Michael had been moved from the ICU to a regular unit and was now allowed visitors. Ryan had been to visit him only once while he was in a medically induced sleep. Her ex boyfriends entire face was covered in gauze with holes for his mouth and nose. He was breathing heavily. He had undergone multiple surgeries already and she knew here were many more in his future. He had skin grafted to his face from somewhere else on his body, Ryan didn’t want to think about where…
As she stood there staring he surprised her by coughing and then turning his head in her direction. A single blue lazor beam fixed on her.
“What did you do?” he croaked.
His voice sounded dry and she handed him the water cup sitting on his bedside table. He took several long sips.
“I didn’t do anything to you Michael, you did it to yourself.” She was trying not cry at the sight of him. It had been an accident but she felt guilty because a large part of her had wanted revenge. Remember he’s the one that cheated and now you’re the one who’s ruined for life!
He struggled to speak and Ryan felt a sharp stab of guilt in the pit of her stomach. She wondered if his vocal chords had been damaged. There was so much hurt between them. He was a visual representation of how she felt on the inside. She didn’t know if she felt sorrier for her situation or his but either way she couldn’t take much more of this.
“I told you, made… a mistake…. never do it again.”
She rallied and showed him a brave face. She would not let him know how much he’d hurt her. “I don’t believe you’ll never do it again Michael, but you won’t do it to me.” She turned her back to him and stalked out of the room before he could see the tears forming in her eyes.
Logans Lab 