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.

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like that. She’s strong; she’ll wake

glaring and snapping at

Will living with it have any effect on her?” Nora

her cheek.

must be for her. I can’t ever imagine facing the

It’s just too much to

live perfectly normal lives, and there are others who are affected. She might

have speech and hearing issues, or have trouble recognizing words,

things that might be affected by

for sure. We have to wait for her to

If she wakes up,

verbally, but it’s in the way he looks at us. The

her face. Theo pulls her into

know is nowhere to be seen. The only ones standing in their

heartbroken parents.

have to come back tomorrow, and even then,

the room with her. Now, if

nod at him, and he leaves just as mom comes back

while Gunner goes to

the doctor say? Is mom okay?” He

of being a parent. Knowing whether to

I tell him that the doctors aren’t really sure his mother will wake up from the coma, or should I

him

just have to wait and pray.” I decide to go with

would end up hating me for lying that

at me before looking at the

1

minutes of silence, I turn and face

see her today, I think you should all go

tomorrow.”

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at the same time,

they refuse to budge. In the end, everyone decides to

go home only after I tell them that Noah can’t stay in the hospital and that he needs someone with him. Cal agrees for the sake of Gunner. The boy was already yawning even

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

arrives.

got here late. We had to interview the witnesses about

happened to her.”

I nod my head.

“Have you found anything?”

anything beyond what we already

they would have something. A

any state to

face shuts down, and my voice hardens. I know it’s not his fault since he doesn’t

pisses me

a coma,”