~J A C K S O N~

NINE HOURS AND I STILL HAD NOT HEARD FROM ANY OF THE DOCTORS. Nine hours and Lily is still unconscious. Nine hours of trying to stay calm and collected but it was so damned hard.

This has to have been the worst nine hours of my life and I would do anything to hear the words; "she'll be okay." Even if there was a 'but' in involved, I really am not worried about that. Three words and I will be out of my suffering.

But I am still stuck in it and won't be able to make it out until I see a doctor walking up to me and sharing the three words I want to hear.

It's just been too long.

Everyone is here for Lily. Nathan, Mia, Rose, Linda, Amy, Alex, Zeke, my mom, and James. When I broke the news to some of them since the others found out on the news-they were at my side like a clingy girlfriend would be. I didn't mind though, I needed the closure.

"Jack, could you help me get coffee for everyone and juice for the kids?" Mia asks, smiling softly my way. The bags under her eyes give away that she really cares about her sister.

I nod, standing to my feet and stretching out my limbs. My back feels like I have been stabbed a thousand times, probably more. It's not as terrible as my heart though but it still feels like a mother.

Mia and I slowly stroll towards the cafeteria. In silence. I know Mia asked me to help her because she wanted to talk to me. I don't understand what about.

Mia sighs and from the corner of my eye, I see her wiping her cheeks. "Lily and I had a little conflict. . ." She starts, running a hand through her hair that reminds me so much of Lily that it hurts. "She's just too nice for her own good. She can get in trouble with her sweetness."

"What do you mean?" I ask, my brows furrowing. "She is not too nice or too sweet, it's just that people take advantage of that, use it against their own will just to get what they want."

"I didn't mean it like that. I know what people are capable of, especially if you're too naive."

I don't know why, but I just snap; "Lily is not naive, Mia! She's your sister for God's sake. You wouldn't understand what she's going through because David was in your life at least when you were born. Lily never got to meet him until he wanted something from her. So don't you dare call her naive."

I guiltily watch as Mia's expression falls, her eyes downcast. I try to say something, but I can't think of anything. I feel bad for saying something like that, especially to Mia. I, wouldn't understand what they are going through. I had a great family where both parents were present.

"I feel bad and stupid," Mia starts again, breathing in and out before running a hand through her hair, again. "I hate David so much more right now. I don't know what happened between Lily and you but she came home really angry and sad and. . .she looked like I did when I noticed I wasn't going to see my father again. It took us two full days to get her to calm down. She kept yelling how much it was a mistake speaking to David only because of something that happened between the two of you."

I think back to the day Lily and I argued in my office and I immediately felt a slight pang in my chest. Lily is worth more than what she is and was going through.

I was stupid for speaking like I knew Lily all my life. Like we were friends before. I shouldn't have mentioned her listening to her dad after years of rejection. It wasn't my place to say something like that.

"I said some pretty terrible things to her." I let out, scratching at my stubble that I keep forgetting to shave.

"You and I the same."

We quietly walk together until we get to the cafeteria. When we get the coffee and juice, we head back to where everyone else is seated, waiting for the news.

"They only allow two people at a time to see someone, so I was wondering. . ." Mia trails and I shake my head no.

"Sorry, but you can see Lily with Nathan first, I want to be alone with her when I get to see her. If that's not asking for too much?" I can't help but nibble at my dry lips, feeling like I can pull off some skin there. It's been bothering me for some time now.

She nods, smiling at me before placing a hand on my shoulder, "you have no idea how happy you have made Lily, Jackson. I hope nothing happens between the two of you because then she'll be miserable and she is not one to handle things emotionally. She's a sucker at that." Mia chuckles, removing her hand before sighing. "Promise me you won't allow anything to happen to the relationship or bond you guys have already built. Who cares about the time span? You guys are clearly falling for each other."

"I promise."

✎✎✎

We all practically jump out of our seats when we see a doctor smiling our way. My heart clenches at the way his eyes are lively and somewhat proud. Linda grabs ahold of my hand and I squeeze hers, smiling at her. My whole being lights up and I feel like there is a river bubbling through my veins and flushing my body in anticipation.

"Lily Wilson's family?" He asks, smiling once we all nod. "She'll be okay. She has a concussion and needs to rest, which is what she is doing right now. She has a few broken ribs and will probably be experiencing a lot of pain but it's nothing painkillers can't help with. As for her ribs, we will have to keep her here for at least a week to ensure that no more damages are made. Other than that, she will be okay. She's not awake and if you are hoping to see her, you can."

My heart springs in joy and an exhausting interval of passion runs all throughout my body. Linda starts crying, adopting me in a huge bear hug. She almost crushes my bones. I don't let her go even when she tells me to. She starts poking my sides-which is my weakness-and I hop away from her.

I raise my hands in surrender when she warns me about hugging her the way I did. "Save it for Lily." She smirks and I grin, nodding at her.

A strong grip around my arm attracts my attention. I'm adopted into another hug but this time, by Mia. I wrap my arms around her. I thought it was going to be awkward or something remotely close to it but it's comfortable. It feels like the closure I needed before because it's Lily's sister I am hugging right now.

"I knew there was nothing to worry about, well, except for having to worry about her constant moans of pain." Mia chuckles and I grin from ear to ear.

"I don't mind worrying about that." I shrug, "At at least she can walk."

"You're right about that." She removes her arms and Nathan wraps his arm around her waist. I nod at him and he nods back. "Well, we are going to see Lily. Do you mind watching Rose for us?"

I smirk, "oh, I don't mind. Where is that little munchkin?"

"Boo!" I hear the little sound of Rose's voice and I inwardly chuckle. I jump away from her and hold a hand over my heart.

"Damn it, Rose! You scared me." I breathe in and out, faking to be frightened.

"That was the. . .pwoint!" She giggles, twirling her foot on the ground, her hands clasped behind her back. "Les go, I wahnt to. . . show you sometwing!"

I grin at Rose's parents before following her to the waiting area of the hospital. She grabs her pink Dora The Explorer bag, snatching her small book and handing it to me.

I hold it while she closes her bag. I can't help but smile at her. She's a beautiful little kid with two thin pigtails and toothy smiles. Her small little teeth in her mouth making her look like the cutest toddler around.

I want children. Two. Maybe more. Even if it's a whole soccer team. With Lily. I'm not pushing anything. I want us to travel that far in our relationship to the stage of getting married and having children. Growing old, watching our children find romance the way we did.

But first, I have to make things right between us. I want to know why she called me while she was driving. I am sure she knows it's dangerous to use your phone driving but she was probably distracted, probably had to say something important.

I help Rose to sit down next to me and she thanks me in her sweet voice. I grin, watching as she flips through pages before stopping at a picture of a family.

"This is my mummy, my dwaddy, Aunty Liwy, and her boyfwiend!" She jumps in her seat. Her enthusiasm has my cheeks hurting by the way I keep smiling.

"And who is Lily's boyfriend?" I ask curiously, raising a brow.

She shrugs cutely, looking confused herself. "A bwoy name Jack. Mommy and Dwaddy and Aunty Liwy talk about a Jack. Do you know a Jack, uncle Jackson!"

I laugh, running a hand through my hair. She speaks about me. Lily speaks about me to her family. I zone out for a second, thinking about Lily speaking to Mia and Nathan. About me. Me. I wonder what she says about me. Or maybe she speaks privately to Mia. I mean, that's what girls do, isn't it?

"I do, actually. I'm Jack, short for Jackson."

She gasps, hugging my side. "Ohhhh, I'm so gwad you're Aunty Liwy's boyfwiend."

I chuckle, wrapping my arms around her tiny frame. "Well, not yet. I have to fix some things before getting happy about being Lily's boyfriend."

She nods, trying to look stern. "Fwix evewything and be her boyfwiend!"

"Yes ma'am!"

✎✎✎

I try to stay calm as I take slow steps towards Lily's hospital room. My heart is beating so fast and I am so afraid to see her right now. Not because I'm shy or anything, I just feel that I haven't seen her for so long, and now is finally the time. I feel like I need to make things right even if she is resting. Even if she is not awake.

I finally get to her room after counting to seven hundred and twenty-two. In a situation such as this, it would be odd to not be anxious. What I am about to face is legitimately difficult because I love Lily. In a way, it is a good sign, it shows that I can grasp the situation, that I am not in denial as some others are.

The sound of Lily's heart monitor beeping brings a small smile to my face as I take a seat on the stool provided for visitors right next to her bed. I grasp Lily's hand in mine as I take a seat on the stool.

I can't help but chuckle, "you have no idea how beautiful you are even though you have so many scratches and wounds on your face."

I close the distance between us by leaning over and placing a soft kiss on Lily's forehead. Her hands are unmoving and I grab them again, lacing our fingers. I feel her pulse and smile at the strong beating to them. I feel my eyes water and sting with tears and I curse under my breath, looking up at the ceiling and blinking the tears away. I am trying to have some hope but. . . nothing.

There is this strong feeling bubbling in my chest and I can't seem to make out what it is. My eyes travel from Lily's face down her neck and to her arms. Her skin is close to ash white and I don't know if I am to be worried or something.

"You have no idea how I felt when you called me, Lily. And then these crashing and screeching sounds were heard and I felt like I couldn't breathe. I felt suffocated and I was so goddamned worried. It's been close to almost twelve hours since your accident and yet I still am not confident here. Come on, give me some hope, squeeze my hand, blink for all care I, just give me some indication that you will be okay. I mean, doctors aren't always correct and I'm just worried the movies I watch are getting in the way of myself thinking clearly."

I clear my throat as if someone was watching me and I look around the room. This is not a good place for my Lily to be at. She wasn't even supposed to be here in the first place. The guilt is full-on eating me alive and I can feel myself getting more and more frustrated as the clock ticks.

Tik. . . tok. Tik. . . tok. . . Tik. . .

I feel the walls closing up on me and I feel like I am about to lose Lily as well. I feel like I did when my dad passed. I feel like this will be the last time I'm holding onto Lily's hand but as I think back to the years before my dad passed and how many times he landed in the hospital and made it out, I can only hope Lily makes it out of this horrible hospital room. The hospital itself even.

"Come on Lily, sweetheart," I laugh out, my heart clenching as I wait for something to happen. "Show me that you will live to see how much I love you. How much I want you to be the mother of my soccer team. How much I want you to wear the ring I will spend a fortune on. Just do me one favor, and move your goddamned toe, for all I care. Come on, sweetheart." I cry out. I feel like shit right now and it's not helping that Lily is not responding. The sound of her heart monitor beeping can mean one of two things and I want it to mean the most positive one of all. "Don't leave me, sweetheart. I love you."

She can't hear me, for goodness sake, she cannot hear me but I do wanted her to at least be awake when I said the three most important words. The three words I have been dying to say to her. Yet, there is no hope until she wakes up. I just hope I don't chicken out.

"I love you."

☃️☃️☃️

we're close, we're so close guys! ♥️ please vote, comment and if this is so far enjoyable, share! <3