Page 73 of Perfect Guy

Madelyn

Myheadispounding, and my body feels like lead. I didn’t get much sleep, checking my phone periodically. I blink one eye open, cursing this damn headache, and notice it’s still dark out. Groaning, I close my eyes and swallow. My throat feels raw, likely from all the crying I did last night.

Squeezing my eyes tightly, I don’t know what hurts more—my head or my heart. I haven’t gotten a single update all night. I have no idea how Canaan is doing. All I feel is numbness. Or like I might wake up from this nightmare, and it’ll be a scary dream that I can move on from.

I stand, drag my body to the bathroom, and then to the kitchen for coffee. The sun is starting to peek through the horizon.

I grip the counter, dropping my head and breathing slowly. Today, I’ll see Canaan. I’ll drive to the hospital and wait all day if I have to. I need him to know I’m there, that I’m by his side.

Tears burn my eyes again, and I blink them away quickly, blowing out a breath. Get yourself together.

I need to be strong. I can’t break down or think about the worst-case scenario. For all I know, it may have seemed more complicated last night, and today, he’s better.

I search for a painkiller in the kitchen and grab a glass of water. I take a pill for my headache and fix my coffee. My movements are automatic and robotic.

With my coffee, I sit on the couch and check my phone again. No messages, and there’s no response from Joy to the messages I sent her last night. Anxiety spikes. What if things got worse last night and she doesn’t know how to tell me?

Shaking my head, I sip my coffee. It tastes like crap. I can’t stomach anything, but I have to, especially after taking the painkiller.

I stare at the wall while I drink my coffee. My phone beeps eventually, and I drop the mug on the coffee table, spilling some of the liquid over the edge with my hasty movements, and grab my phone.

Joy: Sorry I didn’t write earlier. We just got an update. He’s pretty stable right now, suffered a hard blow and brain injury. They’re monitoring him

My heart stops. Brain injury… Is that serious? It must be serious. My fingers tremble as I reply.

Madelyn: Brain injury? How serious is that? He’s alive, then, right?

Joy: He’s alive. They’re running tests and scans. We don’t know more than that yet

Madelyn: Can I go today?

Even if she says no, I’m showing up. I asked out of courtesy, but there’s no way I’ll sit at home while Canaan is injured.

Joy: You’ll show up even if I say no

Madelyn: You know me well

Joy: I’d do the same for Brayden. I did it and it was his dad not him in the hospital

She has a point. Feeling motivated, I drain my coffee and jump in the shower. I don’t care that the sun isn’t even up yet.

“Sweetie?” A soft knock echoes on my bedroom door after I’ve showered.

“Yeah?”

My mom opens the door and looks at me with sadness. “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to the hospital.” I throw on a t-shirt.

“It’s too early.” She steps into my room. “Let’s wait a bit more, and I’ll drive you.”

“No. I need to go now. I need to see him.” My voice cracks.

My mom sighs and tilts her head. “Even if you go now, you won’t be able to see him. I’m sure he’s resting, which he needs so his body can get strong and recover.”

“Joy wrote to me. He has a brain injury. They don’t know what the consequences are yet, but I want to be there. I need to be there,” I sob.

“Shh… It’s okay, sweetheart.” My mom wraps her arms around me and holds me while I break down again.