Beautiful One by Mary Cope

past me toward the vicious dog. I heard the dog yelp as it ran toward the creek bed. Maggie was lying limp a few feet away, whimpering. I tried to reach her, but I stumbled. A strong warm arm caught me before I fell to the ground.
    â€œBe still, darlin’, you’re hurt.” I was wrapped in the arms of a soft leather jacket, looking into the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen.
    I choked out the words, “My dog, Maggie,” before I slipped into the darkness.

Chapter Nine

    My eyelids fluttered open to the tearstained face of my mother.
    â€œHow do you feel, Liz? Does your head hurt?”
    I lifted my hand to silence her before I turned my head toward the floor and violently threw up. Mom ran out of the room to get the nurse.
    My head ached, and my body felt heavy. My left arm was bandaged from forearm to elbow, and my right arm was stuck with an IV. I was wearing an itchy hospital gown, covered with a thin blanket. Surveying the sterile environment, tears rolled down my cheeks. My immediate thought was of Maggie.
    Mom hurried back to my bedside, a nurse followed behind her. I wiped my tears away before the nurse reached the bed.
    â€œHi, Elizabeth, I’m Katelyn.” Nurse Katelyn seemed to be in her mid-twenties, with wavy red hair pulled back in a ponytail and kind blue eyes. She checked my vital signs, told us the doctor would be in shortly, and cleaned up the vomit.
    â€œMom, what happened to… Maggie?” I could barely get the words out. I held my breath and waited for her to respond.
    â€œMelissa and Mason took her to Dr. Wheaton. He’s stitching her up now. He said she’s going to be fine.”
    I breathed a sigh of relief followed by tears.
    â€œOh, Mom, I was so scared. I thought she… was…”
    â€œSh-h-h, sweetie, she’s hurt, but she’s gonna be okay.” Mom glanced toward the door as my dad anxiously walked into the room.
    â€œHow’s my girl?” Dad rubbed my blanket-covered leg as his eyes narrowed in concern.
    â€œMy head hurts, and I feel dizzy. What’s wrong with me?”
    As if on cue, the doctor walked through the door. Dr. Lee was a soft-spoken man who explained I had a concussion, stitches from the wound on the back of my head, and several cuts and abrasions. During Dr. Lee’s examination of me, I glanced at my parents.
    â€œHow did I get here?”
    Mom glanced to my dad then back at me. “You don’t remember being in the ambulance?”
    â€œNo, not at all. I remember screaming and trying to get Maggie away from that dog.”
    â€œYou were so brave. We’re just so thankful you’re okay.” She turned her attention to the doctor. “She is going to be okay. Right, Doctor?” Mom seemed anxious as she questioned Dr. Lee.
    Dr. Lee focused his attention on my parents. “We’re going to keep her overnight for observation. I’m sure she is going to be fine. If her night goes well, she’ll be discharged in the morning.” Dr. Lee scribbled a few notes on a clipboard before he exited the room.
    After I relived what I could remember from the dogfight, my parents kept me company for a while. Dad even joked about how I was a little warrior. When I told them I was tired, they each kissed me on my head and said they would be back later that night.
    My sleep was interrupted with the gentle probing of Nurse Katelyn. She checked my vitals and refilled my water jug. I glanced at the clock in the room while she replaced my IV bag.
    It was 4:38 p.m. Aidan!
    â€œKatelyn, do you know where my stuff is?”
    â€œYes, all your personal belongings are in this drawer.” Nurse Katelyn bent down to the table next to my bed. She pulled out a large plastic bag.
    I cringed when I saw my blood-stained workout clothes.
    She glanced at the cell phone and told me it was against hospital policy to use it. She put the bag next to me and said with a wink, “Don’t get