This is What We Call a Tragedy

I woke up with a start, gasping for air and coughing. My heart was raising as the oxygen filled my lungs. Frank, who’s head had been down, looked up at me, his cheeks damp, “Shit, Liz!” he said in a loud whisper, like he was trying to keep quiet. “Fuck, fuck, I thought you were done,” he said, wiping hair from my eyes, and staring at me with an odd look on his face.

My breathing was deep and heavy, like I hadn’t had air in decades. I tried to say, “I’m fine,” but the words barely came out. I’m not sure if any sound came out at all actually, but I think Frank understood. I was in my clothes again, which meant Frank no doubt dressed me, and we were in the first room I’d woken in earlier. After a few moments, my breathing was normal and I looked at Frank, “Why are you crying?” I asked in a raspy voice, that didn’t sound like my own.

He blinked a few time, his thumb stroking my cheek. “Lizzi, you stopped breathing... I couldn’t get you to wake up, I tried CPR and you didn’t move... You just laid there, dead, for almost five minutes,” he said, obviously still shaken from the ordeal.

I managed to reach my hand up to cup his cheek gently. “You told me not to leave you... And... I don’t think I can...” I said softly, in that same worn tone. I motioned for him to come closer, so I could tell him something secretly. He put his ear next to my lips. “We’re going to get out of this Franky... We will.”

He gave a nod before kissing my cheek. “Are you okay?” he asked before I had time to raise an eyebrow at his action.

“I hurt like nobody’s fucking business, but I’ll live,” I smiled. “Thanks for stopping him Franky,” I managed to say.

“Of course,” he said with a nod. “I’d let him kill me before I’d let him do that to you...”

“Yeah, but I’d rather him do that then kill you... I need my Franky,” I smiled. “Who else would I get into trouble with?”

“Well, we’re definitely in trouble this time,” he smirked slightly.

“We’ll get out,” I said softly. “Are you alright?”

He nodded, “I hurt like nobody’s business, but I’ll live,” he mocked. He gave me a serious look, “Can you move?”

“At the moment, no, not really... But I think it’s just because my heart stopped and the blood needs to re-circulate,” I said honestly. “Moving my hand up was difficult...”

Frank nodded. “I’m going to move you over towards the entrance with me... It’s less damp there. Tell me if I’m hurting you,” he said softly. I nodded to him and he slid his arms underneath my legs and back, to pick me up. I’m not going to lie, it hurt like hell and I must have made a pained expression, cause Frank looked at me with more concern, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I said softly. “I’m fine, it just stings a little...”

Frank’s expression looked a little scared, “You need a hospital, Liz...”

“I’ll be fine, I promise,” I said softly. He gave an unsure nod before sitting down near the entrance, holding me gently to him. I cuddled up to his chest, feeling safe like that. “Don’t let me go,” I whispered in a tone that sounded more scared than anything.

“I won’t,” he whispered softly into my ear, “ever...”