The “Outer Reach” was by no means a luxurious hotel. I woke up feeling certain I was dirtier simply for spending the night in the place. It was as if the walls and ceiling had slowly decayed onto my exposed face all night. I tried to wipe the invisible mask of grime from my face with my hands, only my hands were no better and left me with nothing but a cold chill running down my spine.
I finally got around to sitting up when a pair of arms holding me tight decided to keep me in place. Nicole, how I love her, I’d risk everything for her and back again.
“You know I’m not running away or anything, I’d just like to go take a shower.” I whispered in her ear. Slowly her eyes fluttered to life. The drowsy sort of life, the I’d be asleep for another three hours if you hadn’t done anything sort of life.
“mmmmmmmm….” Is all that left her lips as she pulled me closer to her and redoubled her efforts to keep me in place.
“Good morning to you to.”
Nicole only responded with a yawn and a readjustment of her head in the pillows. How she can be alright in a place this revolting I’ll never understand. Though I guess I always had a bit more of a bone to pick on cleanliness. “May I shower please?”
“No.”
“Ah, she speaks! Wonderful.”
“Stay next to me.”
“What, are showers evil now?”
“They are not next to me.”
“Your perception of the truth is flawless as always princess. May I please get up now?”
“What is in it for me?”
“Um, nothing? At the moment?”
“Not worth it.”
“Please?”
“Nope.”
“I will make you let go.”
“You’re bluffing.”
“Not at all.”
“I dare you to try.” And so I did. Really it was no test of strength. I was the stronger one. What was tricky about it was simply a kiss, or a whole slew of kisses.
I had only just begun to try and pry her away when she slipped her arms out from around me and used them to climb up me towards my lips. She tasted like strawberries. Strawberries and chocolate, her most popular and delicious tastes.
“You taste delicious today.” Nicole said.
“Do I? I was just thinking the same thing about you.” Nicole’s hands ran along the curves of my body. She was so warm. She ran her hands through my hair; my too long hair that I really needed to cut. I looked far better with shoulder length hair then this knotted debacle down my back. And the last thing I got through to her was a smile.
Then the glass broke.
I felt my chest rock forward.
And finally the distant gunshot.
I looked down to see a pristine little hole just above my right breast. I was confused. I looked up at Nicole to see she had a little hole in her too. Right over her heart.
And then, I panicked.
I couldn’t breathe. My mouth constantly tried to ram words out of my throat but my voice was gone. Only squeaks escaped.
Then the blood started. Bleeding, so much blood; Mine, Nicole’s, I didn’t even know. I started to cry. Huge tears fell out of me like my blood. I was not breathing, only gasping screaming in tears.
Pressure on the wound suddenly popped into my head. I grabbed all the sheets I could and lay On Nicole’s wound. She wasn’t moving. Her eyes were open, mouth agape. But I didn’t stop. I pushed harder.
“Help!” I screamed. “Someone help me, please!” Her back. Nicole’s back. My hand slipped across her skin with all the fresh blood. No hole. There was no hole in her back. The bullet was still inside her. Was that a good thing? Or a bad thing?
The hospital, my next thought. I grabbed the bedside phone from the bedside table and dialed 911 as fast as my shaking hands could.
“911 what’s your emergency?”
“…” No words. No words! Why was it so hard to talk? I had to tell her what the problem was!
“Sh- ot.” Was all I could get across.
“Please remain calm. There are police units and an ambulance on their way. Is there anything you can tell me about your situation?” I had to focus. Nicole’s life was on the line. I had to pull myself together!
“Shot, through- through the window.”
“Are there any other people in the room with you?”
“Nicole. Shot through the heart.”
“Are you injured?” I looked down at myself, phone lying in the croon between my head and shoulder, hands pressing on Nicole’s heart like some failed CPR attempt, and my own bullet hole.
“Yes.”
“Have you also been shot?”
“Ye-“ but I could not say any more. I was out of words. Blood filled the back of my mouth.
Then the police hammered down the door. One of the officers ran over to me. He was talking to me, but I didn’t hear anything. I liked his face though. I could see it in his eyes, he cared.
“Did I save her?” I said, gesturing at Nicole with my head. I’m not sure, but I think I could just make out from his lips,
I woke up in the hospital with a terrible headache. Opening my eyes I was greeted with tubes all around me and plenty of pointy things that make me squeamish. Even worse, they were inside me.
A nurse was at the door. She had this broad grin on her face. She immediately turned tale and ran off screaming for some doctor or another. I just wanted everything to stop spinning. I tried getting up, but all the needles inside me pulled in protest; so I stayed put.
A doctor showed up. A Dr. Jenkins. He started talking very fast and I really didn’t take any of it in. I was strangely sleepy.
For days I sat like that, lots of people showing up. News reporters, other doctors, my family even. I was certain I’d never see them again after they kicked me out of the house for declaring myself a lesbian. I guess getting shot makes me important enough to see again.
But I didn’t talk to any of them. My sleepy haze left me unsure of what was a dream and what was reality.
I felt so weak.
Eventually they got me up and moving. I was in a wheelchair for a while. Fresh air was nice.One day the nurse was pushing me through the many hallways of the hospital. She had taken a liking to talking to me. Not that I ever said anything back. Maybe that is why she liked me so much; she did have an awful lot to say.
“You know they are awfully worried about you. Not talking for ten days now.” Ten days? I had been here ten days?
“Where is… she?” My silence was over. I looked up at the nurse, who was quite surprised by my sudden decision to talk.
“Oh dear, do you not remember?” Do I not remember? I didn’t remember much of anything let alone any actually useful information.
“Where is she?” I was raising my voice, though it was parched and dry.
“Dear I don’t think.”
“Where is she?” I was gripping the nurse’s hand now with what little strength I possessed.
“She had already passed away by the time the ambulance arrived…”
I cried. I just outright cried, harder then I had ever cried before. I fell out of my wheelchair, ripping all the IV’s from my body in the process. Little pools of blood ran from their now open gateways to the floor outside my body. I screamed. There were no words, only noises.
I still visit her grave whenever I get a chance. I got better. I healed up nicely at the hospital. They tell me my heart should be about as strong as it ever was.
They never did find out who shot the two of us; though leading suspicions leave me as anything but the primary target. I always told her that she talked too loud online. But I guess when you make a living off of your writing you can always expect touchy topics to keep food on the table. And you know? Those touchy topics still paid for my food for months. Always looking out for me I guess.
I wasn’t sure if I would love anyone ever again. But I met someone a few years ago who helped me a lot. We just decided to have a child together. I’ve decided to carry her. She should be born sometime in July.
We have decided to name her Emma.
EMMA MARTIN
FEB 07, 1992 – MAY 23 2011
“You changed my whole life
and I’ll always love you for it.”
-Your Princess
