Page 84 of Game Changer

Dwight looked at him directly.

“I woke up. Lying there, hearing voices and stuck in that place, I realized one thing. I want to live. I didn’t want to die. I wasn’t ready to die. I fought because I wanted to live. And I woke up. I have so much to live for, and I really don’t have any space in my life to harvest resentment, hate or anger. I want to live, Dwight. I can’t say I really wanna hang out with you and drink beer or anything. I mean, you still sexually assaulted my girlfriend and that’s really not cool – part of me wants to rearrange your face for touching her. But I can forgive what you did, to me, and move forward.”

“Wow,” Dwight looked at AJ, astonished. “I’m not sure I’d be able to be the bigger person like that if you’d put me in the hospital like this,” he confessed, without meeting AJ’s eye.

“I think you would. If you’d been through it, you’d get it. Lisa won’t get it, she’s gonna be pissed as hell I didn’t make them beat you with sticks. But,” he shrugged. “I don’t want to hold anger inside. I’d rather hold something positive in that space instead.”

AJ yawned, the conversation had taken a lot out of him, both emotionally and physically. His body ached from stress, anxiety and tiredness and he just wanted to cuddle up next to Lisa and take a nap.

Except she fled and she’s currently pissed at you.

Yup. Except for that.

“I’m going to leave you alone to rest. Thanks for letting me in to say my piece. I’m sorry for upsetting Lisa, I don’t blame her, she probably wanted to pull my arms off and beat me to death with them. And I really am sorry, AJ. I didn’t mean for this to happen,” his eyes glistened as he stood and held out his hand for AJ to shake.

Peace made with your girlfriend’s nemesis. I hazard a guess making peace with your girlfriend won’t be anywhere near as easy to negotiate.

Chapter 25

He awoke with a start, the room was dark. Someone had closed the blinds and the room was empty.

“Are you ok?” a small voice came from the corner.

“Ana?”

“I think you had a nightmare, Pim,” she said as she moved to the chair beside his bed.

I definitely had a nightmare, Slugger.

“You’re all sweaty, Pim. Do you need anything? Water? A nurse? I can go get someone,” she stood to leave.

“Please don’t. I’m ok, really. They’re just a bit unsettling – the nightmares, I mean.”

“I bet.” She hopped up on the bed beside him and snuggled into him.

“We haven’t done this in years,” he mused.

I kinda like it.

“I know,” she breathed. “I didn’t think I’d ever get to cuddle my big brother again, so if it’s ok with you, I’m gonna just lie here for a while.”

“Of course it’s ok, lil sis.”

He could tell she was crying, so he pulled her close.

“Wanna talk about it?” he asked quietly.

She shook her head, “No, thanks. Maybe someday, just, not today. I’m just glad you didn’t die on me, Pim. I really fell to pieces and I’m not sure how to recover. I dunno what I’d do without you, AJ,” she cried onto his chest.

“It’s ok,” he soothed, rubbing her back. “Let it out.”

“It all happened so fast. One minute you were fine and the next you were in surgery. I lost my shit, AJ. I really did.” She sniffed and used her sleeve to wipe her tears. “Lisa has been amazing, you know. You really should marry her. She’s… special.”

AJ smiled. “I know she is. I don’t quite believe that I deserve her, but that’s her decision to make, not mine. I love her with all my heart and I really hope someday she’ll marry me.”

Ana sat up and regarded her brother curiously, “Who are you and what have you done with my big brother?”

“What do you mean?”

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