My Only Thought

04

Juli

I open my eyes to blinding light. I squint my eyes and try to sit up.

I can't feel my legs.

How long have I been out for? What happened? Where am I?

There are so many questions and zero answers.

There was a crash.

A crash? What? No. I don't remember it. What about Kyle?

Kyle. Where is he?

"Kyle?" I try to say, but only a very unpleasant croak comes out. I still can't see, but I feel a pair of hands on my arm. I clear my throat and try again.

"Who are you?" I say, very inaudible.

"Honey, it's me."

"Mom?"

"Yes. I'm here. I'm just so glad you made it." I could hear her sobs.

"How long was I out for? What happened?"

"You were driving with Kyle's dad, he was drunk.  You guys went off the road and you got the worst of it."

"Where's Kyle?"

"He woke up a while ago."

"How long is a while ago?"

"A week." A week?

"How long have I been out for?"

"Honey, it's almost been ten months."

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My mom and I spoke for an hour before she said she had to leave.

"I have this huge conference meeting at work, I got to go. I'll see you later," she said, gently kissing my forehead.

"Okay, love you."

"Love you too." She got up and left the room.

I turned on the TV and saw that The Flash was on, so I started to watch it.

"This season on, The Flash." This season?

I click the info button, and it turns out that this is the season three finale. I missed out on so much!

"Want me to fill you in?" I turn my head to the left to see Kyle, with a huge smile plastered on his face.

"Kyle!" He ran toward me and embraced me in a hug.

"I'm so glad your okay."

"Yea, me too."

"I just wanted to say how sorry I am."

"For what?"

"For being such a dick. I've been so rude to you our whole lives. I... I'm sorry."

He's sorry? He's finally admitting it?

"Why now? Why are you telling me this now?"

"Well, I guess we'll be stuck together for a little while. I'm also starting to warm up to you." I smile.

"Apology accepted. Now does the hospital get Netflix? I want to start this season."

"Yea they do. Here, let me show you." He takes the remote from me and in about twenty seconds he starts up my Netflix account. Another twenty seconds, and I'm watching The Flash.

"Thanks."

"No Problem." He lays next to me and we watch a few episodes until were interrupted by the nurse bringing us dinner. It's just soup and crackers, but I eat it all and so does Kyle. We watch some more tv, and then head to bed.

He walks over to his hospital bed and I stay in mine, trying to get comfortable. Then I notice again that I can't feel my legs.

"Kyle? What happened to me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I can't feel my legs."

"Well, the doctor says you broke both your legs in multiple places. You're temporarily paralyzed."

"What?!"

"Sh, people are sleeping. But yea, it's true. You need to go to rehab and basically learn how to walk again."

"How long will that take?"

"I don't know. But the doctors are supposed to be letting me out tomorrow."

"So you'll be going back to school?"

"No, summer break just started." Oh, that's right.

"But I have a pretty major concussion, so I won't be doing much. Besides I have a few games to keep me company.. My mom surprised me with Uncharted 4."

I look down, a little sad that he won't wait for me. I thought that he'd be here more, now that we've become friends. He must of realized how I looked because he said, "I - I, uh can stay with you if you want..." He stutters and scratches the back of his neck.

"No... No, it's okay. You go home. You don't need to wait here for me..." I say, looking down. He kneels besides my bed and gently lifts up my chin.

"No, I want to. Really. I want to stay." The nurses must've heard us because she came into the room.

"Hey kids, it's getting late, better head to bed." She leaves the room and Kyle goes back to his bed.

"Night, Juli," he says.

"Goodnight, Kyle."