Second Thought

Chapter 20

                                                                                    Alexander's POV

    Liam came rushing into Serenity's old bedroom acting frantic. I shot straight up from the bed.

    "Alex! Serenity isn't responding. She shut herself in the bathroom and has been in there for a while. Something isn't right!"

    Without saying anything, I ran out of the room as fast I could into my bedroom. I rushed over to the bathroom door and turned the handle. The damn door was locked. I started pounding on the door. "Serenity! Open up!" No response. With one swift kick to the door, it swung open. There she was, sitting in the tub with her head under the water. s**t! I ran over to her as fast as I could, picked her up and sat her on the bathroom floor. Oh no! She wasn't breathing. My hands pressed down on her chest and started moving them, trying to get her blood pumping again. I reached down and put my mouth to hers breathing in and repeating the process over and over. It wasn't working. She had no pulse. I felt Liam's hands on my shoulder, but I ignored him. I wasn't just going to stop. I kept the assault on her chest. Once again, I placed my mouth to hers, pushing my breath into her mouth. Finally, I saw her chest rise and down on its own. I turned to look up at her and she started spitting up water. I placed her on her side to keep her from choking. We stayed in that bathroom for over an hour. I didn't want to take chance of moving her and making things worse. I decided it was time to pick her up, so that is what I did. Her body felt so fragile underneath me and at this moment she was so vulnerable. She lifted her head and looked right at me, but it was like she was seeing right through me. I carefully laid her across my bed and reached for my phone, calling the hospital.

    "Hello, my name is Alexander Woods and I need to speak with Doctor Garrett immediately. No, that is not acceptable. This is urgent and I need him right now!" A moment later I heard him come to the phone.

    "Mr. Woods, is everything alright?"

    "No, it’s far from alright. I think Serenity just tried to kill herself." I gave him all the details of what I knew. I told him how I found her and what I did to get her breathing again.

    "You need to bring in her in right away. I'm afraid with her concussion, the loss of oxygen to her brain could have made things worse. We will need to run some tests."

    "That's not going to happen. I need you to send someone over here now! I don't care about the cost of in-home care. I will take care of it first thing tomorrow, just please send someone over now."

    I heard him sigh into the phone. "There is no talking you out of this is there?"

    "No."

    "Okay, I am going to let you speak to the front desk attendant and she will arrange everything. They will send a nurse over immediately and another doctor."

    "There is no other doctor that will be helping her. You are the only one I will even allow near her."

    "Alexander, I have other patients to attend to. I cannot come, I will have to send another doctor that I work closely with and that I would trust to take good care of her."

    "Doctor, this is not up for discussion. We will only accept you, no one else."

    He was silent for a few seconds before I heard him speak again. "Fine. I will not be able to get out there until 8am tomorrow. The nurse will have to look after her until I get there. I will try my best to make it as fast as I can. See you tomorrow." The melody of elevator music filled the other end of the phone. Two minutes later, a woman answered the phone and got the details of the events and my address and said someone would be here within the hour. Relief flooded over me that I was able to convince the doctor into making an appearance I took a seat on the chair next to where Serenity was sleeping. I had managed to put a shirt on her to cover her up. I didn't want any of the doctors seeing her completely naked, I was too selfish for that.

    Fourty-five minutes had gone by and I heard my doorbell ring. I rushed down the stairs to escort the handful of nurses to Serenity. They had brought some machinery, so I made a point to step outside and help carry them in. Before too long, all the machines were hooked up and the nurses started hooking them into Serenity. I never even saw her flinch at the IV that went inside the skin of her hand.

    "Mr. Woods, if you wouldn't mind stepping out of the room and giving us some time alone with her," a male nurse spoke.

    "Um, sure." I made my way down into the living room, trying to wait patiently. Hours, it has been hours. They still wouldn't let me in the room. I was starting to get really annoyed. Just as I was about to walk back up and storm into the room, Liam came into the room and joined me on the couch. I didn't want him here. I was really pissed off at him. What did he say to Serenity to piss her off so bad that she would lock him out? I don't know if I even wanted to know. I was trying to control my anger and focus on Serenity.

    "How is she doing? I tried to go in, but I was ushered out."

    "Same. They wouldn't let me in either."

    "Oh. Well, do you mind if I sit here and wait with you?"

    "Yes, I mind. I don't know what you said that upset her so bad, but she is in this situation because of you. I knew I should have never left her alone, not even for a minute."

    "Alex, I didn't know she was going to try and kill herself. She was upset don't get me wrong, but she wasn't upset enough to hurt herself. It's hard to believe that she would try and kill herself, she isn't like that."

    "How can you even possibly know that she isn't like that? People can only take so much before they just snap. Everyone handles things differently and Serenity has dealt with much more than she should. I wouldn't have thought she would do something like this either because she is so strong. I've been thinking that once she is better, I am going to let her leave. I love her but I can't keep hurting her. She deserves a life that she has always wanted. It kills me to let her go, but I know its best."

    "You’re just going to let her go, no questions asked? Wow, your better than I have ever given you credit for. Do you think she will actually want to leave, knowing how you feel about her?"

    "I think that she will make the right choice to leave and to make the most out of her life with someone that deserves her. I do want to make myself clear, that doesn't mean you are following her. She needs to be away from the both of us. Neither of us are good for her."

    "I know. I wasn't even thinking that. I do think your right and it’s time for us to give her the opportunity to live her life the way she deserves."

    "Good, glad we understand each other." We didn't say anything else. Both of our minds were for once on the same page. I didn't want to let her go but it’s what she needs, and I was determined to give her what she wants. No more being selfish.