Half a Heart

chapter one

 "There's no study guide to life, Nat." Liam's shaky voice managed to escape his ice cold lips. I nodded, "But without a study guide, I flunk." Choking on tears, I stood far above the city, and let my glasses slide from the bridge of my nose. No one needed them any way.

A strong wind blew into me, making my hair fly everywhere. I didn't care anymore. I turned back to Liam, who shouted over it. "You are not flunking this." I felt his strong arms pull me into him, and i let my body spin into his. His dark eyes bored into mine as he held me. "Liam I......" I breathed, tears wetting my shirt. I blinked hard, remembering my purpose. Pushing Liam away, I stumbled towards the edge of the roof. He must have fallen, because a thunk was heard from behind me. I ignored him, and spread out my arms as I looked down at my glasses far below. Then, I let myself fall, and listened to his screams.

***

 "She was up late, drunk I guess, and just so happened to fall from the roof of the apartments on River Street." A squeaky male voice cooed from afar. "Minor injuries, aside from being put into a coma. Possible memory loss. She should be up any minute now..."

My eyes fluttered open, only to find the bare pale walls of an intensive care unit. A short man stood in the corner holding a clipboard. A doctor, I noted, propping myself up with my elbows.  He glanced at me, scribbled onto the clipboard, then smiles at me with perfectly whitened teeth. "Hello Natalie, I'm Doctor Smith. So glad to see that you're awake!" He had emerald green eyes, and curly golden locks that covered his eyes and brows. Attractive, for a thirty-or-so year old.

I smiled back, forgetting what it was like, and how to do it all together. Instead of the concave line that they should have been placed in, my lips found themselves in a sneer. I felt my face get hot, and focused in on my pale, bony hands. 

Doctor Smith laughed lightly, and jotted more notes onto his clipboard. "It's okay, You've been out forquite some time. Sometimes the body forgets thing like that... But not to worry! It'll all come back to you after a while." I nodded at his observations, as questions pooled up inside of me: How long have I been out for, exactly? What have I missed? Why am I so confused? I chose to keep qiuet, though.

"Oh, and I have someone.... or somebodies.... who want to pay you a visit." He smiled gently, as if waiting for a response. I gave him none. Instead, I nodded, and he sighed ever so slightly. "You don't talk much for a teenager, do you? I said nothing. There really was no need to say anything, really. He shrugged, exiting the room.

After a few minutes, Doctor Smith returned into the intensive care unit. Behind him, followed an eager-looking teenage boy, and two aged adults. One a man, and one a woman. Tears pooled in each of their sleepless faces. 

"Natalie," the man choked, embracing me into a bear hug. I wrapped my hands around his neck in return. The strong scent of lemongrass and detergent followed him. I recognized him as Dad. After a few seconds, I released him, and the woman grasped my hands in a firm, loving grip.

"Oh, my baby..." she whispered, and wrapped her long, bony arms around me. I gave her a tight squeeze in return before she let me go. I knew her as Mom. As she slowly backed away, I shifted my gaze to the boy, whose dark hair covered his light eyes as he should darkly in the corner. His hands hung by his sides. They were bony like mine. He was my brother.. I thought. He stood like this, baggy sweatshirt and jeans. But as time passed, and minutes went by, he ran to me and enveloped me in a sightly awkward man hug. I felt his hot tears rubbing onto my hospital gown and sheets. I wrapped my arms around him, as his dark hair itched at my face. This lasted only for a few seconds, until he released me, and returned to the corner.

When they had finally left, Doctor Smith turned to me and smiled. " Don't worry, they'll be visiting a lot. But aside from that, rehabilitation starts tomorrow. Your things are packed and ready to go. all you'll be needing to prepare is yourself... goodnight, Natalie." and with that, he left, and for the first time since that night, I felt sadness.