Striped Sleeves | Book Two 💓💔💕💖💗

Chapter 8

Then there was light.

I gasped for air, gulping large amounts in so fast my lungs hurt. I looked around. I had been certain I was dead, but here I existed. An EKG machine beeped rapidly, slowing down slightly. I felt fuzzy, distant. The memories of the past seemed grey. I didn't really know why I was here. I remembered flowers, blood, choking, then nothing.
A boy sat beside me, sleeping on the chair.

He looked oddly familiar, like someone from a dream. He had a dark expression as he slept. "W-..." I tried to speak, but my throat burned with pain. I reached out to the boy, tapping him on the knee. His eyes fluttered open, looking at me. For a minute he seemed to be unresponsive, but then his eyes widened and he lunged at me.
His slender arms wrapped around me, he buried his head in my neck. My arms stayed by my sides, stiff. Who was this guy? And why was he hugging me?

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Jeremy pov

I hugged Michael close, tears spilling uncontrollably. He was alive. He was alive and awake. I noticed he wasn't hugging back, probably still tired and fragile from the surgery. I thought, pulling away from him. "Micha..." I uttered, a sad smiled inching onto my face. He wore a confused and absent expression, looking into my eyes. "Michael?" I asked, my voice shaking. I reached for his hand but he flinched away.

I felt a pang of hurt in my chest. "M-Michael...what's wrong?" I implored. He scootched away slightly.

"I...Who are you?" I chuckled dryly, a feeling of desperation and sadness sinking in. He seemed serious. "Cut it out, Michael..." I said.

"I don't know who you are..."

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Fin~