day fourteen, medical momday
prompt(s): concussion, "see if you can follow my finger with your eyes."
fandom: Wolverine Frogs (my debut novel ayy)
Lara lay on the damp earth, her breath shallow, each inhale mingling with the chill of the night air. A dull ache throbs at her temples, making the world around her seem unfocused and blurred. She can feel the warm trickle of blood running down her forehead, where the branches had whipped back and struck her as she fled through the underbrush. Panic flutters in her chest as she tries to recall what happened, but everything feels muddled, like a dream slipping through her fingers.
"Ethan," she murmurs, her voice barely a whisper.
He kneels beside her, his expression a mixture of concern and urgency. The glow of his flashlight cuts through the darkness, illuminating her face and revealing the crimson streaks that marred her skin. She can see his jaw tightening as he assessed her injuries, and a wave of anger washes over her.
"Hey, Lara," he says softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. His touch sends a jolt through her, both comforting and alarming. "Can you hear me?"
She nods slowly, wincing at the motion. The ache in her head intensifies, and she fights against the urge to succumb to the darkness creeping at the edges of her vision.
“Good,” he says, his voice steady. “See if you can follow my finger with your eyes.”
He extends his hand, raising his finger in front of her face. Lara tries to focus, her eyelids heavy. She concentrates on the tip of his finger, watching as it moved slowly to the left, then right, back and forth.
“Just like that,” he encourages, his tone soothing. “You're doing great. I need to make sure you're okay.”
The warmth of his voice wraps around her like a blanket, but the world around her spins, and for a moment, she loses sight of his finger entirely. Panic claws at her throat. “Ethan... I can’t...”
“Look at me, Lara,” he urges, moving his finger closer to her nose, making her refocus. “You’ve got this. Just breathe. In and out. Can you do that for me?”
She inhales shakily, feeling the cool air fill her lungs, and exhales slowly, trying to push the fear away. The world stabilizes a little, and she forces her eyes to follow his finger again, feeling a small sense of accomplishment as she manages it this time.
“There you go,” he says, relief washing over his features. “You’re doing really well. Just hang in there. We’ll get through this.”
“Ethan... what happened?” Her voice cracks, the memory of the chase creeping back, along with the shadows that lurked in the corners of her mind.
“They'll kill you for this.” he says instead of answering her, his expression darkening. “You shouldn't have run. I didn’t know you were hurt until I saw the blood.”
She feels the weight of his words. “We have to find her,” Lara insists, her determination flaring despite the pain. “We can’t leave her.”
He shakes his head gently. “First, you need to rest. I won’t let anything happen to you. Just focus on me, okay? You’re safe for now.”
