Resurgent

Chapter 2

            “I think it’s best if you just rest for right now.” Caleb says as my chair starts stretching out, back into a bed. “It wouldn’t be wise to just throw you at him with no warning. After all, he’s lived mourning your death for almost three years.”

            I know what he’s saying makes sense, but that doesn’t mean I’m happy with his answer. “No. I don’t care if you warned him or not. You should have told him about your plan to save me when you started it! Then I wouldn’t need to wait and nothing would be changed and he wouldn’t have created a life without me!” Sobs start coming out and I can’t hold them back, so I just hold my head in my hands and wait.

            After I calm down a bit and my fitful tears turn to quiet sniffles, Caleb rests a hand on my shoulder and speaks softly. “But you see, Beatrice, he hasn’t. Tobias visits the zip line, where he spread ‘your ashes,’ every day. The sharp spark that used to be in his eyes has since vanished. Yes, he has a job and doesn’t seem quite as sad as he used to be…but he definitely has not forgotten or replaced you.”

            “I’ve even tried to help him move on…just in case, you know?” A shameful look sweeps across Cara’s face. “I knew some girls who found him, well um, attractive. So I set him up on various dates, but none of them worked out. Almost all of the girls told me that they would be only ten minutes into the date when Tobias would say, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t,’ and leave. Oh! There was Rose…she got further than any of the others.”

            “Cara, that’s enough.” Matthew tries to stop her from spilling all the dirty details of my boyfriend’s date...at least I hope he’s still my boyfriend.

            “No, it’s okay. I want to know.” I clench my jaw so hard my teeth start to hurt and force myself to listen.

            Hesitantly, Cara starts sharing again. “Well, Rose looks nothing like you. She is tall, even taller than Tobias, and has dark black hair. I didn’t think he would like her at all since she isn’t similar to you whatsoever, but he did seem a little interested. Anyway, they had about three dates but I guess Tobias was still really reserved and quiet. Where she blew it though was when she tried to kiss him.” A twinge of jealousy shoots up inside me. “I guess at first he kissed back, but only for a split second. Then he pulled away and quickly left. Rose hasn’t heard from him since, and that was about two months ago. I kinda gave up with the dates after that.”

I smile. The thought that it’s too difficult for him to date other girls is oddly pleasant. But then the idea that I will be just like those other girls creeps into my mind. Have I been gone too long for us to start a relationship again? Tobias has probably changed so much, I don’t even know if I’ll recognize him. Even so, I need to know.

“How long will it take to prep him about me?” I’m too impatient and want to see him now, no matter how different he is.

“Well, I figured we could start by telling him today. Depending on his reaction, you could maybe see him in a week? I want to make sure there’s enough time for this information to really sink in, not just for Tobias but your other friends as well.” Matthew explains.

“A week?” After the time we’ve been apart, I don’t want to waste any minute without him, especially if he’s already changed so much. “No, I need to see him today.”

“I’m sorry, Beatrice, but I really can’t let you. Besides, you’re still too weak and have taken in far too much information today to be emotionally stable. Just get some rest and we’ll talk about it in the morning.” Caleb says as he moves away from my bed.

He’s right. I lay my head down and stare at the cement ceiling. I didn’t realize how tired I still was until now. I still have so many questions, but I guess they can wait. It’s a miracle that I’m alive now. The medicine they made healed me completely and now I have a chance at the life I always dreamed of. I drift off to sleep and watch as Cara, Matthew, and Caleb file out of my room, leaving me completely alone with only the steady beeping of the monitor to keep me company.