After twenty minutes of arguing, I finally convinced Mom to go home. She hadn't slept at home since the accident.
"And you're sure you'll be okay?" Mom wrung her hands together and looked from me to Mr. Patrick, who yawned and leaned against the wall.
"I'm sure. Now go and get some rest." I turned to Mr. Patrick. "Tell Finn and Addie I'll call them tomorrow?"
He nodded. "I'm happy to see you're awake and feeling better. You had a lot of people worried."
"Yeah, I'm an attention hog like that."
Mr. Patrick laughed. He looked a lot like Finn when he smiled.
It was silent for a minute as I raised my eyebrows and watched Mom. She fidgeted and turned her gaze back to the television.
"Mom? Going now?"
"All right, all right . . . I'll go home." Mom said, but she didn't move away from the bed.
"He'll be fine. They'll probably send him home tomorrow—and then you can hover all you want." Mr. Patrick inclined his head toward the exit and held the door for her. He seemed exhausted too. Mom kissed my forehead and finally walked out, Mr. Patrick right behind her. I sighed, relieved they'd at least get some sleep tonight. I had cost everyone enough of that already.
* * *
All was quiet except the occasional beep of the machines and the rattling noise that sounded every few minutes as my blood-pressure cuff inflated. The TV was still on but muted. The flickering light made my eyes hurt. I stretched my arms and legs. Everything felt stiff, but moving was good. And I wasn't tired, not even a little bit. As I stood up, I secured the back of my robe so there would be no mooning on my walk through the hospital. Someone had put those silly blue hospital booties on my feet while I was unconscious. They looked ridiculous, but at least my feet weren't cold.
Slipping the cuff off my arm, I disconnected the heart monitors and the machines started alarming. I glared at the screen and tried punching a couple of buttons until I found the power switch. When I released a breath and turned around, I jumped. Three silhouettes stood in the open doorway.
"You going somewhere, Parker?" the petite nurse asked as she walked around the bed toward me and took my pulse. I noticed her hospital ID for the first time: Patti. Finn and Addie waved from the doorway but didn't say anything.
"Yeah. Just a walk. I need to stretch my muscles, I think." I waited until she eventually released my wrist and looked me over. "That okay?"
Patti pursed her lips and nodded slowly. "Yes, but I want you to take it slow. Your friends and your IV stay with you."
Finn stepped over and grabbed the IV stand. "No problem."
"We'll make sure he's back soon." Addie walked over and linked her arm through mine, her expression worried. I glanced at Finn but he didn't say anything.
"Thanks." I shuffled toward the hallway. Everything ached, but before long my muscles relaxed and the worst of the kinks worked themselves out.
"So, what movie did you go to?" I didn't want to talk about anything that mattered yet, but I knew it was cruel to make them wait for long.
"She wouldn't go see kung fu." Finn glared at Addie. "Or Terminator."
"Don't act like I got my way." Addie leveled her gaze at him and he shrugged.
YOU ARE READING
Insomnia
Misterio / Suspenso"It's been four years since I slept, and I suspect it is killing me." Instead of sleeping, Parker Chipp spends each night trapped in the dream of the last person he's made eye contact with. Every night he is crushed by other people's fear and pain...
