Found Along The Way

Chapter twenty-seven

He drove faster than he ever had in his life, faster than the night Rosie was born. Cars flew by the window, the sun glared at him sinisterly, mocking his efforts to get to Anya so quickly. It wouldn't have mattered what time he got to her because it wouldn't change what had already happened: She was really, really hurt. But still, he was on a mission, his goal was to get to Anya.

Hours passed, and one long and tiring drive later he was there. Jumping out of the car, running into the bright building, down stairs and corridors, opening the door... seeing her.

"Oh Anya," He whispered, hesitating at the sight of her. He walked to her side, but her eyes didn't open. He half expected her to wake up when he came into the room, as if she knew he was there. But no, she remained still. Her face was completely washed of its' colour, and there was an oxygen mask covering where her smile would have been.

She looked peaceful though, just like she was in a deep sleep, something Lucas had seen so many times before. He picked up her hand and held it gently, kissing her forehead and hoping she would feel it. He was so focused on the shock and heartbreak of seeing her like this that he didn't hear Caleb, Taya, and Lilly come into the room.

"Lucas, hey." Lilly said quietly, "We were in the waiting room calling her parents."

"How long has she been like this?" He asked solemnly, not taking his gaze off of her face.

"Two hours maybe, she was awake for a few minutes after the accident but went again when we moved her."

"Will she wake up?"

"Yes. I'm sure she will."

He looked at her silent face, his own filled with sadness.

"When?" He didn't really expect anyone to know the answer to this, but he asked on instinct.

Lilly looked at the other two bewildered, not knowing what to say. They didn't help much so she said nothing, she didn't know, none of them did.

"Anya honey?" He whispered kindly, close to her face, once again wishing that she'd open up her eyes and know he was there. The silence was crushing him, but he stayed there, waiting.

Eventually the dark overtook the room, the sun had left but Lucas remained by Anya's side. Her friends had gone home, making sure Lucas was okay to be alone first.

"I'm not alone, she'll wake up soon." Is what he said, trying to show some of Anya's famous optimism in his words.

But the longer he stayed in the dark room, under the fluorescent lighting and in the silence, the more alone her felt. Rain hit the windows angrily, filling the empty air with a white noise that accompanied his sadness. It was fitting. Hours passed, and he gave in to his tiredness, settling back into the chair by her bed. God, the room felt so miserable. Everything seemed to be washed over with grey and it made Lucas feel sick. The silence allowed for the distant sound of pain throughout the rest of the hospital to seep through the walls. He closed his eyes, wondering if she could feel pain at this moment. Could she even hear the hours of careful whispers from him? Did she feel as lonely in her own sleep as Lucas did right now?

Before he could answer these questions for himself he heard a sharp breath come from Anya, a sudden and small gasp. He shot up from the chair, swiftly going straight to her side and holding her hand once again.

"Anya?"

She scrunched up her face ever so slightly, and her hand responded to being held, gripping his.

"Anya!" Lucas smiled. "Hey sweetie, can you open your eyes?"

She could. Gradually blinking them open, she looked straight at him, then around the room in confusion. Not knowing where she was, and barely remembering what had happened, she tried to sit up and was overcome with a pain in her side. She cried out, falling back down flat, but only a slight squeak left her mouth as she realised how sore her throat was from the water.