Ex-Husband's Regret

First Suspect
Chapter 116

“What do you mean she slipped into a coma?” Theo asks with an unmistakable tremble in his voice.

My heart was once again thudding against my ribcage. It felt like it wanted to punch a whole right through my fucking chest.

I try to think clearly, but it’s like my brain can’t function. Time slowed down as the doctor spoke. All I

heard was a ringing in my ear.

I stumble back and fall on the seat I had vacated. Gabe and my dad put their hands on me, but I shake

them off. I didn’t want their comfort. I wanted the doctor to tell me that the surgery had been a success

and that in a few hours Ava would wake up.

“She had a total of four bullets. One hit her head, the second hit her chest, the third hit her stomach, and

the final one hit her thigh. We were able to remove three of them successfully, except for the one in her

skull. It was lodged too deep and removing it would have killed her.”

Fuck. I don’t know what to feel or think about that. He is telling us that Ava will have to live with a bullet

stuck in her head. How is any of that fair? She was okay this morning before things took a turn for the

worst.

‘At least she’s alive,‘ a voice whispers.

I ignore it. She was alive, but would she stay alive? That was the main fucking question.

over, had to drill her skull to drain
“We were able to stop the bleeding, both internal and external. We,

fluid, which helped with the swelling in her brain. She flat–lined twice. It’s after the second time that she

slipped into a comma. For now, she’s in ICU.”

If I thought nothing could hurt me worse than seeing Ava get shot, then I was wrong. Hearing that we

almost lost her twice destroyed me. It is like being stabbed by a thousand sharp knives. I wouldn’t wish

anyone this fucking pain. Not even my worst enemy.

“Will she wake up?” I breathe hoarsely. “Will she be able to make a full recovery?”

“At this point, we can’t really say. This isn’t an induced coma, and we can’t assure you that she’ll wake up

in a few days. She might wake up tomorrow, in a few days, in a few months, or she might not wake up at

all. For now, we’ll give it a few days to see whether she’ll wake up.”

The possibility that she might not wake up nearly brought me to my knees.

1/4

+15 BONUS

those thoughts away. I can’t think like that. She’s strong; she’ll wake up. In a

up, glaring and snapping at

living with it

her cheek.

begin to imagine how hard this must be for her. I can’t

too much to even think

perfectly normal lives, and there

have speech and hearing

might be affected by the kind of

can’t say for sure. We have to

If she wakes up,

words verbally, but it’s in the way he looks

as more tears fall down her face. Theo pulls her into his arms and hugs her

to be seen. The only ones standing in

heartbroken parents.

visiting hours, you’ll have to come back tomorrow, and

person in the room with her. Now, if you’ll excuse

he leaves just as

comes to me, while Gunner goes to his

mom okay?” He looks up

the hard part of being a parent. Knowing whether to tell your kid

I tell him that the doctors aren’t really sure his mother

him that

We’ll just have to wait

Ava never wakes up, he would end

looks at

1

few minutes of silence, I turn and face the

today, I think you should all

tomorrow.”

2/4

+15 BONUS

and Letty refuse at the same time,

to convince them that I’ll let them know if something comes up, but they refuse to budge. In the end, everyone decides to stay except for

in the hospital and that he needs someone with him. Cal agrees for the sake of Gunner. The boy was already yawning even though you could see

they leave. There is little talking. Mostly we just sit in silence, that is

arrives.

We had to interview the witnesses

happened to her.”

I nod my head.

“Have you found anything?”

give us anything beyond what we already

would have something.

any state to

down, and my voice hardens. I know it’s not his

just pisses

a coma,” I