Kelsey slowly opened her eyes. She stared at the white scene before her. “Where am I?” she thought, which was hard considering the pounding feeling in her head. Then she felt a warm hand softly stroke her cheek. “Kelsey? Are you awake?” Taylor’s sweet voice asked. Kelsey made an effort to turn towards him but when she did she felt a thousand needles of pain shoot through her body. She tried to from the word “yes” on her lips but couldn’t succeed without a burst of pain. She only nodded miserably.
Taylor stood up and looked over her. Kelsey gasped when he did. His left eye was swollen and his lip had a cut in it and was bleeding. To add to the effect, his usually gorgeous hair hung limply around his face full of dust and dirt. It seemed as though his whole face were just one bruise.
Kelsey let a painful “Oh, Taylor...” escape her lips before he brushed his over hers. Kelsey felt the taste of him on her lips and the strong taste of his blood. She gazed concerningly at him as he slowly wiped it off her lips. He smiled and said softly, “It’s okay.” he paused a moment before adding, “Marv looks worse,” which caused Kelsey to smile. She whispered, “He always did.” Taylor smiled at her.
It seemed so strange to him; his Kelsey, the girl he loved, was now laying in a hospital bed. ‘Well, at least she isn’t hooked up to anything’ he thought, observing the numerous machines she could have been hooked up to. “How do you feel?” he asked, running his fingers softly through her hair. Kelsey winced slightly and he instantly took his hand away, his eyes wide with fear that he had hurt her.
Kelsey tried to smile reassuringly, but didn’t quite succeed. So instead she slowly pulled herself up to where she was sitting. It took awhile but when she was done she whispered, “Hold me,” gazing into Taylor’s eyes.
Taylor slowly obeyed, positioning himself carefully and trying not to move Kelsey. It took a bit of shifting but finally Kelsey’s head was on Taylor’s chest and his arms wrapped reassuringly around her. Kelsey could feel the steady beat of his heat and soon it lulled her into sleep. Taylor could hear the slow breathing of Kelsey and held her tighter as though if he let her go she would be thrown at Marv and at his mercy.
They remained that way for a few minutes when Taylor’s family and Jennifer walked quietly in the room. Taylor motioned to remain quite and they all sat staring at Taylor and Kelsey. Taylor eventually laid his head on hers and closed his eyes, recalling the events in the last two days. He had fallen in love, been beaten, had beat back (and won), and now was in a hospital room. Soon he and Kelsey were going to have to fill out a police report about the incident. ‘Damn’ he thought but when he felt Kelsey’s body shift in her sleep he smiled dreamily and decided everything was worth it.
