Trouble in Paradise

Chapter 15

Jackie, Jackson, and i all wait in the surgery waiting room. I have no clue where Sams dad is, but it kind of pisses me off that hes not here right now. I know that hes probably busy at work right now, but isnt his son more important?
  
A while ago Sams nurse came out and said that family could go in and visit him. Sams mom hurried in there, clearly in a rush to get to her son.
  
We had no idea how Sam was doing, and thats why Jackson was over at the reception desk arguing with the lady to tell us an update on our friend. So far the lady hadnt budged.
  
"Its going to be okay," Jackie kept whispering in my ear, "Sams a tough guy, he'll manage to pull through."
  
My head is on her shoulder, and she has a death grip on my hand. If anything, she seemed more worried than i was.
  
Jackson came back over to us and sat down beside Jackie, "That damn lady wont tell me anything," he complains, slouching down in his chair and crossing his arms.
  
"Its fine, Jackson," Jackie tells him, "his mom will be out soon and she can tell us whats going on."
  
The automatic sliding doors open and in rushes a tall man dressed in a fancy black business suit. He rushes up to the reception desk and demands to see his son.
  
"Whats hs name, sir?" the receptionist sounds bored.
  
"Sami Tucker. I need to see him now. Where is he?"
  
I look up and sure enough i see Sams dad, looking worriedly around the waiting room.
  
"And what is your relation to Sami, sir?" she looks at him through the tops of her glasses.
  
"Im his father, goddamn it! Where is my son at?"
  
"Second floor, room 216," she tells him, pointing toward the large swinging doors to his right.
  
He rushes off through the doors.
  
It feels like an hour has passed when Sams mom comes back through the doors. She looks exhausted.
  
We all three stand up to greet her.
  
"How is he?" im the first one to ask.
  
"Hes stable, so thats a good sign. But hes unconsious."
  
"What, why?" Jackson asks.
  
"The doctors gave him some medication so he wouldnt be able to feel the pain from his surgery. And the side effects are drowsiness. He passed out before i came out here, but his dad is going to stay in there with him."
  
"So hes going to be alright?" Jackie asks.
  
"Yes," she lets out a soft chuckle, "hes going to be fine, you guys. So why dont you all just go home and get some rest. You can come back to visit him tomorrow. Ill tell him you all were here."
  
"Are you sure we cant see him tonight?" i ask, hopeful.
  
"Im sorry hon, but im afraid the nurses wont let anyone but family in right now. You need to go home and rest. All of you. Ill tell Sami that you will stop by tomorrow."
  
"Okay," i say, "thanks for letting us know."
  
Jackie drives me home in her car. And i go straight to bed. I dont even bother showering. Ill take a quick one in the morning before i go to see Sami.
  
Im just glad thats hes alright. When his mom told us that, it felt like she was lifting a giant weight off of my shoulders.
  
I honestly dont know what i would have done if something worse had happened to Sami while on my watch.
  
That night i dream of Sami.

Its that very morning, happening again. Sam, Jackson, and i are walking toward school.
  
I see Sam faint from the corner of my eye. I stop dead in my tracks and collapse against the pavement beside his limp body.
  
His eyes are open this time, looking right at me.
  
I grab hold of his hand and hold on for dear life.
  
"Lexi. Dont let go of me. Please. Dont let go." he says in the most heartbreaking tone that ive ever heard. I break down into loud sobs.
  
"I wont. I promise, Sami. I wont let go of you," i hear myself whisper to him.
  
Then his eyes close and i feel his pulse in his wrist stop.
  
Is he dead? He cant be dead?
  
I start shaking his shoulders, desperately trying to wake him up.
  
"Sami!" i shout, "Wake up! You have to wake up! Sami, come on, wake up!"
  
The clouds above us go dark and its almost as if its nightime now.
  
The pavement underneath Sam, splits and cracks, creating a huge gap between him and me. I lose grasp of his hand.
  
"Sami!" i shout. What is happening?
  
His eyes are still closed. His chest isnt moving up and down. He is completely still, oblivious to what is going on around us. "Sami!" i shout again. He doesnt move.
  
In the giant crack separating us, there is bubbling lava. I can feel the heat from where i am kneeling at the mouth of the gap. A boil of lava explodes and a drop lands on my cheek. I scream in pain. It burns like hell.
  
I peer across the gap at Sam, the gap is slowly growing, wider and wider.
  
It inches closer and closer, mere centimeters away from enveloping Sam in its blazing hot lava down below.
  
"Sam! Wake up!" i try to get his attention but its no use. Hes not going to wake up. Hes gone.
  
I am useless as the giant gap widens even farther, this time Sam is in its path of distruction.
  
I watch helplessly as Sam plummets toward his death.
  
"No!" i cry out, heavy sobs taking over my breathing.
  
The blistering lava envelopes Sam.