We Each Have Our Reasons

Chapter Twenty:

Chapter Twenty – So...she woke up?

I close my eyes as I try to sedate my breathing. My heart pounds hard on my chest and I can feel a small stinging pain.

“Can you like...drive faster?” I open my eyes and tell Rane in the driver's seat. This car feels like it isn't moving at all. The journey to the hospital suddenly feels extremely long.

“Excuse me I'm not trying to have a car crash.” he says, and immediately he realises what he had just said and apologized.

I still hadn't adjusted to everything that is happening. It hadn't sunk in that my best friend is laying on a hospital bed, critical and fighting for her life. It hadn't sunk in that I could arrive to news that she is no longer alive.

Rane puts on music. Reggae. And everything suddenly feels like a movie. Like a dream. And I'll wake up and Ty will be right there, shouting at me for leaving the curler on.

As we pull up to the hospital, I fight the urge to jump out of the car while it parks and run to my best friend.

When we finally climb out of the car, I walk fast into the large building and head for reception.

“Tyler St. Patrick.” I say out of breath. The lady behind the desk looks at me in confusion, and for once I wished she could read my mind.

I was breathing heavily so it was hard to get my words right. “Hi, we were called in a few hours ago to come in. We're here for Tyler St Patrick?” Rane says it so gracefully.

The lady types something into the large computer keyboard, and I watch as her red fingernails hit each button aggressively. They seem to move in a very testy way.

“River?” she looks at both of us.

I nod repeatedly. “Yes yes.”

I seem to be losing touch with the confident and fierce person I usually am. Every little thing scares or intimidates me.

“Doctor Takahashi is waiting for you. Third floor, room number 27.” she smiles.

I turn around and everything seems to be spinning. I couldn't even locate the elevator. Rane grabbed my arm and pulled to the staircase.

I watch my dirty Nikes move vividly as I jog up the stairs. Ty wouldn't be impressed. “Wash your shoes sometime.” she would say. I smile at the memory.

Rane and I walk in sync as down the hallway on the third floor. I look around for room 27, and I locate it with two medics standing outside the door.

I walk faster up to them and finally arrive. “Hi, I'm River. I'm looking for Ty?” I try looking through the glass on the door but it was too foggy for me to see anything.

“And I'm Rane; her older brother.” I look at him as he shook both their hands. I wonder why I didn't do that. Shake their hands. He looks very presentable. Charming.

I look like a mess but I couldn't care right now.

“We're glad you could make it.” the woman said. “I'm Doctor Takahashi. I'm the one in charge of assessing Tyler here. I must say she's a very strong young lady. It's amazing the progress she's been making.” I almost sigh in relief. She's not dead.

“Earlier today when we were doing a follow up after the operation, she gained consciousness. And even though she hasn't gained her speech back yet, she communicated through writing. The first thing she wrote down was your name; River,” she looked at me, “so we figured we should call you in.”

“So...she woke up?” I ask, a smile creeping up to my face.

“Yes. We're going to let you see her, when her family's done. But we have to ask you to be gentle with her. She can't speak as of yet, and please make sure she doesn't try to hard.”

I nod. I nod like an idiot.

She checks her watch. A gold Tiffany and Co watch. “You'll be with her in about 30 minutes. Just give the family some time.” she smiled once again and walked away, the man following after her.

“So she woke up. I told you she'll be fine.” Rane whispers in my ear. The smirk on his voice makes me smile and punch him in the arm. I hug him after watching him wince, and stop the tears from falling. Tears of relief. Happiness maybe.

I sit impatiently on the cold metal chair outside room 27.

As promised by the doctor, about 30 minutes later; Micayla and Tyler's mom walk out of the room.

They both smile at me gracefully, and Ty's mom hugs me. I can sense the joy she has, and it rubs off me. Micayla winks at me in a friendly* way; and they both walk off.

I watch them talk the first five steps then quickly barge into the room. Ty's head turns towards me as soon as I run in. She opens her mouth but fails to say anything.

“Tyler shut up, you're not supposed to try and say anything, loudmouth.” I smile and hug her. I feel her warm tears on my shoulder and they start rolling down my face too.

“I hope that's not your spit.” I say with a wet face and start laughing. I pull away and see her smiling.

“I'm so glad you're okay. You know...I thought I was going to lose you. I was so scared.” I look at her. She looks as relieved as I feel.

“You know, even on a hospital bed, after being in a coma, you still look gorgeous. I'm starting to think you have my genes after all.” she smiles and rolls her eyes.

“Hospital is so traumatizing. I don't know how you stayed here so long.” I fold my arms.

She reaches out for the notebook and pen on the side of her bed and scribbles something. She shows me. ‘I was unconcious the entire time you dumbass’ it read. I laughed. “Yeah. How does it feel to like be unconcious? Is it painful?”

She writes down something again. Her hand moves so slow that I feel guilty. I hope i'm not overworking her.  She shows me. ‘I couldn't feel anything its only painful now that I woke up’

I smile at her, avoiding asking anymore questions. I stare at her beautiful face. She looks so gorgeous.

“Tanae said she'd come through later to see you. Oh and Maya, you remember her right?”

She writes. ‘i didn't lose my memory’

I giggle. Thats Tyler for you. Always throwing clapbacks.

She writes for a long time. I watch her. Then she shows me. ‘tbh I'm so glad I didn't die. I was so scared. I thought I would never see you again. See Maya, see my girlfriend’ I stop reading, “Your girlfriend?! And you didn't tell me this why?!”

I carry on reading. ‘and I know you're prolly wondering why I didn't tell you but we started dating the day of the car accident. I was on my way from her house. I never knew how much I wanted to live till now. i saw everything the day i was rushed into the ICU, but couldn't do anything...till i was sedated into sleep ofcourse. my point is, i love you.’ and after that there seemed to be a failed attempt at drawing a heart.

“Tyler you can't draw hearts? We need to take you back to kindergarten.” she punches me very weakly.

I rest my head on her chest gently. “i love you too Tyler.” I close my eyes.

“So much.”