What We Are

I Wake Up

I hissed through my closed mouth as my eyes adjusted to the harsh lighting of the room. White walls, white lights, white gown. I was in hospital. But why? My head felt sore and I sat up in search of water. A heartwarmingly familiar waterfall of blonde hair rested across my blanketed calf. Stevie's back rose and fell slowly- she must have been sleeping.

My angel.

I crept out of bed to drink from the tap as quietly as possible. She'd always been a naturally light sleeper, even after her twelve hour waitressing shifts as a young woman. Her head turned and her eyes slowly opened as I sat beside her. "Sorry I woke you Stevie," I said kissing her head. She sat to stare at me sleepily and I asked,"Why are we here? What happened?"
She blinked and something awoke within her.

The reason.

"You don't...You don't...You don't remember?" She stuttered.
"The last thing...Hmm", I crinkled my forehead in thought. "The last thing I remember is sitting and drinking with you."
"You um...You fell and hit your head on the sidewalk. Concussion."
"Oh shit, we were so drunk right?" I cringed, hugging her waist and nuzzling her neck. "Sorry if I scared you," she smiled a little and I planted a kiss on her lips. I could see she'd been crying.
"Are Lena and Chris good?"
"I called earlier. They should be asleep by now?"
"And so should we, c'mon, you'll hurt your back leaning on the bed like you were." I climbed under the covers of the bed and flicked off the lights, patting to where I wanted Stevie to sleep beside me. She kicked off her shoes, removed her scarf and laid her head on my chest. "Lindsey?"
"Yes?" I yawned, twirling a strand of her hair between my thumb and forefinger.
"Oh it doesn't matter..." I couldn't have known that it did.

We slipped into our dreams almost instantly.
It is as clear as a summer's day in our garden. I run upstairs with the idea of fetching Stevie to swim with me. She is in our bedroom.

She is with another man.

I yell.

They only laugh.