Before Me, Him

Chapter 75

"

     I open my eyes and I couldn't see. There was no floor and no ceiling. I was walking but I wouldn't bump into any walls. It was a pit of endless darkness. Where am I? I questioned just to be replied by silence itself.

     It felt as if I was walking for hours and hours however my feet wouldn't hurt, not even one bit. Out of a sudden, I hear the sound of a water drop and, on the floor bright blue footprints started to appear, walking forward, however, they would fade away after some time. I followed since they were the only source of light in this god-forsaken place and the more I looked at them the prettier they were. I could swear I could see the ocean bottom there, the reefs, the fishes, the light rays coming from the sun, the seaweed, the sand... Suddenly, the footprints stop and I am brought into darkness once again. I start looking around but it was pitch black and I didn't know what do to. I sat down and buried my head on my knees, I didn't want to walk anymore since there was nowhere for me to go.

     A dim light starts to appear on the horizon shaped like a man. Immediately I got up and ran towards it. Why am I running? I wondered without understanding why my body had moved on its own until I got close enough to understand the shape that was in front of me. William! I scream my lungs out and his body starts appearing slowly as small glitter particles gathered on him. I kept on running but it almost felt as if I was in the same place. What's this? I thought to myself as I look around me to realize that I hadn't moved an inch. I look forward and I see Her placing her hand on William's shoulder as she looked back at me and smirked. They started walking away and I ran, as I screamed for my brother's name. Don't go! I yell my lungs out as tears drip out of my tired eyes. I can't be without you... please! I beg him but he doesn't look back and, as his light disappears I fall onto my knees feeling the darkness embrace me once again.

"

     - William! – I scream as I suddenly wake up. I immediately lay down after my body subconsciously tried to sit by itself. My face was cold as tears dripped from my eyes.

     - May I come in? – I hear someone knocking at the door however it was a feminine voice I had not heard before. "Yes" I answer her. A woman dressed in white enters while carrying a kind smile. I start remembering what had happened and everything made sense. – How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?

     - There's no pain. – I didn't know what to say. I had just woken up and my body was numb.

     - Good good! I will call the doctor since you are awake now. – after opening the light grey curtains she leaves the room only to come back some minutes later with another woman.

     - Hello June, I heard you are doing fine. – the young lady with long ginger hair starts reading and then scribbling in a dark grey hardcover note block. – Your stats look alright.

     She places the note block back on the end of the bed and with a smile, she approaches me.

     - My name is Eva. Do you remember your full name? – Eva asks me and I easily reply. Afterward, she started to ask me about my age and about family members. "Do you know where you are?" and "Do you remember what happened?" were also questions that came up but I replied without thinking too much. – Good. Do you want me to call your family? They've been here since yesterday.

     - Yesterday? How long was I out? – I ask her as I try to sit slowly on the bed.

     - You shouldn't sit for now. – Eva helps me lay down again slowly and kindly. – You entered at three in the afternoon yesterday and right now is noon. Truthfully you didn't receive anesthesia that would make you sleep that much so we were getting concerned. I'll go call them.

     The doctor leaves with a smile and I start looking around the extremely white room. "So bright" I thought to myself. The sky outside was still as blue as yesterday, without any sign of any clouds.

     - June! – Emily screams as she enters the room. – We were so worried!

     - You're in a hospital, behave yourself! – says John loudly while Emily sat down on the chair next to my bed. Therese followed right behind them and as they were all gathered Eva began talking.

     - We had to stitch her since she severed her saphenous vein so in a couple of weeks she will need to come back to remove them. She will also need to take some medication to prevent any possible infections for at least two weeks. June's memory is also fine, she remembers everything so there was no brain damage. I still want to keep her here for a couple more days for observation and then I will let her go home however I want you to do some daily exercises with her. – Eva starts exemplifying the exercises and then proceeds. – Also she will have to use crutches until we remove the stitches. We don't want her vein to open up again.

      - How long will that be? – Emily asks with uncertainty.

      - She's still young so she should be fine within two to three weeks maximum. Don't worry, June is fine. – Eva blinks at Emily. – I will leave you to catch up, anything you need let me know.

      - June, we're proud of you but be more careful next time. – Therese says as she holds my hand. – You could have hit your head in the rocks and died. Don't scare us like that.

     - I understand but what other choice did I have?

     - We know June, we're just asking you to be careful. – John steps in while placing his hand on Therese's shoulder. We talked for a long time, the longest since I've moved here honestly. – Alright, do you want to see them?

     - Who? – I ask frowning my eyebrows. Part of me already knew the answer, I was just trying to deny it with fake ignorance.

     - Jacob, Phillip, Polly, Dean, and Luke. They've been waiting outside since yesterday afternoon. Once they knew something had happened they just started camping there, well, we are not ones to talk since we did the same. - he says.

     - Sure. Call them in. – John and Therese exit the room, leaving me and Emily alone. She was barely talking and her hands were cold and shivering. I guess she was so worried that she built up all of this frustration and anxiety inside of her that now it was finally coming out. As I could feel the warm tears dripping on my arm I place my other hand on her head and start petting her as she cried and cried. Soon after her tears stopped and everyone entered. They were there for longer but, most likely, were just waiting for Emily to unburden her soul.

     - Hey guys, sorry I can't greet you in better manners. – I chuckle as Jacob lays against one of the walls as he looked at me. I couldn't understand his expression. Dean stayed behind Emily, petting her shoulders with a smile while Luke and Philip sat on the free chairs close to my bed with extremely worried expressions on their faces. They were the ones that showed their emotions without any cover. Polly just walked towards the window and laid against it while looking at me, with extremely angry eyes.