Drowning in the Distance

XV | Y/N

"Time to wake up, Y/N." A familiar voice says, somewhere far in the distance. It's my mum's voice, closer now. It's coming from right next to me. I take a deep breath, the world swinging into focus, my head foggy. I blink profusely as light infiltrates my irises, temporarily blinded before her face comes into view, my dad standing beside her. I'm alive. I made it. He was right. I reach a hand up, my arm feeling ten times heavier than I know it is, rubbing my eyes dazedly. God, why is it so bright? I let my arm fall back down by my side, my gaze slowly moving to each of my parents. I know I just woke up, but I am exhausted.

"How do you feel?" My father asks, hand reaching out to stroke my hair, just like he did when I was younger. My mother touches my face gently, her fingertips barely brushing against my skin. I respond with a sleepy groan, smiling at the both of them and making no effort to push them away. It's been a long time since they've been this close to one another; a long time since they've reassured me like this, since they've been able to care for me. I don't know how long we stay like that, a comfortable silence between the three of us for the first time since... Since Yeji... There's a knock on the wooden door, echoing around the unfamiliar and plain room in a way that makes my coordination skills plummet to the floor. Where was the door again? Irene pushes it open, coming in with a wheelchair to take me down to the third floor. To my room. And my bed. Thank fuck for that. I grin and swing my arm out to the side, sticking out my thumb like a hitchhiker on the side of the motorway.

"Can I get a ride?" I shout. The three adults in the room burst into laughter, my parents shushing me copiously as Irene continues to laugh. My dad reaches out an arm, supporting me as I clamber off of the gurney and into the wheelchair. Whatever pain meds they've got me on right now are strong. I can't feel my hands, feet or face, let alone the pain from my G-tube as I fall backwards into the chair with a giggle, my father cursing and steadying me.

"We'll stop by later to check in on you." My dad says softly, and I shoot them both a thumbs-up. Yeah, later. After I've got some sleep and these meds wear off, 'cause who knows what kinda crazy stuff I'll say if I open my- Wait. What? We'll. He said 'we'll stop by later to check on you'. My jaw falls open, staring at the pair of them like they've both grown a second head.

"Am I in an alternate universe?" I grumble, rubbing my eyes and squinting at them. "Damn, that surgery did more than replace the tube. It replaced my reality." Or just my parents. I mutter, blinking at the two of them, still in absolute confusion. My mother smiles and, this time, she's the one who strokes my hair soothingly as she looks over at my dad. What in the fuck is happening right now? Did she just look at him?

"You're our daughter, Y/N. Always have been, always will be." Well, fuck, these pain meds are strong. Is this why people take drugs recreationally? If so, I totally get it. I open my mouth to say something, but I'm too dumbfounded. Nothing comes out. Maybe, I'm just too shattered to string a sentence together. I just nod at them, my head swinging uncontrollably as I try to move it up and down. Woah, that makes my head feel fuzzy. I stop immediately, nausea settling in my stomach. If this is why people take drugs recreationally, I totally don't get it anymore.

"Go get some sleep, sweetie." My dad says, planting a kiss on my forehead before I'm wheeled out of the room. Irene takes me down the hall and into the metal elevator. It's almost impossible to keep my eyes open, my eyelids feeling heavier than ever before.

"Where's Doie? I thought he- WOAH!" I yell, completely thrown off by the sudden jolt of the lift as it kicks into action. Irene reaches for me, gripping my hand tightly to prevent me from falling out of the chair. She doesn't let go. As I look at my distorted reflection in the metal of the doors, I giggle and wiggle my head around a little, watching as my head bends and twists.