Long Journey Back

Teaser - Awake

LAURELLE’S PERSPECTIVE:

We returned from lunch to find Tyler sitting on the edge of Troye’s bed, not typically something anyone did. Tyler was staring at Troye’s face with a wide smile on his face as I creaked the door open. Tyler nodded in the direction of the door as we stepped inside and then…

Troye turned his head and smiled at me with his bright blue eyes shining in the artificial light. I couldn’t help myself, I shrieked out of pure joy and ran to the bedside. I could hear Sage behind me having a similar reaction and Tyde gasping as he entered the room. When I reached the bed, Tyler went to stand up, but Troye’s hand across his lap held him firmly in place.

“Hey, mum,” he said with a smile. His voice sounded hoarse, but he was talking, he was awake, and he was smiling at me. I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I bent over him and wrapped my arms around his thin frame. He hugged me back with his free arm, and kissed my cheek as I pulled away. I stood next to the bed and just stared at him. I had no idea what to even say.

Troye looked away from me, to his siblings. “Hey, guys,” he said hoarsely.

“Troye,” I heard Sage mumble as she almost ran forward to hug him.

“Hey,” he said again. When she stood up, her face was covered with tears. “Don’t cry, Sage,” he cooed, reaching up to wipe the tears from her eyes. “I’m okay, I promise,” he said with a smile. She smiled back at him.

Tyde took a few steps forward, but stopped, just looking down at his brother. “Hey,” he said casually.

“Stop it, come here,” Troye said reaching his arm toward his younger brother. Tyde smiled broadly and hugged Troye tightly before standing back up.

“Don’t you ever do that to us again, got it?”

“Got it,” Troye said with a laugh.