Shattered Souls

Chapter 13

I slept soundly for the first time since Jonah was admitted to the hospital. When I woke the following day, the sunrise barely seeping through the windows, I took a deep breath for the first time in what felt like years. Jonah was fast asleep, his chest rising and falling steadily. His color was improving, and his breathing was better. Even Dr. Murphy said he was healing unusually well for patients in similar conditions.

Waverly had left late yesterday evening, promising to return today. Mom, Dad, and Drew were dozing in various chairs scattered around the bed. I'd dozed fitfully, terrified that he'd flatline again while I slept. I still felt grief, anger, and a profound sense of loss whenever I thought about the previous night's dream—the mermaid's words and their meaning.

"'Faye, you have the chance to be happy again.'" Though the impact of those words still hit me like a physical blow, I no longer allowed them to control my thoughts. I knew that I wasn't genuinely happy—if I were being honest with myself, I'd known it for a while. Even being with Jonah, I still had the depression fog hovering over me.

That dream—premonition, prophecy, whatever it was—scared me more than I was willing to admit. Was that a vision of a possible future? I shuddered to think of myself accepting the offer. I'd rather be unhappily surrounded by those who love me than be happy and estranged from them. When a hand landed on my shoulder, I nearly jolted out of the chair. Dr. Murphy was floating above me, worry and concern on her face.

"I didn't mean to startle you," she whispered, the words barely audible. She glanced at Jonah as if confirming that he was still there. My heart skipped a beat at the expression on her face.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say she was nervous about something. "Is everything okay?" I whispered, my own words barely a push of breath. She glanced at the door and then back at me. When she met my gaze, her face was pale, and confusion clouded her eyes.

"A mermaid and a merman are outside, claiming they're Jonah's parents." She raised her eyebrows as she said the last two words, clearly conflicted. She'd been under the impression (as I'd told her myself) that Jonah and his parents were estranged.

My eyes widened as a nearly-inaudible gasp escaped me. My immediate reaction was to confront them and tell them he didn't want to see them. I clenched my fists, taking several deep, steadying breaths. "Do you want me to tell them to leave?" Her voice was soft, her face expressionless, clearly sensing my quiet anger.

Taking another deep breath, I glanced at Jonah, watching his chest rise and fall steadily. When I looked back at Dr. Murphy, my expression was identical to hers. "No," I replied softly. "I'll go talk to them." Even though the mere thought of facing them had anger boiling inside me, even though I was all but trembling with the rage vibrating through my body.

She searched my face, then nodded. Silently, we swam out of the hospital room, closing the door soundlessly. The merman noticed us first, his eyes blazing with anger. "I don't know what happened, but our son is in there! We have a right to see him!" The way he referred to Jonah as their son (as if they hadn't all but disowned him after what happened with Kailani) had my eyes blazing.

I didn't respond right away, studying the two of them. Much as I didn't want to admit it, Jonah resembled both his parents. His mother shared his mocha eyes, while his father had Jonah's short ginger hair. Dr. Murphy put a hand on my arm when I opened my mouth. She never raised her voice, but there was a coldness to her words, quiet anger brimming underneath.

"Be that as it may, I was under the impression that Mr. Maxwell was, and has been for many years, estranged from his parents." She glanced at me when the words left her mouth, and I quickly nodded. He'd told me that after what had happened with Kailani, his parents had all but disowned him.