Fifty-three

Alex

I awoke the next day, with a horrendous pain flooding my midsection. I gasped out, nearly unable to breathe for a few couple of seconds.

I had to close my eyes and control my breathing well enough for me to actually stay conscious.

By the time I did, I began to gain self-awareness once more.

Apparently, I passed out on the couch without even realizing it, which meant that last night, after I called Martha, I had passed out not long.

All my memories started flooding in, as well as the full throb in my stomach.

I managed to get my phone, from where it was, on the couch, and as soon as I did, the notifications popped up, showing me the number of calls that came in while I was asleep. There were about thirty missed calls from Martha and five from Geri.

Sucking in a deep breath, I found a way to get up from the couch and I went straight into the bathroom to take a shower and clean up my wounds as well.

It was a long and painful process, but I managed to do it all and I called Ger