Wrapped

Chapter 31

Nick

I wake up with dim lighting, a beeping noise, and an oxygen mask around my mouth. What am I doing here? Am I in a hospital? I have to admit, I've never been in a hospital before so I can't be so sure. Most likely it is.

I squint my eyes while looking around. There's a blanket draped over my body, but not covering my arms. The top of my left hand has an IV sticking out of it. That's a bit disturbing. I look at my right hand and see a heart monitor pinching my index finger. Am I really in the hospital? Or, maybe this could be the afterlife. Wait, that's just crazy. I'm just going to keep assuming that I'm in a hospital.

"Oh, Nick! You woke up!" I hear my mom's panicked voice rise up and my bed shake a little.

I look over and see mom smiling happily with tears in her eyes. Was she the one that brought me here? How did she find out? I thought she was at work when I was alone. . . .

"Yeah," I say and try to sit up, but a pain builds in my stomach making me groan.

Instantly, my mom gasps and hands me a small bucket. Immediately, I take off the oxygen mask, and puke up some brown liquid and I see splotches of red blood. What's wrong with my stomach?

I wipe my mouth with my right hand and lay back down, breathing heavily. "Mom, what happened to me?"

"Well, you got your stomach pumped," My mom states, "You're going to be feeling pretty bad for about a week or two."

Why did that happen? More on the lines of, how did my mom find out that I was trying to kill myself? Did someone call her? Did Zack call her? But, if he did, that means she didn't change her cell phone number. Why would she make me change mine but not hers? Why would Zack even think about calling her? I knew I shouldn't have called him. . . .

"I think you need to explain something," My mom holds my hand while looking at me sadly.

I widen my eyes at her and tense up. I can't tell her the reasoning of why I tried to commit suicide. That's crazy. She would hate me. She would look at me differently. She would be a totally different person around me. She probably would be my mom anymore, and I can't have that.

"What is it?" I try to sound as innocent as I could be, but clearly it doesn't trick my mom.

"You know what, Nick. Don't you try lying to me," My mom sighs and closes her eyes, like she's trying to figure out what are the right words to say. "Why did you - . . . try killing yourself?" I could tell she was pained having those words leaves her mouth.

Well, she is my mom. She's my best friend. Why shouldn't I tell her? All of the possibilities I've mentioned earlier would stop me. But, maybe she could come to an understanding with me. Like what my dad did to her, she could understand what happened to me. She would probably try to help me through getting through the pain and suffering. Everything might actually be okay.

"Well. . . You know when I went to my friends' house last weekend?" I start off, having regret build up when I start the happening. She nods, and I go on and tell her everything.

Her face was clearly showing she was horrified, and upset, possibly a little angry that I've lied to her in the past. I knew I shouldn't have told her. I could have lied. I could have just stopped talking. But, no; I had to tell her.

"Well, are you," she exhales and looks at me, locking her eyes with mine. "Gay?"

To my surprise, I'm not sure if I'm actually gay or not. I've only dated guys before. Sure, I find girls attractive, so, I can't tell if I'm any sexuality. Why can't I just know the answer?

"I just like people, I guess," I shrug in my bed and look up at the ceiling. I feel tears fighting to leave my eyes, but I already feel groggy enough to cry. It'd be best if I should just take a nap or something.

"Ah," My mom comments and lets go of my hand, "I'm going to get some food from the cafeteria. I'll be back in a few minutes," She adds with a kiss on top of my head and leaves the room.

I'm glad to know that she isn't mad at me or anything. But, why would she leave so abruptly? I hope I didn't make her upset with what I've told her or anything. Maybe she really is hungry and she's probably going to get me something to eat, as well. Frankly, I'm starved.

I hear heels click and clack on the tile floor. Once I look over to where the door is, there's a nurse is scrubs holding a clipboard, and fake smiling towards me. Her brown hair drapes over her shoulders, making her face look more aged and longer than how she should, I suppose. She's almost scary looking.

"Oh, good, Mister Peterson, you've woken up," She walks over me and checks all the machines for any of my results. "You have a visitor here other than your mother. Do you want to be left alone with him or do you want me to get your mother?"

I have a visitor? And it's a he? Maybe it's Zack! But, wait, how could he afford getting here? This is just mind boggling.

"Uh - um, she's busy with getting food, right now. So, I guess it could just be left alone with him," I smile and relax a little bit, expecting its Zack.

She nods and leaves the room. I try to sit up straighter on the bed, but it only makes my stomach still feel worse. I guess I'll just lie here, and smile as big as I can when Zack walks in.

The person who walks in, isn't Zack. He's tall, has muscles showing through his shirt, he has brown and gray hair, he looks older, but not too old. I have to say, he looks very familiar . . .

He grins at me and stands next to my bed, "Hello, Son.