Once again I wake up to Ashlyn shaking me, not as hard as the first time, but still insistent. Groggily i sit up, blinking sleep out of my eyes and wonder where the heck I am. Then it hits me, the lab, matt, Ashlyn, I look up see ashlyn and pull her into a hug, greatful shes alive. She pulls back, a look of concern and a slight panic in her eyes, "Where are we and more importantly why are you hooked up to that I.V.?" I look down wondering the same thing as i say, "well to answer your first question, You remember Patrick? the guy i used to spare with back at school?" "yeah" she answers. "we are at his place along with...... " I am cut off as patrick barrels into the room and tackles me into a bear hug. When he finally lets go i am gasping for air, as i look toward the door I freeze. Standing in the doorway was Ismira, i had a crush on her in Jr. High but more importantly the history between us is what stops me. Now i see her and she has grown into one of the great beauties of the world. Ashlyn, when she catches me staring too long after giving patrick a hug, takes my hand and squeezes, pulling me back to reality. Patrick takes the I.V. out of my arm and i let go of Ashlyns hand. I walk up to Ismira and pull her into a hug, with what had happened it's hard to hold back tears. when i pull back i rememeber her sister dieing in my arms, but that will be told later. i look into her eyes and see shes fighting to hold the flood gates as well. a single tear escapes and trails down her face. I reach up brush it away and step back and put my arm around Ashlyn. As i do so another guy comes up and takes Ismira into his arms "good to see you again Morian." he says. it takes me a minute-- I've never been good with names-- but i rememeber, "same back at you Nikolai." His eyes flash to let me know that she is his, I pull Ashlyn closer in confirmation. He smiles in understanding. "Who's this?" he askes i wait until patrick stops talking to Ashlyn to say, "Ashlyn this is..." Thats when the reality of our situation hit me, this isn't high school mess around any more. As i start to space out, Patrick saves me, "As you know I'm Patrick, the girl Morian hugged is Ismira-- don't know if you remember the shooting but she was there-- the guy with his arm around Ismira is Nikolai. And those that aren't here are Matt, my brother, Angel, my girlfriend, and Chris, but you will rarley see him." Patrick turns to Ashlyn, "Why don't you introduce yourself?" I'm Ashlyn, Morian and I had Just started dating when the earthquake hit, killing both our parents." Judging by the looks on everyones faces that had happened to them as well, Leaving Patrick the only one with family. "Looks like we were all left orphans by that earthquake..." he says almost to himself, and with that everyone leaves, until Ashlyn, Patrick, and I are left standing there.
