Zonah

MAKE•A•CHOICE

Zach's POV

I don't know where I am. It's scary. Its dark, and all these past memories zoom by me. Good ones and bad ones. Some when my mother loved me, and when she started to hate me. I don't know what's happening, and I just want to go home, to my dad, to the boys, to Jonah.

"Zachary Dean Herron" a voice said. I looked around but I didn't see anyone.

"You have been given a choice." the voice said again. I couldn't figure out who was saying it, until a bright light started to glow out of nowhere. In a flash, I was taken back, all of the dark space was filled by a memory from when I was younger.

It was of my mom, dad and I all playing in the backyard. My parents and I playing a game of tag. Little seven year old me screaming when my dad picked me up off the ground and into his arms. My mom ran over and started to attack me with tickles. I was just dying of laughter.

Then, it faded, and showed my mom when I had just told her I was gay. She had to process it, then her face turned angry and called me a fag, a sinner, she said that she did not give birth to a fuck up. She tried to swing at me, but my dad stopped her. He grabbed her arms, and told me to go to a friends house until he said it was safe for me. It was then, that I knew my mom hates me, but my dad loved me. I came home the next day to see all of my moms stuff gone, and my dad at the kitchen table drinking some coffee. When he saw me, he gave me the biggest hug and said he would always be there for me.

I let some tears fall as I had to rewatch that memory. It faded again, but this time to when I was getting bullied earlier this school year. All the punches getting thrown at me, the kicks to my shins and stomach. The looks I got when I started to cross dress, but instead of seeing Jonah by my side, there was no one. He was removed from the memory, but I know he was there.

It faded to me hearing my dad was in a coma, the pain I felt. How I could do nothing, all the pain returning to me. But instead of him waking up, it changed to me holding my dad's hand, and his heart monitor flatlining. He was gone.

I let out a sob, not knowing why all my bad memories were getting worse. The the voice spoke again.

"Make a choice Zachary. Go back to that life, where your mother hates you, where you get bullied and teased. Or, go into the light, where you will be free. You could choose everything that happens. You will be loved." The voice told Zach.

"I-I... I want to go back! I want to go back to Jack, Corbyn, Daniel! I want to go back to Christina! To Jonah. To my dad. They all love me! Take me back! Let me go back! I want to be with them! Don't take me away! Please!"  I yell to the voice falling to my knees with tears streaming down my face.

Another bright light flashes, and I can see my hospital room. I see Jonah holding my right hand giving it a light kiss every now and then. He keeps saying something but I can't hear. I see myself on the bed, I look lifeless. I was paler than usual. There was wires and cords attached to my body. My middle wrapped up in bandages, a little bit of blood shown through.

I assume my dad is at work. Even though I'm here, he can't miss another day of work for a while because of the days he missed in the coma. His job is too important. I wish he was here, but I'm glad Jonah's here with me and I'm not alone.

Jonah looks not too well. He has bags under his eyes, his eyes are also red most likely from crying. I hate that Jonah is crying over me. He's wearing one of my oversized hoodies. I got those when I had a eating disorder a while back I still wear them sometimes. Jonah's laying down across a few chairs from the room still holding onto my hand. I see him fighting sleep, but eventually he closes his eyes to sleep.

I don't want to lose him. I don't want to lose my dad. I don't want to lose the boys or Christina. I don't want to lose any of them.

Soon, it gets dark and I can't see anything. I'm left in nothingness again. Suddenly, I hear a beeping noise. A steady one. Beep....Beep....Beep.... I open my eyes, and I'm back. I'm back! Jonah's still here! He's holding my hand, and my dad is next to him! They're both asleep, they didn't leave me. I didn't leave them.

"Dad... Jonah" I say with rasp to my voice, it's quiet but they hear. I squeeze Jonah's hand, and that's when he shoots his eyes open.

"Josh wake up! Zach's awake!" Jonah's says lightly pushing on my dad. I haven't fully opened my eyes yet, because of how bright it is in this room.

"Zach?" my dad asks as he wakes up. I give a small smile.

"Hi dad" I say groggily from not using my voice for however long.

"Oh my god" My dad says. He gets up and gives me a kiss on my forehead before rushing out of the room, most likely to get a nurse or doctor.

"Hi Jo" I say as I look back to Jonah who has some tears running down his face.

"Don't cry Jo" I say giving him a small smile.

"I- You were gone for s-so long" he says, "Too long". Jonah lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses it. I can feel his tears falling onto my hand.

"Zachary, you're awake" The doctor says coming into my room. I justs give him a nod.

"Your vitals looks fine. So, do you remember anything?" The doctor asks.

"N-Not anything about how I got here, but I remember everything else" I tell him. He writes it down.

"Okay that's good. So, obviously since you forgot about what happened, it means it was a pretty traumatic experience for you. Your mother and her boyfriend had hurt you while you were over for your normal visits. They had stabbed you with a kitchen knife, and barely missed your superior mesenteric artery thankfully. You will be okay, just sore for the next couple of weeks." the doctor tells me. I take a second to process everything.

"How long was I out for?" I ask.

"About a year." the doctor says.

"So I'm what, 17 now, and Jonah's 18?" I ask, trying to understand better.

"Yeah. Happy late birthday Zach. It's now September, when you went into a coma, it was december of last year." My dad says.

"The boys and I started a band, we were thinking about when you left that day to go to your mom's. When you're better, we want you apart of it." Jonah says. I just smiled at him and nodded my head yes.

A/n if you are apart of the lgbtq+ community I love you. You are not a f*g or sinner, or a fuck up. My messages are always open feel free to message me. Comment some ideas for the book. <3