Second Hand Heart

Chapter 2

When I was in sixth grade I broke my arm in two places while attempting to skateboard. I remember the doctor asking me if it hurt. Of course it did. He then asked me to rate it out of ten, which I gave it a ten. I always thought that was the most painful feeling I'd ever experience until now. I couldn't feel anything in my body except for my chest. It felt ask if a baby elephant was perched, happily, on my chest and danced every time I inhaled. As I gained consciousness I began to hear a slow beep in my left ear.

I opened my eyes and was instantly blinded by a white light.

'Am I dead?' I asked myself. I read in books and saw in movies that you saw the 'white light' when you were on your way out. I felt myself go rigid and started to panic. Why couldn't I feel anything?

"You're awake!" I heard my mom's familiar voice sob. Eventually my eyes focused on my surroundings which I recognized as a hospital room.

In the room stood my mom, dad and 12 year old sister, Kirsten, who was beginning her grumpy teenage years.

"Can you hear me, Drew?" My dad asked, stepping forward and placing his big hand on my cheek.

"Kirsten, go call the doctor, now!" My dad demanded. His usual soft brown eyes now wore a stern look. He hand bags under his eyes, indicating he hadn't much sleep. I looked over to my mom who stood there sobbing next to me. Her hair was knotty and sat on top of her head in a messy bun. She, like my dad, had dark circles under her eyes.

'How long have I been here?' I asked myself.

She rushed over to my side and grabbed my hand, which had a drip in, and planted kisses all over it.

"We thought we lost you," she sobbed, "I'm so glad you're awake."

As I was about to ask what happened all the memories came rushing back like water through a weak floodgate. We crashed. All I could remember was swerving to avoid some animal, rolling and both Tristan and I screaming.

Tristan!

Where was he? Was he okay? Did he break anything?

As I was about to ask about him, Kirsten and a man wearing a doctors apparel burst through the door.

The man, who I assumed was my doctor, walked over to me. He had a rectangle body shape and a receding hairline

"Good morning, Drew. Can you hear me? My name is Doctor Williams and I am your surgeon. It appears that you were in an accident, so please try not to move too much. You have broken two ribs and fractured your femur. You've been in a coma for the past eight so if you can, could you please follow my pen." He asked, as he pulled his pen out from his chest pocket and moved it left and right in front of my eyes. He then took a little flashlight and shined it in my eyes.

All of this was too much to comprehend. My throat suddenly dried up and I was in dire need of some water.

"Could I have water, please?" I didn't even recognize my own voice. It sounded so unfamiliar and croaky, as if I hadn't have water in years. My dad's eyes watered as he nodded his head. He turned away from me to wipe his tears. He hated it when we saw him cry. I'd only every seen him cry twice in my entire life. The first time was when I was seven and he heard his dad had passed on in his sleep. I was too young to understand what was going on. I just remember my mom coming into my room that evening and told that grandpa was in a much better place now. The second time was when I was fourteen and our family dog died from old age. He was a Golden Retriever called Socks. I got him for my fourth birthday.

He strutted to the table next the door and poured me a tall glass of water. He walked back over and handed it to me. I took a big gulp of the cold water. I sighed in relieve as the water soothed my dry throat. I smiled at my sister, who held a look of pity in her eyes.

That reminded me, where was Tristan?

"Where is?" I was about to finish my sentence when my mom cut me off.

"How are you feeling, love? Where does it hurt?" She asked. I looked her in the eyes and I could instantly sense something was very off. She looked very distant, as if she was hiding something from me.

"I'm fine, my chest is a little sore, but nothing I can't handle." I smiled. I didn't want to worry her. Truth be told I was dying in pain. Even the smallest of movement could send me over the edge, wishing I was back in my coma where I felt nothing.

Kirsten walked over to me and gave me a soft hug.

"I'm so glad you're okay. I don't know what I would've done if I lost my older sister." As she finished my sentence she realized what she said and the colour from her face drained. An uncomfortable silence came over the room. Something wasn't right.

"Mom? Dad? Kirsten? What's going on? What's wrong? Where's Tristan?" When no one responded I raised my voice.

"Where is Tristan?"

I looked at each of their faces, trying to find answers. My dad wore an emotionless face, Kirsten, a look of fright and my mom a look of pity.

"Drew..." she began, "Tristan suffered many serious head injuries in the crash. Once the ambulance got there he was barely breathing and they put him on a ventilator instantly. Once they got you two to the hospital you were both rushed into emergency surgery. Yours was successful. However, because of his trauma he was declared brain dead. Drew, my dear, Tristan is dead."

After she said that, everything around me slowed down. I could see her lips moving but no words came out. The feeling in my chest came back, instead this time instead of one elephant dancing, it was a whole heard of them.

And again, everything around me went black.