Winning Skylinn

26

I laid in bed all day with my cast on, propped up on a pillow. There wasn't much to do, except watch TV.

I asked my mom to go home and get my book, the one Savannah had gotten me for Christmas. I finished it by morning.

"Mom!" I yelled, closing the book.

She leapt out of the chair and ran to my side. "What is it, honey? Is everything okay?" she asked, sounding and looking panicked.

"No! My book can't end like this! I need the next one-NOW!"

Mom sighed with relief and gave a small laugh. "Sometimes I worry about you."

"Well you should. I have a broken leg, remember?" I patted my cast.

"How about we go to Barnes and Noble? You won't be able to go in, but I'll get you the books. It'll be something to do while you're, um..."

"Really?! Thanks, Mom!" I exclaimed.

She gave me a notebook to write down the names of the other books: The Elite, The One, and The Heir.

Soon, I was able to go. Surprisingly, I hadn't thought about Jonny all morning. I was too focused on finishing my book, and then there were nurses rushing in to check on me and approve my going home.

But as I went through the halls on my crutches, I began to wonder about him. "Um, Mom?" I asked.

"Yes, honey?"

"Can we go see Jonny?"

She chewed her lip nervously. "I don't think that's such a good idea."

"Why?" My brow knit with concern.

"Well...I don't know if you'd want to see him like this. It's really bad, Sky."

A lump formed in my throat, but I forced it down. "You've seen him?"

"Only for a moment."

"I-is he okay?"

"I don't know what to tell you, Skylinn. He hasn't woken up, and he's got wounds everywhere."

Panic rose in my chest. "Oh my gosh, I have to see him!"

"Sky-"

"No," I interrupted. "Jonny is my best friend. I need to see him. Now."

"Oh. Uh, okay." I could tell she was shocked by my tone.

We went up to his room, which was actually right across the hall from what used to be mine just moments ago. I paused at the door, a million thoughts running through my head.

Finally, I pushed it open.

Jonny was lying there on a hospital bed, his stomach wrapped in bandages. His hands were bruised but the blood had been cleaned off.

I worked up the nerve to look at his face, immediately wishing I hadn't. My hand flew to my mouth and tears sprang to my eyes.

There were bandages wrapped around his head, and he had two black eyes. His lips were unbearably chapped, and his skin was as white as the sheets.

I couldn't breathe.

"Jonny?" I asked, knowing he couldn't hear me. But it was all I could think to say as I walked towards him on my crutches.

I reached out and touched his face, and it was so cold. His eyes were shut, and somehow it felt final. Like I would never see his eyes again.

"Skylinn?" I heard my mom say.

"Please. Just-" Before I could finish, I broke down crying. I slumped to the floor, pain shooting through my broken leg, but I didn't care.

I sat there, shaking and sobbing. My stomach felt tight and I could hardly breathe. All my breaths were hiccups, and my nose was running fast.

My mom brought me a tissue, but she didn't say anything. I'm glad she didn't, because I wasn't in the mood to hear anything right now. Well, except Jonny's voice. I wanted to hear him laugh or say something funny, and somehow everything would be better.

But he couldn't speak. He couldn't even breathe on his own; he was hooked up to a bunch of machines and tubes. I wondered if he could hear me when I talked to him.

My mind felt like a child's scribbly drawing. Nothing seemed right. This couldn't be real. Jonny was fine. He wasn't in a coma. My leg wasn't broken. We'd never fought, never even went to that stupid party. None of this was real.

But it was.