Dating the Dead • lrh

45. understand

Shelby smiled at me, not making a move from the doorway. I was too stunned to stand up, either. We both just looked at each other for some time before she spoke.

"Boojiboo," Her voice sounded distant, almost like a whisper.

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, head unconsciously looking down. When I raised it back, she was no longer there. "Shelby?" I called, my heart racing in panic.

Jack came running into my room. "Luke?" He asked, sitting on the bed next to me. He rubbed my back and made me get off of my shirt, wiping the fabric across my skin.

"Is he awake?" Another pair of footsteps thudded louder and then receded. "Mom! Dad! He's up." Ben's voice grew fainter.

A moment later, Mum and Dad came in the room. Both of their faces etched with worry. Ben followed with a glass of water and all the other things he could think of that were in immediate need.

Mum helped Jack put on a new shirt on me. I heard Dad and Ben shuffle behind me. They kept initiating a conversation with me that went, 'are you okay?', 'what happened?', and all the other questions I ignored to answer.

They were replacing the gauze around my head while I had my eyes plastered on the doorway.

Why is she not coming around?

"Where is she?" I said with a dry throat. They all stopped what they're doing, looking at me confusedly. "Where is Shelby?"

Mum choked back a sob, handing Jack the roll of gauze. She walked out of my room muttering something she forgot outside. Dad followed her shortly, leaving the room in silence.

Jack cleared his throat, continuing to clean the wound on the side of my head. "She hasn't come back yet, Luke," he said, voice cracking.

"No, she's back," I insisted.

Ben shifted into view, helping Jack with the gauze. "Uhm," he hesitated for a moment, sniffling, "she hasn't."

My eyes blurred, still staring at the doorway. "No," I croaked, pointing a trembling finger where Shelby had been, "she was just right there. Did you not see her outside?"

Ben and Jack stopped momentarily while I silently cried. Ben patted my back and smiled sympathetically at me before heading out the door. Jack sat beside me on the bed, putting an arm around my back and wiping my cheeks with his free hand.

"Why don't we discuss this after you've eaten lunch?" He asked tentatively. "Is that okay?"

I thought for a moment then slowly nodded. He stood up and soon returned with the glass of water, helping me drink all of it. I calmed down immediately.

Jack excused himself to check in on my food and left me in my room. More specifically, the white room. I hated it.

But how did I end up here?

If I remember correctly, I slept in my real room.

"Jack carried you here."

A male voice said from the far corner of the room. The curtain drifted with the wind and when it settled, my gaze landed on the glowing figure of Azrael. "You," I whispered in awe.

He took light steps forwards. "Yes, me," he bowed exaggeratedly when he was in front of me. "You want to see your girlfriend again? Then I suggest you do not take your medicine."