𝓘𝓯 𝓱𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝔂𝓮𝓭

1- Autumn

Late in the night, I hear footsteps in the hallway. I roll over and look at the door. It opens slowly.

"Finny?" I say. There is silence.

"Oh, Autumn," my mother says.

"Phineas has been in an accident Autumn." she says slowly and calmly.

"Wh-What?" I stutter. I'm barely able to comprehend what my mother is saying.

"Finny crashed his car. He's on his way to the hospital. I told Aunt Angelina we will meet her there" she explains, still remaining her composure.

I rush to get out the door. This can't be happening. This isn't happening.

Once we get to the hospital, we find Aunt Angelina in the waiting room with her head in her hands. "They just took him into a trauma room." She tells us, barely able to catch her breath.

After about an hour of the three of us all spiraling in our own ways, a doctor greets us.

"Are you the family of Phineas Smith?" She asks.

"Yes" Aunt Angelina replies.

"Hello, I'm Dr.Kepner. I'm the lead doctor on your son's case. Phineas was electrocuted due to a power line that he'd struck with his car. It seems he was trying to help the female in the car with him. Phineas is stable, but in critical condition. The shock had stopped his heart. Our team worked very hard as was able to bring a heartbeat back. He's not conscious, but we believe he will wake up. His body is giving itself time to heal." She explains to us.

"We are taking him into CT to get scans of his brain. We will let you know when he's finished and you're able to see him." She finishes.

"Thank you" Aunt Angelina replies.

After another hour of waiting, Dr.Kepner comes back out. He tells us that we are able to see him now. We all make our way to his room, all terrified.

I walk in after Aunt Angelina and finally see Finny. My Finny, except the doesn't look like My Finny.

Both of his arms, and presumably more of his body, are wrapped in bandages. I sit in the chair next to his bed, Aunt Angelina in the chair on the other side, and I hold his hand. I'm careful not to move much, making sure not to hurt him.

"Autumn do you want to stay with him tonight?" His mother asks.

"I assumed you would" I tell her.

"I think he'd rather have you here" she says with a soft smile.

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Absolutely" She tells me.

I sit with him for hours in end. The Mothers go home to get me clothes to sleep in and a novel. When they come back, I change and they spend the rest of visiting hours with him then leave. I don't sleep in the case that he wakes up.

I read the novel aloud because I've read that sometimes people can hear you when they're unconscious. I just want him to know that I'm here and I'm with him.

In the morning, Sylvie's mom wheels her into the room, in a wheelchair. "I'm going to give you guys a minute" I tell them before I walk out. I decide to try to eat something.

I wait sometime after not being able to touch the food that I've ordered. I go back in and sit with him.

                           ————-

It's been days and he's still unconscious. The Mothers have been here during visiting hours, but I still stay with him at night. I offered to let Aunt Angelina stay but she insisted on it being me. Jack's been here a few times. I called him the night it happened.

On the 8th day, I feel his hand move. I'm on my 6th novel and I feel his hand softly squeeze mine. I look up and see his eyelids flutter before opening them when his beautiful green eyes meet mine. "Hi" he says in a scratchy voice with a faint smile.

"Finny? Do you need anything? Water? Your mom?" I scramble.

"Just you" he responds quietly.

"Oh Finny" I say, placing a soft kiss on his hand. He squeezes my hand three times, just as I did the entire time he was out.

"I love you so much" I tell him in response to his gesture.

Finny's awake.