His eyes opened, staring at the white ceiling above, the world came into focus. Everything was quiet. He liked that. He tried to sit up, but a pain shot through his body. A pain like nothing he had ever felt before. Like his body was being torn in half. He collapsed back down onto the bed. Looking around the room he decided he was probably in the hospital. A very quiet hospital. There was a red button beside his bed, but he wasn't sure weather he wanted anyone to know he was awake yet or not. He never got to experience calmness like this. It was nice. If he pressed that button, all of it would end. He decided it would be best just to sleep a bit more. He could use it. His whole body ached. And with that he closed his eyes and drifted away once more.
"Ms. Gaskarth, Ms. Kassen, neither boys have woken up yet as far as we can tell. Their both in very serious condition. We hope for the best, but we also need you te be prepared for the worst. It's not looking good. The cat they had with them did survive though. We had a vet do some tests and he's completely unharmed. We have him in the boy's room right now. You can go take a peak if you'd like" The doctor spoke clearly and calmly, but it was of no success. Both women with their red swollen eyes stared back at her with blank stares until she backed away and left them alone once more.
"They're dead Laurain. They're gone. And never coming back" Joyce sobbed into her hands. She didn't know how much longer she could go on like this. Crying. She had already cried so much, surely her body would run out. Surely.
"No. They're not. They're in room 232 just down the hall. They are alive and breathing. These could be their last moments of life and we're out here drowning in self pity. They might be dying Joyce, but they are certainly not dead"
"I can't see my son like that. I just can't"
"Do you think it's easy for me? To see Jack and Alex lying there so quiet and still? Knowing they could die any moment? No. It isn't"
"I was sitting in this same chair 3 years ago. I had another son. Before I met you. James. He drank 3 bottles of bleach. Alex found him in the bathroom. Laying in a pool of his own blood as it dripped from his mouth. He drove him to the hospital. I came as fast as I could. They pumped his stomach but it didn't do any good. He died the next morning. I can't do this again Laurain. I wasn't supposed to have to do this again" She tried to keep her voice steady but it broke with every other word.
"You need to be with your son right now. It's not an option" Laurain whispered, standing slowly and making her way down the long hallway.
His eyes fluttered open again, the silence was still there, which comforted him once more. But his comfort was short lived. After a few minutes of staring at the ceiling, a light spread through the dark room. The door had been opened, but he hadn't heard it. Ms.Kassen made her way in, but never looked up from the ground. He decided to keep still until she noticed him. Gingerly, she crouched by his bed, and opened her eyes. Their eyes connected, and her mouth fell wide. She kept mouthing something, but he couldn't figure out what. Why didn't she just speak? Was she that surprised he woke up? He didn't even know why he was there. Why was he there?
"Nurse! Nurse! Someone??? He's awake!! He's awake!" Laurain shrieked, running out of the room. She ran down the hall faster than she knew her legs could actually take her. Exploding into the waiting room, she motioned for Joyce and the nurses to follow her. She was too out of breath to speak, but she got their attention. Together they made their way back to the room.
A slew of people barged through the door, but he barely noticed them until they were standing around his bed. None of them spoke. They just moved their mouth a lot. He still didn't understand, but he was getting used to it.
"Why isn't he answering?!" Laurain yelled through the chaos.
"I don't think he can hear us Ms. Kassen. I think the head trauma may have cause him to go deaf" The doctor said calmly, shining a light into his eyes, "It could be temporary, or it could last forever, only time will tell"
"How can we communicate with him then?" Joyce asked, tears still caught in her lashes.
"You'll have to use this for now" The nurse said, handing her a whiteboard and marker to write with:
ALEX?
"Mom?" he whispered, salty tears staining his cheeks as panic over took him in a wave of realization.
