The Horrid Hodgepodge

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Jordan:

All I see is white, and for a moment I wonder if I died, if this is the end. Then I realize that is too clichè, and there’s no way I’m getting out that easy. I hear voices, faint, but getting closer. Some warm, familiar, others alien to me, but they don’t matter. I see a face come into focus beside me. Natalia peers over, and smiles openly. She hugs me, a warm squeeze that is welcome for once.

I have to go through a bunch of boring medical procedures, and have to spend the night over, but I am discharged in the morning. Natalia sits with me for a while, helping me catch up in the outside world. I didn’t miss much, but still, a week is a bloody long time to be out; We chat, and I feel a flood of appreciation for her. She tries so hard, and I remain an ass. When I get up, I almost collapse down again, forgetting that it has been a week since I last stood, but she is there to catch me.

“Thanks,” I mutter, and she smiles back, helping me back up.

“No worries, Jordan. You had me worried there.”

And she means it. I can see in her eyes, she really does care.

When I get outside, the glare hits my eyes. I call Chris, but he is at school. I wonder who knows about my awakening; then realise it probably doesn’t matter. I walk home alone, happy to get some peace after a day of restoring my life.  I wish I had collapsed wearing my headphones, or carrying a book.

It is odd how little everything has changed; I almost expected my room to be rearranged, or coated in dust. But everything looks the same, as if nothing had happened. I sit at my desk and  start to catch up on the work Natalia left for me  to catch up on. Just as I am finishing up on science, my phone rings, and I answer to Chris.

“Hey, Jordan, you’re alive! I missed you bro! How’ve you been?” he shouts down the phone.

“Hey, Chris, good to hear from you.” I sigh .”I’ve been okay, I guess. Tad bit unconscious,  but okay otherwise. Too much stress, they say. No surprise there.”

“Great, glad to hear it. Hey, I know you are not one for parties, but we want to do something to welcome you back. A get together, of some form. What do you think?”

“I appreciate that, but there’s really no need. Thanks.” I reply.

“No, I insist. Next Saturday. My place.”

I laugh as he hangs up.

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