Can You See Me/Can You Hear Me

Broken Bones And Broken Thoughts

Machines beeped and clicked as Evan gained consciousness. He groaned, lifting his hand. He hissed as pain shot through the arm. He opened his eyes, staring at the white ceiling.

    Wait. White ceiling?

    Evan sat up, ignoring the pain in his wrist and leg and how the IV and needles pulled at his skin. His eyes scanned the room, taking in every single detail. What the machines looked like, the flowers on the table next to him, even the ceiling tile patterns.

    He looked down at his arms. There was gauze wrapped around his left arm, while his right one was hooked up to an IV. His gaze traveled to his left leg, which was in a cast and sticking out from the hospital blanket. The leg was raised in a sling.

    His heart was slamming against his rib cage, his breathing got short and hard. Tears pricked his eyes and he furiously wiped them away, but they kept coming. Soon, he was sobbing on the hospital bed. He put his face in his hands. The heart monitor was going crazy and doctors and nurses were surrounding him, making the panic worse.

    He tried to get them to go away, to stop touching him, stop crowding him, stop shouting in his face. All but one nurse got the hint, and she knelt right next to him, running a hand through his hair. It took him a few minutes, but Evan calmed down to where he was just shaking and hiccuping. He turned and faced the nurse.

    "Mom?" he whispered. Heidi broke out into a grin and gently pulled her son close. Evan wrapped his injured arm around her, putting his face into her neck. More tears slid down his face, getting her neck and shirt wet.

    He pulled away and stared at her, taking in everything he could. She looked the same from when he was a kid, except she had some wrinkles and dark bags under her eyes.

    I caused that. . .

    Her blonde hair was up in a ponytail. A few stray tears slipped passed Evan's defenses, and she wiped them away.

    "Oh baby," she said. "I was so scared. When I heard you were in a crash, I feared the worst. I heard from Darla that you slipped into a coma after surgery. I had to take a few days off because I was so devastated I couldn't work."

    "How?" Evan asked, his voice hoarse. "How, how am I able to see?"

    Heidi smiled sadly. "I wanted it to be a surprise for your birthday next year," she explained. "But then I heard what happened and decided to pay for your eye surgery sooner."

    "But we can't, can't afford it! Now y-you'll have to t-take extra hours."

    "Don't worry honey," she whispered, running a hand through her son's hair again. "It doesn't matter how much it was, I'm just glad you're alright."

    Evan stared at his mom. He fiddled with the hospital sheet, trying not to tear a hole in case they ended up having to pay for it. He dropped his gaze to his hands, getting lost in thought.

    He hardly remembered anything from the crash. He remembered Connor speeding up and swerving, but nothing between that.

    Connor. Was he here? Was he injured?

    "Where's, where's Connor? Is he okay?"

    "He's in the waiting room," Heidi said. "He had a sprained knee but it's mostly healed. He has some scars on his face from the broken windshield. Should I send him in?"

    Evan nodded frantically. He wanted to see what his friend (boyfriend? Were they there yet? Sure they'd kissed a few times but does that automatically mean they're dating?) looked like. He obviously had a basic understanding; eyes, nose, ears, long hair. But he wanted to see his eyes, see his smile, see him laugh.