[:::: Authors Note ::::]
Hi Everyone, Welcome to Part IV of the Double or Nothing series. As a new author, I've enjoyed writing and building a story. I've gotten so much feedback from so many people that it's been great. Some of you love the story, others not so much. But I've noticed that the comments and private messages have all shown me that you engaged with what I am writing for the most part. And that is what I have been aiming for!
One other point everyone brought up was the gap between parts. As a new author, I must plead some ignorance. When I posted Double or Nothing Part I, I had not started Part II, and in some ways, I did not understand the passion all of you had in wanting to see the next part so quickly. Thank you for that passion.
As always, a huge thanks to Kite for jumping in and editing with me, He's showing me a lot, and it's helping me to enjoy writing but to polish the story and close gaps that I have a hard time seeing.
One of the most significant criticisms outside of my grammar (yes, I know) is that the plot and dialogue are too long. Well, just to let you know, that's just the way I write. I like to work on my characters; I want to get their motivation and understand their thoughts or feelings. So, that takes time, making my stories a little longer.
What you're about to step through in Part IV is quite long in the telling, there is a lot that I want to get through in this part of the story, and I want to try a couple of different styles. There are a few elements that I would love to have explored further but didn't feel fit the main narrative.
I want to caution you that I've got both religious discussion and more legal scenes in this part. These scenes are to progress the story and are not written to offend anyone as I am sure most of you have different points of view to those that our characters hold. So please try not to be offended and just enjoy the writing.
You have been warned.
I hope that you enjoy Double or Nothing Part IV.
[:::: End of Part III ::::]
I looked at Harmony. My body was feeling tired, the edges of my vision blurry. Then, I heard a phone ring. Fast words were spoken. For a few moments, I lost focus and then felt the cool press of plastic against my ear as Harmony held her phone to my ear.
"Terry, baby, what's going on?" my other amazing girlfriend, Melody, started saying over the phone. I looked at Harmony into those amazing green eyes. I could be lost in them forever without ever having to take another breath.
"I punched the little shit, I mean the big dickhead, I mean doctor fuckwit," I was starting to lose it, slurring and mixing up my profanity. Harmony smiled.
"Harmony told me baby, Terry, Terry, are you listening," her voice was panicked, and we all knew I was fading.
"Yesssshhhh," I slurred.
"Baby, we need you to stay with us. We need you, our love!" Melody was crying through the phone. Looking at Harmony, she was openly sobbing as well.
"Terry, our amazing sweet, Terry, please don't go. We're not ready to give you up so soon after finding you." Harmony whispered.
"Tiiirrred," I replied.
By now, more doctors were swarming around Harmony and me. Finally, she was forced to stand away, taking the phone with Melody away with her. A couple of security guards lifted me onto an awaiting gurney at the doctor's direction, and I saw mum wrap her arm around a crying Harmony.
I had a final moment of clarity where our eyes met, "I love you!" I mouthed, and she returned the gesture.
"We love you too!" she replied.
They started moving me down the corridor. I could feel them pushing me fast, so I closed my eyes. Sight and sound drifted away from me as the drugs finished their work. I was loved and had found happiness, I wasn't alone, but as my consciousness ebbed into nothingness, I did wonder fleetingly if I would ever wake up.
[:::: Part IV ::::]
My mouth felt like I had been drinking Bundy rum for three days straight, you know that feeling when you can't quite get your lips together to try and rub some moisture in your mouth. That was the feeling I had as I slowly returned to the living world.
I was flat on my back in what must have been a hospital bed. I can also say that aside from the feeling of a dead cockroach in my mouth. Enormously heavy limbs and a monumental effort to open my eyes. I could feel that almost every part of me was beyond sore.
However, my hearing was working at least because as I came to, I could hear snoring. I tried almost successfully to move a little, and the snoring stopped, I felt the pressure lift from my torso, and I heard a voice that made me relax.
"Terry?", the question came from one of the two voices in this world that could wake me from the dead. Indeed, that's what I felt like now. But her voice stirred me further awake.
Melody!
Eyelids fluttering, I pushed myself and worked hard at opening my eyes. It was dark out that much was sure as the light in the hospital room was entirely dim and artificial. As my eyes started to focus, one of my two beautiful girlfriends was lying on my hospital bed with me, her usual spot curled up on my right, holding onto my torso. Melody had always loved to sleep on my mid-section. Ever since we first met, that was her place, and despite my laying here in a hospital bed, she had managed to curl herself like a cat onto the bed without affecting my prone position, ensuring her claim on me.
"Harmony," Melody whispered so someone on a chair beside my bed, "I think he's waking up."
Almost immediately, a second vision of beauty, the identical twin of the woman who was until a few moments ago, laying on my torso, stepped in and looked at me. I tried to focus on her, my second girlfriend in the dark. There was no difference between the two women, I loved them both without reservation, and I knew without a doubt they both loved me.
