Chapter 35

                                    

                                          
Lexi
April 8th, 2017 | 1:00 am
Lexi didn't know where she was going. She just had to get away from Liam. She was angry and confused and upset. How could he go behind her back like that? It was so obvious that Austin still cared, she still cared, no one understood.
She found herself in front of the multi-faith space she had cried in front of when her father died. She contemplated going inside. It was a place to connect with God and right now, Lexi needed that. Finally, she walked in and sat down on one of the chairs.
"I don't know how to do this," Lexi admitted out loud. "But I'm going to try."
Lexi glanced back at the door to make sure it was closed and no one else was there. Then, she began to do something she couldn't really imagine herself doing ever before: she tried to talk to God.
"I don't know if this is praying or how this works, but I need your help. There's this boy in surgery right now, his name is Austin West, he is the best thing to ever happen to me. He was shot trying to save me, and he can't die. I can't lose him too."
Tears were pouring down her face. She could barely speak without her voice shaking now.
"I've already lost my mom and my dad, I can't lose another person I love, please I am begging you. Please don't let him die."
The door opened and Lexi looked up. Victor stood at the door.
"Lexi?"
She stood up and faced him.
"Monica just finished in the operating room," he said.
"Austin," she said immediately. "Is he okay?" she asked, walking with him to the room now. She was trying to go as fast as she could.
"Lexi," he said sadly. "I feel like I have to warn you, he hasn't woken up yet, and they don't know if he will."
Lexi looked past Dr. Summers and into the room where Austin was. He was lying in the bed, his eyes were closed, if it weren't for the giant gauze and stitching on the left side of his abdomen, it would have looked like he was sleeping. Tears pricked her eyes again.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"He lost a lot of blood, he was already so weak, sometimes it is just too much on the body."
Lexi's face crumpled up in pain. She couldn't lose him. Not him too. Monica came into the hallway. She looked so tired, she had been operating for hours now. It was almost two in the morning. She saw Lexi and came over and hugged her.
"I'm so sorry, Lexi, we removed the bullet and stitched him up but nothing is for sure, there was a lot of damage," she said quietly.
Lexi held back her sobs as she buried her face in Monica's shoulder. This wasn't happening, she couldn't lose him too. 
Eventually, Lexi let go of Monica and walked into Austin's room. She sat down in the chair next to his bed and watched him. She could see his chest move up and down with his breathing, but barely. The heartbeat monitor was the only thing reminding her that he was still alive. She reached forward and took his hand in her own. Lexi barely even realized she was praying, but she was. There was nothing else she could do.
"Lexi," Victor said quietly from the door. "The police would like to talk to you."
"I'm not leaving," she said firmly.
He nodded understandingly and left the room. The detective agreed to come talk with her in Austin's room in the morning. Lexi couldn't sleep the whole night, she just stared at Austin, hoping for the slightest change in his condition.