Reality

Waking Up

Dan opened his bleary eyes and blinked slowly.

Where am I?

He glanced around the sterile white room. He was in a... hospital? He tried to sit up but he felt too weak to move.

"Don't strain yourself, babe," a female voice said. He turned his head and looked at the girl the voice came from.

He tried to speak but only managed a croak, like he hadn't used his voice in ages. He tried again. "Who... who are you?"

The girl's smile faded and her eyes watered, as if she were about to cry. "You don't... you don't remember me?"

Dan felt a little guilty for not knowing who she was. She was probably some girl that took a picture with him and Phil once.

"Sorry... what's your name?"

She blinked quickly a few times and sniffled. "Katie."

Katie. He could recall several girls named Katie, either from school or various teenage girls that took pictures with him and got autographs. He looked her over to try to refresh his memory.

She was a pretty thing, with light brown hair and green eyes. She had a spray of freckles over her cheeks and nose. For some reason he couldn't place her. He shook his head slightly.

"Hi, Katie," he said softly. "Could you tell me what's happened? Why I'm here?"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "You were in a... an accident. A hit and run. You were put in a coma."

He swallowed. He couldn't even remember an accident. His eyes widened suddenly.

"Phil! Is Phil... is he okay? Was he hit too?"

Katie's brow furrowed. "Who is Phil?"

Dan's heart sunk. He wasn't going to get much out of her if she didn't even know who AmazingPhil was.

"Phil Lester. My best friend. He's really tall, has greeny-yellow-blue eyes and dark hair. Have you seen him around?" Surely Phil would be waiting for Dan to wake up. He wouldn't leave him.

She shook her head slowly. "Dan, your mum, dad and me have been the only ones here."

Dan swallowed again. That's not right. Something about this isn't right.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded.

He held out his hand. "Could you hand me my phone, please?"

"Sorry, Dan. No one's been paying your phone bill while you were out."

His eyes narrowed. "How long was I out?"

She bit her lip.

"How long?" He pressed.

"It's been five years."

Dan choked on air. Five years?! There was no way that was true.

"You're joking, right?"

She pressed her lips together in a thin line and shook her head slightly. "I'm so sorry."

He did the math in his head. "That means I'm... 28? And Phil's 32? Holy shit... I'm not ready for this."

The corners of her lips lifted slightly. "You're only 23, Dan. You were 18 when you came in here."

"18..." That was how old he was when he met Phil. "Phil. I need to see Phil."

"I'm sorry, but Phil isn't here. I've never heard of a Phil Lester."