JUSTIN'S POV
Where—where was I? Stirring, I blinked and opened my eyes. Looking around, I saw the sterile white walls of my hospital room. "Mr. Taylor," I vaguely heard a voice saying.
"Mr. Taylor," it repeated, and I weakly turned to the source. It was the nurse assigned to me, taking my vitals.
She explained to me that I'd been badly injured when the bomb went off, but that I was lucky to even be alive.
"Is—is there someone we can call for you?" she asked.
My mouth was so dry—how I longed for a sip of water! Opening my mouth, I could barely get out the word, "Kinney."
She nodded, and went back to the front desk.
When she left, my eyes filled with tears. Deep in my heart, I knew that coming so soon probably hadn't been the wisest decision in the world. We should've been married first, then perhaps Brian and I could've moved here!
Just then, I heard a commotion at the front desk. I thought I could hear him, but figured it was probably either my imagination or an aftereffect of my injuries from the bombing.
But then—I thought I could make out the door opening, and there he was! I longed to move—to hold him tight, but every time I tried to move, a spurt of pain sent my arms back to the bed.
My eyes welled with tears, and all I could do was cry. I felt him stroking my hair—even as his own tears fell on my face. "I'm here, Sunshine," he whispered, even as that was all he could do. "So this time was worse," he added, as I finally regained movement in one arm enough to reach up and wipe his tears away.
"I'm—I'm just lucky to be alive," I croaked, as I reached over to put my hand in Brian's.
Brian spotted a glass of water with a straw, and he reached over and grabbed it. I was so thirsty—and so dry—that I just latched on to the straw and sipped with all my might—until every last drop was gone! Collapsing back onto my pillow, I smiled. "Thanks," I whispered.
One nagging question kept coming back. "How—how'd you find out?" I wondered.
"The radio," he replied, "but your mother said I should come."
"Don't—don't leave me," I sobbed, holding onto him for dear life. Now—now that he was here, I was determined not to let him out of my sight!
"You really think I would leave you like this?" His face grew serious, and he held my hand again. "You are my Sunshine," he assured me, "and nothing—nothing at all—could ever make me want to leave when I know my Sunshine is hurt."
Tears welled in his eyes as he recalled what had happened after my prom. "I didn't leave you then," he said, "and I'm sure not going to leave you now!" Then he said it—the words he'd said after finding me at the Babylon, but words I needed to hear again.
"I love you, Justin."
Tears welled in my eyes—my swollen eyes. Since movement hurt me, he leaned in and kissed them away. A warm, damp washrag lay near where my water had been, and he reached over, folded it in half lengthwise, and covered my eyes. "Does that feel better?" he whispered.
I could feel the heat start to work, as the swelling went down. "Yes," I whispered.
His hand slipped from my grip, as I felt him get up. "Brian," I moaned.
"Yes, Sunshine?" he asked, as he bent over my bed again.
"Kiss me," I whispered. Sleep overtook me, but just before I went to dreamland, I felt him lean over my bed again and land several butterfly kisses on my lips. "I love you, Sunshine," he whispered, just before the nurse came to inform him visiting hours were over.
Just before he left, he removed the washcloth. I blinked and focused on him—they really did feel better!
"I love you too, Brian," I whispered, as he caressed my cheek with the back of his hand, and leaned in for one last tender kiss.
