The Ways in Which I Die (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 22: "SAM"

SUMMER

Summer only leaves Anthony’s side for the occasional run to the hospital cafeteria, bathroom break, and showers.

James visits every day for an hour or so, Hope visits during her lunch breaks, and even Steven drops by once and leaves a nice vase of flowers. Three days into Summer’s stay with Anthony, Hope pulls some strings and manages to get moved to being his attending nurse. Summer knows her roommate did it more for her sake than Anthony’s.

“How are we doing today?” Hope asks as she pushes a small cart into Anthony’s room.

“He’s not moving,” Summer mumbles, not lifting her head from where it’s resting on the edge of Anthony’s bed.

Hope sighs runs her hand down Summer’s back. “How long are you going to stay here?”

“Until he gets better,” Summer says quietly and adjusts her grip on his hand. She’ll stay right here with him for as long as it takes.

“I know you’ve become quite good at sleeping in one of those awful hospital chairs, but have you thought about getting real sleep in a real bed?”

“Not until he wakes up,” Summer whispers hoarsely.

“You need real rest, Summer. When he wakes up he’s going to need you to be functional.”

“I am functional,” Summer says, sitting up. She can feel her back pop as she does so and winces a little.

“When was the last time you showered or brushed your teeth or even ate something?” Hope asks and grabs an IV bag off the cart.

Summer frowns trying to remember. All of the days have blurred together into one big impossibly long one. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Can you even tell me how long it’s been since you’ve left this building?”

Summer bites her lip. How ever long it’s been, it’s too long. Anthony’s been stone still and silent for far too long.

“Look, my lunch break is coming up in about a half an hour, so here’s what I want you to do-”

“I’m not leaving him alone.”

“He won’t be,” Hope says kindly. “You go home during my lunch break, shower, wash up, take a nap, all that good stuff, and I’ll stay here with him. Yeah?”

“But-”

“I won’t leave his side until you get back. I promise. And if any change in his condition comes up, I’ll call you immediately, okay?”

Summer sighs reluctantly. Hope’s right. She’s been here far too long, but it still seems so wrong leaving him. “You’ll tell me if anything happens? Even if his finger twitches a little?”

He hasn’t twitched once.

Hope smiles. “Even if it’s just a small finger twitch.”

“I don’t know,” Summer mutters.

“Summer please,” Hope says almost desperately. “It’ll be okay.”

“Okay,” Summer agrees reluctantly. It still feels so wrong leaving him, but she trusts Hope to stay with him and make sure he’s safe.

 ~~~~

HOPE

Hope doesn’t breathe easily until Summer finally hauls herself off the chair next to Anthony’s bed and leaves the room. She can tell just by the way the woman moves that she doesn’t want to go, and Hope can’t really blame her.