Sleeping Beauty

Chapter 13

Shawn

My mom doesn't even ask why I leave the house anymore. I just get up, eat breakfast and go. I always have something to do in the morning, but most of the time it's here in LA, so that's lucky. After I'm done with that, whatever it happens to be, I pick up lunch and drive to the hospital. After that, I have to rush back home for about twenty seconds, change, and go somewhere else. But I never let anyone schedule anything in the afternoon. Two weeks ago, Michael, the guy who tells me where to go and when, told me I had to go to a meeting at the recording studio and rush over to the airport to get on a plane so I could perform in Detroit that night. I shook my head at him. "No," I had told him. "You know I go to the hospital in the afternoon."

"Yes, but this meeting is pretty important and we can't schedule another flight that'll get you to Michigan by six, so you'll just have to skip-"

"Paying you?" I had said, which had been super rude now that I look back on it, but I was pissed.

He took a step back and swallowed hard. "No, Sir, that's- that's not what I meant."

"I promise you that show tonight that you're so excited about will be shit if you don't let me see her for at least twenty minutes." I was only inches from his face when I said this and I was about a head taller, too. 

He shook his hands in the air as if to say, No, no no. Let's not crush your're prescious moment. I was wrong. You were right.

I took two steps back.

He let out a breath of air that he must had been holding the whole time. Then he said, "I'll cancel the meeting as long as you swear you'll be at that airport by 11:00."

"That's two hours early-"

"For food and... a cushion in case you decide to be late."

I roll my eyes and say, "Fine." As soon as I leave the room, I stick my head back in the door and say, "Thanks, Michael."

He waved his hand and didn't look up from his papers. "Yeah, yeah, yeah."

When I go back today, I move the chair to the side a little so when I look up, it looks like she's actually looking at me. As soon as I walk in, she starts wiggling her fingers, the ones on the hand that squeezed mine yesterday. It's like she's trying to show off. I shake my head and smile a little. I decided that I'm not going to play guitar for her today. I didn't even bring it. Instead, we're going to talk and have a normal conversation. 

"Hey." I nod towards her. 

She wiggles her fingers a little, like she's waving. I smile again and laugh a little. 

"I don't think we have officially met."

Dr. Allan walks in with his clipboard. He look surprised to see me here even though I come everyday. "Oh, I was gonna check some stuff, but I can come back later."

I nod. "Thanks."

Just before he leaves the room, he says, "Oh, Shawn. Just one more thing."

"Yeah?"

He smiles. "One blink mean yes. Two blinks means no."

I bite my lip. Good information to know, I guess. 

He walks out the door.

I start over. 

"I don't think we have officially met."

She blinks once.

I start to tap my foot against the ground. I take her hand and shake it very gently. When I don't move it away, she squeezes it again, which sends a pulse up my arm and over my shoulder. Chills go down my back.