was swiftly proving himself to be a friend. She smiled, an unusual flutter in her heart. "She adores you," she heard Derek say with w
What if We Drown 18
"I'll give you guys a minute together," Kass offered, her gaze jumping around the waiting room as she held the coffee and bagged panini out to Ashlyn. Ashlyn tilted her head and smiled sympathetically. She knew hospitals made Kass feel uncomfortable and that she likely wanted a moment to compose herself before facing Abel. Ashlyn respected Kass' decision, and took both items from her, giving her a quick hug. Walking down the corridor towards the CCU, Ashlyn found her pace increasing with each step that took her closer. Anticipation fuelled her. She was about to round the corner and enter Abel's room when she heard her name carry out the door. Stopping where she stood, Ashlyn moved closer to the wall and listened. "...she's been through some difficult events in her life, and it's had a lasting impact on how she interacts with people." Abel coughed a wet, croaky sound. "She's always been kind and gentle, her father made sure of it. But when she lost her father, it was like a part of h
What if We Drown 19
Even with the heater going, Ashlyn still felt a chill in the cab of Kass' pickup, goosebumps covering her arms and legs. It took every ounce of restraint she could muster to keep from rubbing her arms. The friction would only irritate the skin further. The lights of the town were a blur against the night sky, marred by the falling drops of rain. Ashlyn watched the buildings pass by, reflecting on Abel's parting words. This day had come dangerously close to concluding differently, and her heart still couldn't process it all. She'd been saved the heartache of losing someone important to her, and now that same person was encouraging her to let one more person into her messy life. The reminder that she had come close to losing the next closest thing she had to a father terrified her, but she was comforted to know he was going to be okay. Ashlyn tapped on the window, blotting out each raindrop that rolled beneath her finger on the other side. She sighed, envisioning with each drop the in
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"Now, bearing in mind everything that I have just said." Kass turned and removed two pastries from the cabinet, then held the plate out to Ashlyn. "Go, and be nice." She winked, turning Ashlyn and pointing to one of the tables in the window. Derek sat in the window, writing something on a piece of paper. Ashlyn tossed Kass' a playful glare. She knew she'd been set up, and she wasn't sure how she felt about it. Were Kass and Abel conspiring together? Taking a deep breath, Ashlyn walked over to the table, hesitating just outside of Derek's peripheral vision. Craning her neck, she tried to peek at what he was scribbling down, but his other arm blocked her view. The bandage on his hand was discolored, an indication that he wasn't yet used to wearing it. Was that pasta sauce on the back of it? Chewing on her bottom lip, Ashlyn tried to think up a way to gain his attention when someone approached from behind. "Here you go, sailor." Kass grinned, placing two coffee cups on the table befo
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