#Chapter 25 Not What the Doctor Ordered

Justin stayed awake with me until I calmed down enough to stop crying, and then he drifted off. I tried to sleep, myself, but I couldn’t get my brain to quiet down. I kept replaying the earlier attack. How could I have been so stupid? Donna had already tried once in the same day to kill me! I should never have let my guard down. I stretched my leg a bit, testing it. The pain was still intense, but I could feel it really was already starting to heal. There was no way I would be strong enough to compete tomorrow, but still, I took some solace in feeling the healing process at work. If only there were something I could do to speed it up. I shifted a little, settling more comfortably into Justin’s arms. He didn’t wake, but I felt him tighten his hold on me. He was caring for me, protecting me, even in his sleep. I was so lucky to have him–my second chance–and I felt that winning the competition would make me, in some way, deserving of his love. As he tightened his hold, and I shifted