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The constant rhythmic beeping cuts through the fog, fading in and out as I try to fight through the feeling of something weighing down my body. Sucking in a breath, I try to open my eyes but nothing happens, and I want to cry. Why the hell can’t I open my eyes? What’s happening to me?

“How’s she doing today?” a voice asks, and it takes me a moment to realize that it’s Carly.

“Same,” Logan responds, his voice gravelly and tired. He runs his thumb across the back of my hand, and warmth washes over me. I’d know his touch anywhere.

“Have the doctors said anything?” another voice asks, and I smile. Izzy.

“They’ve said the same shit for three days. She’ll wake up when she’s ready.”

Three days?

Have I really been out for three days?

“She lost a lot of blood, Logan. She needs rest,” Carly says, and he growls.

“Well, I need her.”

“And she needs you so she will wake up. I know it.”

“We’ve got to get to work but we’ll stop by again tonight, okay?” Izzy adds in, and Logan makes a sound of approval. Someone squeezes my foot, and then the door to the room opens and closes.

“Kitten,” he whispers, and I try to reach for him but my arms don’t work. “You can’t leave me. I need you, Baby. Every day for the rest of forever, I need you by my side so you can’t go leaving me yet.”

I want to scream that I never want to leave him but nothing works. I can’t speak, I can’t move. All I can do is listen as he pleads for me not to give up.

Never.

I’ll never give up – not when I have Logan waiting for me.

“I bet we could get married in June if we hurry. It’s so gorgeous out there in the summer. We could put lights in the trees and get married under the stars. Would you like that, Kitten?”

YES!

This is torture. I’m entombed in my own body, my subconscious clawing at my skin, trying to break free so I can let him know that I love him and that I’m not going anywhere.

Come on, Ali.

Fight.

“Baby?” he asks, hope in his voice, and I try to reach for him again. “Can you hear me, Ali? I swear I saw your finger move.”

Yes!

Yes, I’m here.

I try to reach for him again but I can see the darkness creeping in from the edges of my vision, and I know I’m going to lose this battle.

* * * *

Someone is snoring.

That’s my first thought as I slowly drift back into consciousness, nerves hitting me as I remember the last time. Will I be able to open my eyes this time? Or will I be frozen in my own skin again? My eyelids flutter open, and I hiss as I slam them shut again, the bright morning sunlight spilling in the window too much for me.

“Kitten?” his sleepy voice asks, squeezing my hand, and I squeeze back. He shoots up next to me, yanking my arm in the process, and my entire body aches. I moan, and he kisses my hand before releasing it and leaning over me. “Let me see those gorgeous blue eyes, Baby.”

“It’s bright,” I whisper, my voice cracking, and my throat aching.

“Hold on.” He’s gone, and then a few moments later, he’s back. “Try now.”