Seven Minutes in Heaven

Chapter Eight

"Mrs. Donovan! He's awake!" Jeremy shifted a little in his bed. But it didn't feel like his bed. His eyes shot open, and he saw the sterile white walls of a hospital room. He was momentarily disorientatated, but then the memories came rushing back, memories of him opening the medical cabinet and shoving pill after pill into his mouth, vomiting at one point because he was going too fast. Memories of him being so angry at himself for doing that (you idiot, you can't even kill yourself properly!), and then the world growing fuzzier and fuzzier as the minutes ticked past. There was something else, a strong memory that try as he may, he just couldn't find. Just then three people burst into the room, tears in their eyes. His mother was leading the charge, and she barrelled into him and wrapped him in a bone crushing hug. Cordelia was standing behind her, hands over her mouth and eyes shining with happiness. Tobias was right next to her, standing very close. Instead of the hatred that he had previously felt for both of them, he was happy to see them. Unable to control herself any longer, Cordelia joined the hug, and after a "what the heck" shrug, Tobias joined the pile as well. The four of them were entangled together and were just crying, Jeremy included. After probably a good five minutes of hugging and crying, Tobias pulled away, followed by Cordelia, fixing her hair as she went. His mother wouldn't let go, but Jeremy couldn't blame her.

"Mom? What happened?" His voice was hoarse, sounding very much unlike his own.

"Do you not remember sweetheart?" She replied, sniffling as she did so.

"Well, I remember the pills, but..." He trailed off. His mother burst into tears again, and Cordelia stepped forward.

"Your mom came in and saw you lying on the floor, not responding. She called the ambulance, and it took them seven minutes to get to the hospital. You weren't breathing for most of this, but miraculously started breathing as they reached the hospital. They had to pump your stomach and do some other stuff to you. They told us that you-" And here she faltered, before taking a deep breath and continuing. "They told us that you might not wake up due to the amount of time your brain didn't have oxygen." Jeremy looked down at the floor. He had been so close. So close to dying and succeeding. But, most of him didn't want to succeed anymore.

"I'm so sorry guys. I am so sorry." He broke down again, sobbing into his mother's arms like a child. They all cried again for a while, before Jeremy finally felt calm enough to speak.

"Mom, I know you'll hate to do this, but can you leave for a minute? I need to talk to Cordelia and Tobias." Cordelia and Tobias exchanged nervous glances, and his mother looked furious.

"No way I'm leaving you. You are my son, and in pain, and I will never leave you when you need me." Her lips clamped shut, and Jeremy couldn't help but get the feeling that she had said more than she meant to.

"Please Mom. It will only take a few moments." Jeremy said, looking at her pleadingly. She seemed to get the hint, and nodded before leaving the room, leaving him with his cheating girlfriend and traitor best friend. He wasn't mad at them anymore. Something had clicked inside of him. He wanted Cordelia to be happy, and if Tobias made her happy, who was he to stop that happiness?

"Jeremy, before you say anything I-"

"Save it Cordelia." Jeremy said, cutting her off abruptly. Tobias put a protective arm around her, and she shook it off, giving him a look that said "do not touch me in front of my suicidal ex-boyfriend you idiot". Jeremy looked at both of them for a long moment before smiling.

"I'm not mad. I mean, I was mad, but I'm not now. Cordelia, I never realized how much I was hurting you. I didn't think about anybody but myself, and while I couldn't help the way I am, your mental health should be your top priority. And Tobias, I see what you were trying to do. You were trying to make her happy, and she deserves to be happy. So, what I'm saying is that I release you. You are free to date each other, and I hope that you two will be happy together." Jeremy finished, watching their reactions. They looked at each other again, before Cordelia's face broke into a true smile, not the tight and fake one that he was so accustomed too. He smiled as well. His life was going to be better, he would make sure of it.