Winning Skylinn

25

It turned out I had a broken leg. It was fractured in two places. I had an X-ray almost as soon as I got to the hospital, and those were the results.

But I could care less what happened to me. All I cared about was Jonny's health. They still hadn't told me if he was okay, and it was starting to get annoying. Every time I would ask, they'd say it was "classified information" or that they just didn't know yet. Way to reassure me-NOT!

"Can I please call my mom?" I asked the nurse. Her name was Nicole.

"Oh, sure. Of course," she said, handing me my phone.

I found my mom's contact and waited for her to answer. It was about 1:30, and I figured she was still out dancing. But hopefully she'd hear her phone and pick up.

I was disappointed when she didn't. But I left a message saying that Jonny and I were in an accident, and that we were at Mercy hospital. I left it at that, not knowing what else to say.

After my fail at a phone call, Nicole told me they would be putting a cast on my leg in about half an hour. She prescribed me some antibiotics and painkillers, too.

"Can you tell me what happened to my friend?" I asked, already knowing the answer would be 'no.'

"Actually, yes." Wait, what? "It appears Mr. Cox has suffered some major brain damage. He's in a state of shock right now, called a coma."

I wanted to scream at her that of course I knew what a coma was. But instead I asked, "Will he be okay?"

"We can only hope. The doctors are doing all they can to get his vitals up and running, but they're slow right now, and he's still unconscious. It could be awhile before he wakes up."

That last sentence automatically registered in my brain as: You might never see him again.

I fought the tears that threatened to spill down my cheeks. "Um. Thank you for telling me," I said, choked up.

"No problem," said Nicole. "I'll let you know if we find out anything else."

"Thank you."

"Can I get you anything while I'm here?"

"No, but thanks anyway."

"Okay, I'll just be going then. The doctor will be in at 2:30 to do your medical work. Until then, we'll have some other nurses come in from time to time to check on you. Any questions?"

"Not really."

She nodded and walked out the door.

I looked around the room, taking in my surroundings. My bandaged leg was propped up on a pillow, and it was swelling. There was a framed Bible verse on the wall directly across from me, along with a small television. On the far left wall there was a sign they used to rate your level of pain, right next to a chair for guests. Other than that, there was a tiny bathroom and a sink.

They'd put me in a blue hospital gown, but I didn't remember them doing that. My hair was in a messy topknot, where it had once been down and nicely curled.

It felt like the party happened weeks ago. Had it only been a couple hours since we'd left? I tried to remember everything that happened in the car.

My mind settled on one particular memory: the rapid beat of my heart as Jonny looked at me. Was it possible Leo meant what he said, about Jonny liking me?

I shook my head to clear it. These things didn't matter. What was most important was Jonny's health, and the anxiety I felt knowing he might not make it. Oh, what I would do to be a fly on the wall in that room...

- - -

When I woke up a few hours later, there was a black cast on my leg, including a boot for my foot. A pair of crutches had been set up for me beside the bed.

"You'll be on bed rest for today," a doctor told me. "But you seem to be making a quick recovery. You'll most likely be able to go home tomorrow morning."

"Good to know, thanks." What I really wanted to know was how Jonny was doing. Had anything changed since my nap?

Of course, I couldn't ask those questions. They couldn't tell me things about other patients. Which was stupid, considering I came here with him, and he was my best friend! We were practically family. But apparently they didn't care, because they wouldn't tell me anything.

I was glad for Nicole's reassuring words, but I knew she couldn't tell me anything else. I wouldn't want to put her job at risk.

My parents came around five. "We got your message. Are you okay?" Mom asked when she saw me.

"I'm okay, yes. Have you seen Jonny?"

"Not yet. Honey, what happened?"

"Um...well, I slammed on the breaks-I don't remember why-and a car hit us." I did remember what happened, but I didn't want to tell them that Jonny and I had fought. That would only worry them more.

A thought occurred to me then. "Are Jonny's parents here?"

"Yes. They're in his room."

"They let them in?!" I muttered a curse under my breath, which my parents didn't hear.

"To be fair, honey, you are in a cast."

"Speaking of, how does it feel?" Dad asked.

"Fine, I guess." I had never had a cast before, or even broken a bone. Until today, I'd been safe from injuries such as this one.

"Can we get you anything?" he asked.

"Water would be nice," I replied, realizing how dry my throat was.

"I'll get you some," he offered. I watched him leave to go to the cafe.

My mom came and sat on the bed beside me. She put her hand on my forehead and smoothed back my baby hairs. "I was so worried," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Mom," I said, choking up. "I'm here."

"I know. It's just...nevermind. The good thing is, you're alive."

My only concern was, could she say the same thing about Jonny?