Open Your Eyes

Awake

My eyes snapped open and I sat bolt upright.

White.

This wasn't right, where was I?

I looked down at my hands and observed the many tubes attached to me, and then I reached up and felt my hair.

My stomach dropped when I felt it was short, like it had all been shaved off a few months ago and was just starting to grow into a fuzz again. I shivered and listened to the quiet, the only noise being a faint beeping coming from the machines next to me.

I was in a hospital. I scratched my head and scrunched my face up as I discovered the possible reason for my awakening; I really needed a piss.

I pulled the covers back and got out of bed, grabbing onto the wall to stop myself from falling. My legs were completely numb, so I stood for a while until I could feel them again, which was challenging in my current bladder situation.

When I could walk again, I hobbled over to the only other door in the room, discovering with relief that it was a bathroom.

After using the bathroom I washed my hands and looked up at myself in the mirror, jumping slightly.

I was not as I had remembered. My dyed black hair was back to the reddish brown colour I was born with, and I had a scratch on my nose which seemed to be healing. I looked at my arms and my legs, lifting my shirt up. I was thinner than usual and there was also a mark on my stomach, which looked quite bad. I dropped my shirt back down and made my way to my phone, picking it up.

Texts, texts, emails, texts.

I looked at the date.

That can't be right, surely.

What the hell was going on?

I put my phone down and looked under my bed, finding my robe and Raiders slippers from home. I put them on and went to the other door, opening the handle and looking down the hallway.

It was totally silent, and I didn't know which way would lead me to people.

I looked up at a sign which pointed to a reception and made my way down, holding onto the railing for sturdiness.

The woman at the desk looked rather alarmed as I walked over. "Mr Armstrong? Billie Joe Armstrong?"

I nodded at the familiar name and held onto the desk, stammering a bit. "C-Can you t-tell me what's going on?"

She stood quickly and lead me to a seat, handing me a glass of water.

"Just take a moment, this will be overwhelming for you."

I sipped the water and took a breath. "Please tell me what's going on, please."

"I need to ask you some questions first. Do you know your name and date of birth? Your age?"

"Billie Joe Armstrong, February 17th 1972. I'm 32. No, I'll be 33 now, yeah? It's March?"

She nodded. "You've been in a coma for 3 months. It was a car accident, you got a bad head injury. That's where all your hair went, it had to be shaved. As for family, can you identify some people for me? Who do you think would have came to visit you?"

I thought for a while. "My wife and my sons, that's Adrienne, Joey and Jake. My Mom, my brothers and sisters. Mike and Tré too, probably."

She nodded once more. "You seem to be okay, we were worried you'd have some memory loss. Why don't you go back and get settled in bed and I'll call your wife?"

I nodded in reply and thanked her, going back to my room and getting into bed. I picked my phone up and checked my texts. All from Mike, every single one.

I scrolled to the top and read all the way through, smiling as I discovered each text was like a letter, every day he had written to me telling me about his day and things he thought I wanted to know. Each one started with a 'Boo!' As the first word. I read all the way through to his last one, which he sent tonight, probably before he went to bed.

Boo! Hey Beej. I came to see you today but as usual, you were giving me the silent treatment. Even after I made a brilliant joke for you. Does anything please you, woman?

I chuckled and shook my head. What a dork.

Nothing really to update you on actually, it's been a very chill day. Wait, my dog shit on my bed. Apart from that, very chill like I said. I had those noodles that you like tonight, we ordered take out. I realise you missed out, but I thought of you. Hope you're having sweet dreams.

I smiled and blinked as another text message popped up, but it was from about ten minutes earlier, from when I had woken up. It had just been delivered.

Boo! Hi again.. No reason for writing twice, I've never done that. And I realise that it's stupid o'clock in the morning but I have just woken up for no reason, no reason at all and I'm really cold. And come on, it's not like this text will wake you up. Just wanted you to know that I'm thinking of you a lot tonight, we watched your favourite movie and it hurt, because we used to watch it together, remember? Me and you, and a Chinese takeaway. Beer too, beer was very important. Anyway, just wanted to let you know, I miss you. I miss you a lot.

I wiped my eyes and put my phone down as Adrienne walked in and ran to me, hugging me tight. I hugged her back and then I saw the boys as they came to me and joined in on the hug. 'I love you"s were exchanged and Adrienne kissed me, pushing my hair back and kissing my forehead too.

After about an hour of chatting, I convinced her to take the boys home and come back tomorrow, when I might be able to come home. She agreed eventually and kissed me one last time before she left. I picked my phone up straight away, thinking of what to type to Mike.

I knew immediately, simply replying with:

Boo!