EIGHTEEN

AVA

He lay motionless on the bed, his face pallid. I rushed to his side, my panic nearly shooting through the roof. I grabbed at his shoulders, willing him to move, to say something. He was limp like a broken doll, strands of his hair resting on his face. I bent over to listen for signs of a beating heart, but heard none. It was at this point that my knees gave out. Letting out a cry of dismay, my legs lost their strength, and I sank to the ground, still clutching at his forearm.

"Ava! Look! He's breathing!" Darian's voice pierced right through my consciousness, snapping me back into reality.

I stared at the unfolding scene before me, confused. Keegan was curled up into a ball but he was breathing. Judging by the trash can on the floor, he seemed to have vomited. Darian was sitting by his side, patting his back. I hadn't moved to Keegan's side, I realised. I had been standing by the door, my imaginations holding me captive for a few terrifying seconds.

I brought my shaky hands t