Page 8 of Heavy Crown

“Can I at least know your name?” Nothing is making sense to me right now. There’s so much pain in my head, and I’m woozy, almost nauseous.

“Alex,” he says in a rush, and there’s an awkward silence while the doctor narrows his eyes for a beat.

“Well,” the doctor says, dragging out the word. “I’ll leave you two to sort out the details.”

“Thank you,” Alex says.

“Wait,” I call to the doctor. “I don’t know this guy. Are you sure it’s safe for him to be… I don’t know… arranging things?”

The doctor’s eyes fill with amusement. “I suspect there’s no one you’d be safer with on the island.” When Alex tenses beside me, the doctor continues, “But if there’s someone you’d like us to call, we can. There was no emergency contact listed with your visa details.”

“Oh my God. My purse. I don’t have anything.” I was too distracted earlier by Alex to process what he said before. “Do I need to pay?” I touch my forehead again.

“The medication,” Alex reminds the doctor.

“Any bills have been taken care of. Not to worry,” the doctor says. “I’ll send the nurse in with some painkillers.”

He’s out the door, and the nurse appears at my side while I’m still grimacing from the sharp stabbing that’s overtaken the dull throbbing from before.

“Here you go.” She passes me a paper cup of pills.

My head hurts too much for me to consider asking what I’m taking, and I place them on my tongue and wash them down without complaint. I hope whatever it is works fast.

Alex is silent beside me for a beat after she leaves. “Is there someone you want me to call? Or I can just deliver you to your flat.”

“I can’t go back there,” I moan.

“What were you doing on West Shore Road after dark?” Alex asks, and his penetrating gaze makes me want to shrink away. His tone implies it was a stupid choice.

“I was just out for a drive.”

“Seems odd on your twenty-third birthday not to be out celebrating,” he says. “The doctor tells me there was no alcohol in your system.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose and take a deep breath. My head hurts so much I’m afraid I might throw up. On top of that, I realize I’m sort of stranded at the hospital. I either go back to Derrick or to a hotel I can’t afford because my debit card is at the bottom of the ocean. Since I can’t remember that stretch of the evening, my mind can’t quite comprehend that my little car along with my purse, keys, and phone are no longer accessible.

Everyone I know on the island exists in my phone’s contacts. I don’t know anyone’s phone number by heart, including Derrick’s. There’s no way to contact anyone except my parents, who are too far away to help even if they wanted to.

I draw my knees to my chest, and a sob rushes forward before I can contain it. I bury my face in my knees, and my shoulders shake. The crying is only increasing the pressure in my head, but I can’t seem to stop.

A firm hand makes a slow circle on my back. “I didn’t mean to upset you.” His voice has lost its sharp edge.

“I’ve got no money.” I manage to get the garbled words out between sobs. “My boyfriend is cheating on me. I’ve lost my phone.” I’m having trouble catching my breath. “I don’t know anyone on the island. My car is in the ocean. My family and friends are back in Canada!” I cry, and then I clutch my chest, desperate to get a deep enough breath between sobs. The pressure in my head has increased to a blinding pain.

“Right.” His voice is clipped. “Not the best birthday then.” He leans across me and hits the red button.

The nurse appears in the doorway in an instant.

“Have you got something to help Aurora?” he asks. “She’s feeling a bit overwhelmed.”

Overwhelmed? Is that what I’m feeling? The sharp stabbing in my temple won’t recede, then there’s a sharp prick in my shoulder.

“What?” I turn to ask, but I’m faint. “Oh,” I breathe out. “That’s nice. I don’t know what that is, but it’s nice.”

Alex chuckles beside me.

“I don’t know where to go, Alex,” I whisper, any semblance of a filter long gone.

He smooths my hair off my forehead, and that tenderness I almost thought I imagined earlier is back. “Don’t worry. I’ve got a big house. You can stay there tonight, and we’ll sort you in the morning when you’re feeling more like yourself.”