Opened Sores by Zarah Smith (uplifting books for women .TXT) 📖

your boyfriend," Mr. Cameron said sarcastically with a smirk on his face. Alyssa stared at him for a long minute before saying, "That's not funny." Her voice was cold and bitter, her nose runny, eyes red. Mr. Cameron stepped towards her bringing them face to face.

"It's hilarious," He said slowly, the smell of alcohol heavy on his breath. "Death is hilarious." Alyssa's anger grew at new lengths as she clutched her fist turning away from her father.

"Aw, did I hurt your feelings?" He mocked.

A tear ran down Alyssa's cheek as she left through the front door. She ran outside running towards the school. As the day passed by she instinctively searcheed for Gavin at every hallway, at every class, refusing to believe the reality of the situation. After school she ran to the lake where he first took her on the canoe. After, she went to the beachm and then she went home. Her parents weren't home so she ran upstairs, slamming her bedroom door shut. Alyssa thought about the last moment in the hospital. She thought about how he was still concerned for her when he was the one that needed the concern. She thought about how he had asked her to kiss him, she thought about him saying I love you. She remembered how she didn't get to say it back. Alyssa plopped onto her bed laying in the spot that Gavin always laid in. She sobbed into her pillow as she thought of him; his voice, his face, his smile, his eyes, his touch, everything. She was shattered.

"I love you too, Gavin."

*******

Alyssa got up from her bed removing Gavins arm from around her. She watched him sleep for a couple seconds before grabbing a jacket and leaving the house. She went behind the woods and to the vacant lake. The sun wasn't up completely; the sky was dark, light barely present. Alyssa sat down and brung her knees to her chest crossing her arms over them. She couldn't seem to shake the though of Gavin dying from her mind; the thought of being alone...again.

Gavin awoke to Alyssa gone and found himself sweating. He had a fever and was sick as a dog. He wondered where Alyssa was and decided to go look for her; his concern for her greater than his for himself. He couldn't go to sleep without knowing she was okay and by his side. He went to the bathroom and washed his face with cold water. He thought of the lake, where he and Alyssa first talked; where they first had a real conversation. He went as fast as he could without becoming too overwhelmed. he was worried about her.

When Gavin arrived at the lake he seen Alyssa crying into her hackey. His heart ached for her, just seeing he upset. He quickly walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her protectively.

"Hey, Alyssa, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" He asked just above a whisper, his voice soft. When she didn't reply, Gavin kissed her forehead and told her it'll be alright.

"I'm afraid," She mumbled into his shirt.

"Afraid of what?"

"Of you leaving me alone. I'm afraid to be stuck here with them again, stuck alone. I'm scared, Gavin." She stopped speaking and cried. Gavin's heart broke to pieces. He didn't know what was happening to him. All he knew was that it wasn't good. He had a high fever well above one hundred, chest pains, and now he was coughing up blood. He didn't know what to expect next.

"I'm not going anywhere." He said. The truth was, that he was scared too.

Chapter 8: What's love is love

"Come home," Gavin whispered into Alyssa's ear. "Come with me," He tried to stiffle a cough while holding Alyssa; his hands slowly quivering. Gavin loosened his grip on her in attempt to keep from feeling him shake. Alyssa looked up and saw Gavin quickly avert his gaze.

"Gavin," She whispered. "Look at me." Gavin took a couple seconds before looking into ALyssa's eyes/ She saw that his eyes were red and saw sweat glistening from his forehead. She pulled away feeling his hands shake.

"You're sick, what's wrong?" She asked. "We have to get you home." She put a hand to his forehead and felt heat race to the surface. "Gavin, you're burning up!" We have to get you to a hos-"

"No, no. I'm fine." He interrupted.

"Well at least come home."

Alyssa stood up and held out her hands, helping Gavin to his feet. He staggered up, wrapping his arm around Alyssa's shoulder to support himself. On the way to Alyssa's house, Gavin stumbled over small leaves and buts of broken branches.

Alyssa layed Gavin on the couch and ran to get a cold rag. When she came back she saw Gavin clutching his chest in pain. Flashbacks of her previous dreams flashed through her mind. In an instant tears started to form in her eyes. She folded the rag and layed it across his forehed as she sat next to him running her fingers through his hair. Gavin reached up to grab her free hand and mumbled a "thank you" when he found it. He rolled over on his side and positioned his head onto Alyssa's lap.

As Alyssa ran her hand through his curly black locks, she found herself staring into a blank wall. She saw Gavin on his death bed, she saw him slowly dying. She heard her father's voice making fun of his death and she watched Gavin's mom yell screams of pain. Alyssa blinked a gew times and look down at Gavin. He was shaking and beginning to cough. Gavin tried to stand but Alyssa pulled him back. He kept trying until Alyssa gave in.

Gavin grunted as he stood, bending over and covering his mouth as he coughed. When he took his hand away from his mouth, he spotted buts of blood. He closed his hands in attempt to hide it from sight. He uncontrollably coughed as blood poured from his lips. Alyssa jumped to her feet frightened and ran over to him with the small hand towel in her hand. "Oh my god," She said as she wiped the blood witht the damp towel. "Oh my god," She kept repeating.

Gavin clutched his stomach as he watched a stream of blood pour onto the floor. It was becoming too much and Alyssa found her hands covered in his blood. She ran to fetch her cell phone to call an ambulance. She didn't want him to go in fear of him dying like in her dream but she had no choice. The blood that was pouring onto the floor was now light and thin, slowly descending.

In a matter of minutes the ambulance came and took gavin in. During the drive to the hospital, Alyssa held Gavins hand, his blood still stained onto them. Tears slid from her eyes as she looked at his now pale and colorless face. As they arrived at the hospital. The doctor took Gavin to the E.R to stop the bleeding completely. Alyssa immediately took out and called Mrs. Reed.

Alyssa was waiting with Mrs. Reed when the doctor came out of the room. Mrs. Reed stood up and waited for the doctor to come over.

"Hello, My name is Dr. Parker, I was just evaluating your son, Gavin Reed."

"Yes, yes, will he be alright?" Mrs. Reed asked worriedly.

"That's what I'm here to talk about." He started. "Your son has what is called a Pulmonary Embolism."

"What's that?" Alyssa blurted.

" A Pulmonary Embolism is a blockage of a main artery of the lungs or one of its branches by a substance that has travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream. In this case, a severe blood clot. This blood clot is blocking the circulation of his blood stream and he will need an embolectomy."

"A-an embolectomy? What is that some type of surgery?" Mrs. Reed nervously asked.

"It's a surgical procedure in which we usually perform under anesthia and in some cases we use sedatives. However, this is highly risky. This can cause tissue death or loss of the leg."

"And if we don't do this?" Mrs. Reed asked slowly.

"I'm afraid that his lungs will collapse and cause death."

"We'll do it..." Mrs. Reed says just below a whisper, frowning.

"Can we see him? Quickly? Before the procedure?" Mrs. Reed asked.

"We need to perform the embolectom...." Dr. Parker started but stotpped short. "Um...Only for a few minutes. I will submit your decision and then call him into surgery. But please, one at a time."

*********

Mrs. Reed went in first to see him. When she came out of the room Alyssa sped past her. She stopped short of her footsteps taking a deep breath before appearing at his bedside. She blinked a few times and wiped the tears from her eyes. She walked towards him painting a small smile onto her face. She watched as he smile weakly.

"I don't like you to worry." Gavin said reading her mind.

"Either way, I was going to worry." She said slowly trying to keep her voice steady.

"Don't cry over me." He whispered, wearily wiping a tear from her face. Alyssa averted her gaze as she realised the replay of her dream.

"How could I not? I care about you too much." She said hesitantly through short breaths.

"I'm sorry." Gavin said touching his hand to Alyssa's cheek.

"Kiss me," Gavin whispered. Alyssa didn't question or argue this time, she just obeyed. Gavin moaned softly as he felt her lips against his. Alyssa gave a quiet laugh the sounded close to a whimper. She pulled away replaying the end of her dream in her mind, tears rolling faster across her cheeks.

"Don't say it," Alyssa whispered.

"Don't say what?" Gavin asked wearily.

"Don't say I Love You." She said her voice dry and hoarse.

"But I do, I do Love you." Gavin said forcing a small smile making her look away again.

"No, don't say it now, Gavin." She said meeting his gaze. "You're afraid of what's happening to you so you're saying this as a good-bye, just in case."

"I love you, really I do," Gavin said his voice shaking just a little. "Don't you believe me?"

"I do, I really do, but I just...."

"I know." He said interrupting her. Gavin squeezed her hand softly mentally urging her to say I love you back.

"I love you too."

******
A few hours later Gavin came out of surgery and Alyssa and Mrs. Reed was relieved to see him live and well. Dr. Parker started to walk towards the two with a soft smile playing at her lips.

"Surgery was a success." She said smiling. Alyssa and Mrs. Reed sighed in relief and hugged eachother. "He's sleeping now, but you can see him."

"Thank you so so much." Alyssa said motioning towards Mrs. Reed. "From the both of us."

The doctor lead the both of them into Gavin's room. Alyssa smiled in relief, happiness filling her body. She gently took hold of Gavin's hand as a tear of happiness ran down her cheek. She gazed at the man she loved smiling. She was relieved that everything was going to be okay again.

Chapter 9: Parents acting like Parents?

"I'll walk you home." Gavin said smiling at Alyssa as the school bell rang.

"Sure." She smiled.

Gavin stood up from his seat and helped Alyssa with her stuff. They walked