The Bucket List

Chapter thirteen

Chapter thirteen

Aaron

When I first registered to myself that I was awake, was when I felt nothing. I felt no pain. I opened my eyes and stared the white ceiling all I could think of was that I was alive. Where was Toby? I wondered if he had called my mom yet to let her know I was here, if he didn't, the hospital did.

I moved my hands to push me up and blinked as I looked around. I had my own room and the walls were glass with the curtains pulled back. Flowers littered the window seal and clothes were scattered all around the room but it looked like someone had kicked them out of the way to get to my bed.

My heart lurched. A lot of clothes meant a lot of days. How long have I been out?! I felt panicked as I pushed my legs from the bed and winced at their weakness. I needed a nurse. I pushed the button quickly and sat on the bed. Ok, it wasn't a big deal. These are Toby's clothes meaning Toby is still here. I went to rub my face but the skin was hard and peeling. I pulled my hand away quickly and stared at the green flakes. "Oh god, oh god." I whimpered. What was happening?

I slammed my hand onto the nurses button as my breathing became erratic, oh god, I was having a panic attack. Pushing myself from the bed, I tried to wobble to the door but I hit the floor after slipping on a shirt. "Toby!" I hissed. "You idiot!"

The door suddenly slammed open and I jerked my head up as two nurses ran to me. One was on the phone and the other grabbed my arm to help me back on the bed. "Where's Toby?" I panic. "I need Toby!" The nurses mouth moved at me but I couldn't focus on her words. When she pulled out a needle I shrunk back. "Don't touch me! I want Toby!" Her mouth moved and she moved closer. In a reflex, I kicked my foot out and knocked the syringe from her hand. She glared at me and said something. "I want-" I gasped as a needle was jabbed into my thigh from behind and everything went black.

~~~~

"So you thought sedating a coma patient was the right thing to do?" A voice hissed. She sounded angry. She's talking about me.

Something's touching me. My hand to be exact. A hand is holding my hand to be more exact. I forced my groggy eyes open and met Toby's. We both just stared at each other until he started to cry. I squeezed his hand as I started too, pushing myself up to hug him. Toby held me close and and clutched my arms as if I'd slip away. I wiped my eyes after a minute and tried to pull back but Toby wouldn't let me. "How long have I been in a coma?" I whispered.

"Two months."

I felt all the air rush from me. My time was up. I was going to die any day now. Oh god. I didn't want to die, not even after knowing I was in a coma. "What put me in the coma?"

"You're brain was trying to save you." Toby breathed. He kissed my forehead and held me closer. "I'm so glad your awake! Oh god Aaron!"

"What happened to my face?"

Toby pulled me back and stared at me before grinning. "Tabya." He reached for my face and pulled a long green strip from my face. "A face mask."

I couldn't bring myself to smile. "I'm going to die still."

Toby's eyes melted and he held my face. "Oh baby, no, no you're not. You're on a new drug and you waking up is only proving it's working! It shrunk your tumor! You've got years now!"

I felt so overwhelmed. Not only had I missed two months of my life, but my canner was disappearing and I was going to live. And Toby had stayed the whole time.

I felt a sob choke though me as I threw my arms his neck and slammed my lips into his. It felt like forever since I had last kissed him even though it had been longer for him. His lips slid against mine hungrily and I moaned quietly before pulling away. "I love you so much, Toby."

"I love you too, Aaron. Oh god I missed you so much!" He kissed me again before pulling away. "You've got to let the nurses look at you."

I nodded as the nurses came forward but my mind wondered. "Where's my mom? There's no way she wouldn't know I'm here right?" Toby visibly winced and looked to Tabya who adverted her eyes before looking back at him.

"Baby," Toby started softly. "You're mother had to be called away on business, so you'll be staying with me for a while."

"What business?" I asked. We had no other family and my mother didn't have a job. I didn't know what she could be busy with.

Toby pushed his hand into hair looking distressed. "She didn't tell me."

He was obviously not happy with the subject so I changed it. "Are you ok?" I whispered softly.

He blinked before smiling at me. "Of course I'm fine."

"Mentally, baby."

He blushed. "It's...it's been hard. But I'm ok."

When the nurses left I opened my arms, desperate to be close to him. He obeyed and came to my bed to lay beside me, dropping his face onto my chest and making me smile. When the room was empty I closed my eyes and sighed. "This is so much to take in."

Toby slid a leg over my hips and leaned over to kiss my forehead. "You'll get through it, you always have."

I placed my hands on his thighs and closed my eyes. "You've lost weight."

Toby snorted and rolled off me, dragging my smaller body on top of his. "So have you."

I pulled up my hospital gown, careful to keep myself covered) and traced my hip bone before wincing. "I have, guess we'll both have to fatten up."

Toby laughed. "You sure? I'm finally getting skinny!"

I pressed my hands into his stomach and giggled. "I don't want a skinny man, there can only be one bony person in this relationship."

He runs his fingers over my still exposed hips still smiling. "Maybe I'll make you fat. Oh god, you'd be so cute just rolling around the house."

I wrinkled my nose and giggled. "I don't think so."

Toby reached up and cupped my face, bringing it down to kiss me. "I love you so much."

I smiled and pressed my face into his neck. "Would you hate me if I said I was tired?"

"I'd never hate you." He whispered.