Callie's Sister

Chapter 22

I thought if I read for a long time I would be so tired my head would hit the pillow, I would breathe in, breathe out and be asleep. Nope. I turned my light off around 1a.m. and snuggled in under my covers, waiting for sleep to take me away.

But I couldn't help thinking about Callie. She was downstairs in her new bedroom. Was she thinking about anything? Could she even think? Was she lying there trapped in her inabilities? Or was she truly brain dead? She was downstairs and I was up here totally fine and living my regular life. How long could she live like this? I bet it could be forever.

Now I was wide awake. I needed to see her. I climbed out of bed and slipped out of my room into the dark hallway, carefully closing my door. I was not getting yelled at for that again. The stairs squeaked a bit, but I did not hear anything from my parents' room, so I thought I was okay. The door to Callie's room was open and I walked in, standing at the foot of her bed.

It was the first time we had been truly alone together since the accident. I put my hand on her arm. I expected it to be cold or plasticky, but it felt normal. Soft and warm. I held my hand there for a minute, wondering if she'd move or if she knew I was there. Nothing. I sat in the blue chair and held her hand.

I missed her so much.

Looking over at her face, all of the anger washed out of me and was replaced by an awful ache. I wanted to talk to her again. To hear her laugh. I'd even take her screaming at me over something stupid. Callie, say something to me. Come back. Please just tell me this whole thing has been a stupid joke. I miss you.

My whole chest burst with sadness and a giant yearning to be able to make the whole thing go away and have my sister sit up and start talking to me. I held her hand tighter.

And she flinched.

I ran out of there and all the way upstairs to the safety of my room.