Andy Calder

Take Me Home

...5...4...3...2...1...0......

The world doesn't stop when a heart does, but my world does. I hear them count down as my heart beat slows. The monitor beeps frantically throughout the room.
I hear the doctor yell,"Clear!" My chest moves off the table then falls flat again. The doctor repeats this.

It's insane to think that my heartbeat actually started again. It feels like a bucket of ice water just woke me up, except my eyes didn't open. I can tell that the doctors figured it out and that the medicine should be working by now, but I can't move. My bed begins to move below me as I am transferred into a different room.

"Her heart stopped just as we were about to give her the correct medicine. We did get it started again, but it is a weak pulse," my doctor spoke cautiously.

"Is she alright?" My sister's voice floats clearly through the room.

I can't make out the doctors response, but I can tell it isn't good. I hear the door open as the doctor leaves. Right after, the sound of five people enters the room.

"How is she?" a voice chokes out.

Zayn...

"Not good," my sister admits.

"What do you mean?" a fragile voice asks.

Niall...

"It means that her heart stopped in the E.R. They don't know when she will wake up," El pauses," Or if she will wake up."

Except the occasional sniffles, the room goes silent.

Of course I'm going to wake up! My mind is already awake! I just can't move!

"I'm going to call my parents," El says, as she stands up and leaves the room.

"Been a lot of places. I've been all around the world," Liam's beautiful voice fills the room.

How the heck did he find my song book?!

"What's that Liam?" Niall's Irish accent is like music to my ears.

"Just something Andy wrote in her song book," Liam replies.

Yes, something PRIVATE! Gosh..

"She left her book on her bed. It was bookmarked to this page," he explains.

"Well, let's hear the rest of it," Louis encourages him.

No! Let's not!

He sings the first verse all the way through and gets to the chorus. The rest of the boys catch on and join in.

"Don't forget where you belong, home. Don't forget where you belong, home. If you ever feel alone, don't. You are never on your own, and the proof is in this song," they sing every note perfectly.

I try to move my hands to clap, but it's useless. All I can do is let a tear roll down my cheek.

"Guys, I think Andy can hear us," Harry's deep voice points out.

Someone sits next to me and wipes away the tear.

"Don't worry, Andy. Everything is going to be alright. We aren't going to leave you," Louis says," You're never on your own."

All the sudden, everything is silent. I can't even hear the boys breathing anymore. There is no steady beating of the monitor. I can't feel Louis' touch anymore. I fight to open my eyes. I try to force my arms to move, but nothing helps.

Instantly, a blue strip of light appears just out of reach. I try moving toward it and find it easier than I thought.

"Come on, Andy! You're almost there! Just a little more," an unfamiliar voice encourages me.

The light gets bigger and brighter. I can tell I'm almost there. Then, it happens. My world goes white. I'm blinded by the strength of the light.

I lift my arm up to block it out of my eyes.

Wait...

I blink a couple of times to get my focus. My fingers and toes wiggle at my command.

I-I-

"You're awake!" A voice beats me to my realization.

Soon the world comes into focus. Louis is sitting next to me with a smile on his face and tears in his eyes. The rest of the boys cheer and hug each other. The doctor laughs and checks all my vitals.

"Now, Andy, you may not be able to talk right away. I suggest writing notes and letters to communicate for a while. Your lungs took a pretty good beating with that panic attack," he explains kindly.

I tilt my head in confusion.

"When you began to panic your heart beat increased to a dangerous level. This is the result of having an increased heart rate from your medical condition and from the minor panic attack you had. Put these two things together and it created an unstable condition for your body," he explains.

I nod and smile, silently thanking him.

He leaves the room, and El returns. She smiles when she sees that I am awake, but then frowns slightly.

"Boys, I'm afraid I have bad news," El says sadly.

They all turn to her without making a sound.

"When Andy gets discharged from the hospital, my parents want her to go home. They are going to take her around the world. They want to keep her close to them invade this happens again," El explains.

I shake my head furiously. I grab Louis' wrist. He turns to me and sees my fear. His face proves that there is nothing he can do.

I let go of him and use my hands to signal them to leave. They all exit the room.

I pick up the pencil that the doctor left me and begin writing on the notebook paper in front of me.

"Dear Niall,"