I am Chris (bwwm)

Missing pieces (11)

Chapter eleven: Missing pieces:

When I got back in town and Lea pick me up from the airport, I didn't even call my parents to let them know I was in town. I had Lea take me to my apartment, and with shaky, anxious hands I managed to unlock the door. Once inside I fumbled around in the dark until I found my room. I went to my closet and changed into the first thing I pulled out. Then I pulled my braids into a bun and went to meet Lea in the car.

On the way to the hospital we didn't speak but the air around us seemed lighter. I pressed my hand against the cool glass. We were coming up on December, it had only been two months but it felt like so much longer.

The time between us parking and signing into hospital blurred at an alarming rate. Soon we were walking down the hall with Nurse Elanor squeak-squeak-ing in tow. I pushed the door open, and I held my breath. I heard low voices and for a moment I was convinced I would see him sitting up in bed, carrying on a conversation.

But that was not the case, Francine and David were talking softly, and to my surprise David was gingerly holding her hand, a sleeping Andy draped across her lap. They smiled at me when I entered, David looked a bit less flinty than normally, and Francine seemed softer but somehow more focused. I stepped to the side so the other two could get in. The nurse fussed with some tubes while she gave a status update she let us know that his vitals were stable and that his brain looked fine and he was responding well to stimuli.

I lingered by the wall while I watched Lea begrudgingly sit beside David, her hands jammed under her armpits. After a few moments I watched David and Francine said something to Lea and she nodded quietly to my suprise. Usually whenever they said anything to her, Lea would be extremely hostile.

Francine carefully picked up Andy, making sure not to jostle him. David followed her out of the room. Lea sighed and looked up at me. It felt more like she was looking through me than at me. "It's hard to stay mad when they're actually trying," She mumbled before standing up and following them out of the room.

Then it was just me.

I pulled up one of the shitty chairs and sat beside Chris's bed. I grabbed his hand and laced our fingers. His hand seemed to feel warmer than usual, but it might have just been my imagination. Then I felt his hand grip mine and I knew something was different. In the back of my mind I realized I should have probably called someone, but I was too focused on what was happening.

[Chris]

I had been dreaming forever, I wasn't sure how long it had been, but I could remember all the people that sometimes popped up. Maybe people was too physical a word, more like...Presences. So many times they had asked if I was ready to go, I always said no. I wasn't sure why, it would be so easy to say yes and let go, but something always stopped me.

Right now, I was underwater, alone. But it felt different. Like I was finally about to break the surface and take a lungful of air.

I felt my eyes pop open, and I felt like I was drifting, sunlight too bright under the waves. Everything sounded too loud and I wasn't sure where I was, the lights felt too bright. My eyes wheeled around, trying to find something to focus on. 
There was a dark spot above me, I squinted and I realized it was a girl. I tried to find something to say, but it felt like trying to speak while being smothered with a wave. I knew what I wanted to say, but I couldn't say it. 

I kept trying, and her face came more into focus and she smiled, brightly.

Why are you crying? I tried to say, but my lips couldn't form the words.

{Veronica}

When he opened his eyes I had felt my heart stop. I kept saying his name but he looked totally confused. After a few moments he spoke. His voice was scratchy but amazing to hear after two months. He said something three or four times before I finally got it. Hey beautiful. He was trying to say something else but I wasn't sure what it was. His blue eyes were wide and he looked confused. I marveled at the simple luxery of being able to make eye contact with him, and watch his expressions.