I'm waiting for a good day to release my special project. I'm not sure when I will, but most likely it will be a surprise.

Thanks for reading!

-CL


It's three days later and Dr. Corden took Bella off the sedative this morning. "Let's hope she wakes up today," he said. I'm sitting in her room, in a vigil.

A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. "Your Majesty?" Silvia asks.

I stand up with a sigh and open the door. "Yes, Silvia?"

"I really need to do a little bit of office work today. At least one hour. I have papers you need to look over and sign," she says, rushing through it.

"Silvia-"

"Hear me out," she says, holding up her hand. I allow it and nod. "Doctor Corden said she won't wake up until dinner time tonight. I just need an hour." I glance at my watch. It's 1:00 P.M.

I sigh. "Alright, but only one hour." She leads me out the door, leading me away from Bella.


I rush back to Bella's room, food in hand. Silvia made me grab something to eat before I left. I grabbed it to please her and to leave quicker. I burst through the door and see Bella still sleeping. The nurses must have fixed her hair and makeup-her hair is in its curly glory fanned out. They gave her a whole new face of makeup, even her eyes. It's almost like she did it herself-like she was awake. I place the food on a table and walk to Bella's bedside."Oh, Bella," I whisper, brushing my fingers across her face and tucking a piece of loose hair behind her ear. "Please, my dear, come back to me." I grab her hand, kissing it lightly. I look at her face, praying she'll come back.

Suddenly, her eyelids flutter. "Bella?" I whisper. "If you can hear me, squeeze my hand." I don't feel anything and sigh. I place her hand back on the bed. I turn around and take a deep breath. I glance at my phone and notice a text from America. I'll be down there after dinner. I've got to feed Annabella and myself. Make sure you eat your own dinner. I chuckle under my breath, imagining America's face while texting that.

"Maxon?" I hear a scratchy whisper from behind me. I freeze and slowly turn around.

I see Bella's eyes open, looking at me. "Bella?" I whisper. She smiles a small smile and gives a tiny nod. "Bella!" I barely restrain myself from jumping into her arms. Instead, I smash my lips against hers. She runs weak fingers through my hair but kisses me passionately. I pull back before I end up hurting her. She sighs.

"Where am I?" she asks, looking around the room.

"You're in the hospital, Bella."

She shakes her head. "No, there was a bright light…a-and a tunnel. And then-I heard your voice. I ran to you instead of the light."

I tear up. "My dear, think about it."

She stares at me for a long moment before understanding flashes across her face. "Maxon-that was-that was Heaven? I was that close to dying?"

I nod and she gapes at me. "I wish I would have-why…why did you save me? How did you save me? I made sure to take the lethal dose."

Rage flares through my body, but I suppress it. "My dear, you cut yourself and then overdosed. Officer Grabs was in the Queen Suite and went to check on you. He found you barely breathing on the floor. He rushed you here and Dr. Corden pumped your stomach and stitched up your cuts. You've been sedated for an extra three days after the procedure. There was a possibility that you wouldn't even wake up."

"I wish I wouldn't have," she whispers, ducking her head. "I don't deserve to live."

I take a deep breath and gently tilt her head so she can look me in the eyes. "Don't ever say that again, Bella Schreave. You have every right to live."

"But why? Why did you save me? I killed your daughter, I shot you, I hurt Ames. I've made your life hell!" She tries to sit up but falls back onto her pillow, her hair puffing up and settling.

"Because, Bella Rose, you are my wife. I could not have lived without you. Look at what happened when you shut yourself in the Queen Suite-I could hardly function and you were still living. If you were to die, I would follow you into your grave. Why can't you see that? I can't live without you!"

"You have lived before me, Maxon," she replies, turning her head away from me.

"But I didn't find my purpose in life until you."

She sighs. "When am I getting out of here?" She sees her arms and winces. They are stitched and covered with bandages.

"Dr. Corden said that it matters how your progress is. He doesn't know how much damage those pills did to you. And he's treating you for anorexia. He said that you'll have to talk to him and-" I'm cut off by a knock on the door. "Come in!"

Dr. Corden enters the room. "Ah, Bella. I see you are awake. How long has she been awake, Maxon?"

"At most fifteen minutes ago," I reply, stepping away from Bella.

"I'm going to examine you, Bella. We're going to do some tests to see how much damage the pills caused." Dr. Corden washes his hands and puts on gloves. He tests her eyesight, hearing, and gives her a vaginal exam. I turn my head to give her privacy, even though I've seen it before. He puts her legs down and takes off his gloves. "Alright, everything looks good. Would you like to try walking? I know you just woke up, but with the IV, you are still being fed nutrients."

She looks to me. I give her a reassuring nod. "It's your choice, Bella, but I'll be here for whichever one," I echo America from earlier.

She inhales deeply. "I'll try."

Dr. Corden nods. "Let me just get you unhooked from some of these machines…" He takes a few minutes to prepare her. "Alright, are you ready to stand?"

She nods and tries to sit up. She sways before falling back onto her pillow. She groans and holds her head. "Ugh, now I'm dizzy."

"Try again," Dr. Corden instructs. She does and this time she stays upright. "Scoot toward the edge of the bed." She complies and places her feet on the floor. "Now, try to stand. Lean against me if necessary."

"But-what if I fall?" Bella asks in a whisper.

"I won't let you fall; I'll catch you."

She takes a deep breath and stands up slowly. Her legs give out and she falls with a gasp. I rush over, but Dr. Corden catches her before she hits the floor. "I've got you, Bella," he says, pulling her into his arms. I'm hit with a wave of jealousy seeing Bella in Dr. Corden's arms. I take a deep breath, trying to quell my anger.

"Dr. Corden, is there a way that I can help her walk?" I ask through clenched teeth.

"Here," he says, guiding me where to put my arms and steps back. "Now, Bella, can you try to stand again?"

She whimpers. "I don't want to; I'm exhausted." As if to prove her point, she yawns.

"I'm right here, Bella," I whisper. "Please try. I want you to be back with me."

She looks up at me and nods. I notice the dark circles under her eyes, even though she's been sleeping for the past few days. It looks like there are bruises under her eyes. She stands up, and we work on walking for the next half an hour.