While You Where Sleeping

Chapter 2

The nickname "Sunshine" came from the song. When we were six Rylan met me at our spot so wound up he could have drilled himself into the ground.

"Guess what! Guess what! Guess what!" He said crawling up next to me on the big bale.

"What?" I asked a little nervously anxious.

"So I heard that song 'You Are My Sunshine' earlier and thought of how YOU'RE MY sunshine! So now I'm calling you that."

"Sunshine?" I asked

"Yeah because you're mine" he said with a big grin. 

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So this morning as I stand in front of the mirror pulling my long blonde hair back into my usual braid down my back I glance out the window to the back field replaying the moment in my mind. I look up in the mirror and see my short figure. My jean shorts, converse sneakers, and button down flannel shirt. The same kind of outfit I've been wearing for as long as I can remember. The same outfit I was wearing the day it happened.

The day Rylan was walking across the street and was hit by a drunk driver. He was found on the street bones broken, head cracked, and blood everywhere. He was rushed to the hospital and onto surgery to stop the bleeding in his head.

I was out in the woods scouting for deer season when I heard another four wheeler come screaming over the hill. It was Nancy, Rylan's sister from town. 

"Sunny, you need to come with me right now!" She yelled. I could see the tear stains on her face. 

"What's wrong?" I yelled, already hopping onto my four wheeler. 

"Rylan..." she sobbed. "He's hurt. Bad. Come on." 

She turned and started down over the hill. I followed hot on her heels. We slid into the drive way and practicality dove into her car. She drove as fast as legal  the entire way there.

"Rylan was on his paper route and was hit by a drunk driver. He's in the hospital and it doesn't look good Sunny." She said, crying.

Rylan had a shattered arm, broken femur, cracked head, and lots of blood. Lots of blood. 

Though after touch and go for a few hours they saved him. 

He still couldn't leave the hospital though. His head was hurt so bad he would have to be under twenty-four hour observation.  He'd be ok.

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That brings us to today. I'm again sitting by his bed. Beep...Beep...Beep. His heart beats steady. He breaths smooth. It seems he's just taking a nap and when he wakes up he'll be fine. And we'll head out to our spot to watch the sun. But the honest side if me says it's not true. Rylan's hurt. Accept the fact.

Suddenly he starts jerking. Twitching all over. I know automatically what this is. Rylan's having a seizure. 

"Someone help!" I scream as I run to his side. "Nurse! Someone! Help!" I scream.

I put my arms around is shoulders and embrace him in way I never have. Just to tell him he's not alone. I'm here. His Sunshine's here.

A nurse finally rushes in and looks at me, then Rylan, then back at me.

"He's having a seizure. Please let go of him." She says and slides in between us. "I'm going to ask you to step out of the room please."

I fling my arms around his neck one more time. And whisper 'I love you' then take off out the door, down the stairs, and out of the hospital. I run. That's all I know. I run. I some how wind up in the town park because I collapse against a tree. I'm panting and tears stream down my face. I sit there for who knows how long until I finally call Mom to pick me up. That's all I say 'I'm in the park, pick me up.' I don't say a word the entire ride home. I tell Mom I'm going to the back field and she just nods. She doesn't ask what's wrong or if she should come or any thing like that. She just lets me go. I hop on the four wheeler and drive up to our spot.