Amnesia

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Once Corey left, Colby sat down heavily in a chair on the far side of the waiting room. It really wasn't a busy night, but even so, the room was filled with at least twenty people.

People like Colby who were waiting, waiting to be seen, waiting to hear the news that could either destroy them or save them. Desperate people like him, praying to a God who didn't answer.

Colby sighed, thinking back on the past two days. Everything had been well, fine wasn't the right word, because how could it have been fine with the weird tension in the house every time Sam showed up in the kitchen looking like a zombie?

How could it be fine when the happiness and the laughter that usually filled the house was muted by the fact that Sam wasn't there?

So no, things weren't exactly fine, but they weren't exactly bad either.

What Colby still couldn't figure out, is why Sam chose to ride out the pain alone.

Colby was his best friend, and Sam hadn't come to him at all in the past two days. Had ignored every single one of his text messages and pretended not to hear when Colby knocked on his door.

The other roommates tried to reassure him that Sam would come around when he was ready, but it still hurt just as much for Colby to sit quietly by and see Sam in this state.

He wanted to scream at him and shake him, but also to hold him, and tell him all the things he needed to hear so maybe Sam could believe that life was still worthwhile. Worth more than numbing himself through alcohol and drugs.

But Sam wasn't listening, he'd locked himself on the other side of the door, in a room where Colby couldn't enter and left him outside in the cold. Cold and lonely and sick with worry but unable to come in.

Colby felt tears threatening at the corners of his eyes that he definitely didn't feel like crying today. He pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes and it hurt, and the hurt reminded him that he was still here and it was real. Sam was still here, and he was real.

Even though it felt like Sam was slipping out of his grasp into cold dark water, Colby was determined to dive in right after him. He was determined to do whatever it took to get Sam to be okay again.

He sighed, straightening and took out his phone.

He had one new message from Corey telling him that he'd gotten home safe, and asking if he wanted him to clean up Sam's room.

Yeah, you probably should. It was a wreck when I was in there earlier.

Corey messaged back saying that he'd get to it, and air out the house so it didn't stink so bad.

Colby laughed in spite of himself, thinking how disgusting weed smelled and messaged back:

Thanks, man. I appreciate it and I know Sam will too, once he wakes up

A few seconds later, Corey responded saying that Sam would probably hate him touching his stuff, and Colby smiled weakly, thinking about how possessive Sam could be of his things.

He'll just have to get it over it

"Colby Brock?"

He jerked his head up to see a different nurse standing by the double bay doors.

Making sure he had his phone and keys, Colby stood up and made his way over to the nurse.

"Hi, Dr Redford sent me out to get you. I'm Peter by the way."