Breath of Life Read Online Free PDF Page A

of the weekend she met Jack. Her chest felt heavy at the thought of how much she had lost. How much she took away from everyone.  
    Paxton tried to roll over to cover herself but found her wrists restrained. They probably thought she might hurt herself again after driving her hand through the window. She figured the straps were a precautionary measure to ensure her safety in the confines of her room. She sighed and laid her head back. She closed her eyes and listened for any movement outside her door but all she heard was Jack’s laugh. She saw his piercing blue eyes that captivated her the night she met him, the happiness and light in them. The next image she conjured up were his eyes in Dr. Keeler’s office. There was regret in them, worry. Her conscious invaded her thoughts. He left you. You know he would only leave you again because you are not the girl he fell in love with. Her conscience was right.
    Paxton had changed over the last year. She knew she was nowhere close to being the girl she once was. She used to hole herself up in the house and study for hours over medical procedures. She would study hard and not taking any risks. She knew her mother couldn’t bear to lose anyone else after Paxton’s father died. Paxton sacrificed her own time and love life to save others. She wanted to help the world and save them from the pain of losing a loved one. You failed , her conscience interrupted again. You failed miserably and that is why you are where you are. She remembered how many families she had to tell that their loved ones couldn’t make it. She was here because she let everyone down. Paxton let out a feral scream at the realization that her world collapsed because she failed at the one thing she had always exceeded in.
    Dr. Keeler was passing Paxton’s room when she heard a scream from within. She swiped her card to get into the room. She rushed over to Paxton who faced the wall. She went around the bed and saw Paxton just staring, tears falling down her face. Her fists were clenched and her body rigid.
    “Paxton, talk to me. What’s going on?” She waited for a response but received none. “Is it your hand? Are you in pain?” She looked over the hand but couldn’t tell if anything was wrong.  “Please talk to me Paxton. I need to know what’s going on.”
    “Please leave.” Paxton sounded broken and defeated. Dr. Keeler felt her heart break for Paxton just a little more.
    “I’m not going until I know you’ll be okay.”
    “Please. Just go,” Paxton whispered. It sounded as though she was trying to hold back more tears from falling.
    Dr. Keeler didn’t move from her spot. She pulled up a chair and sat next to Paxton. Dr. Keeler saw the tears still falling.  She knew that Paxton didn’t want to talk, so Dr. Keeler kept quiet. She just held Paxton’s hand. Paxton didn’t ask her to leave again and she didn’t pull her hand away. Dr. Keeler just wanted to comfort her. She knew Paxton had been fighting everything alone. Dr. Keeler felt like Paxton just wanted someone in her corner no matter what she had done.
    Eventually Paxton stopped crying and just stared at the wall. She still didn’t say a word but Dr. Keeler saw her body relax. Dr. Keeler noticed that Paxton slipped her mask on again. The one that made her seem like she was catatonic. Dr. Keeler released her hand and went to grab a cup of water for Paxton. 
    “Here,” Dr. Keeler said moments later.
    She held the cup of water in front of Paxton. She saw Paxton drink slowly, from the straw.  Paxton gave her a look that said she was thankful for the small gesture.
    “Thank you for staying,” Paxton said after a few moments. Her voice was still quiet.
    “Do you want to talk about it?”
    “No.”
    “Okay. Do you want me to stay?”
    “Yes please. If you can.”
    “I’ll stay but I need to get a few things from my office to work on. Would you like me to get you anything? Are you hungry?”
    “No, just please come back.”