Page 103 of This Feeling

The sound of the door opening and clicking shut had me squinting my eyes once again. A woman I’d never seen before was moving around the room. A nurse, I assumed. I tried to open my mouth to say something, but it was too dry. I somehow managed to clear my throat, which caused her to turn and look at me. She walked up to the bed and leaned over.

“You’re awake, Mr. Gallagher. How do you feel?”

I moved my lips and finally got out a single raspy word. “Harper.”

She smiled. “She’s in the waiting room. Let me have the doctor come in and check you over. Your parents and brother are here, as well. Should I send your mom in first?”

I shook my head. “Harper.”

She smiled again. “You’ve got it. Here’s some water. Can you lift your head a bit?”

Holding out a cup with a straw, she used her free hand to help me up just enough to get a tiny drink. The cool water felt like heaven going down my dry throat.

“Thanks,” I rasped out.

“You’re welcome. Now, take it easy and let me go get the doctor.”

I nodded, and even that tiny movement felt like a bomb went off in my head. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep until I felt a light touch on my arm.

Opening my eyes, I saw a man standing over me this time. “I’m Dr. Wilson, Declan. How are you feeling?”

“Like hell,” I whispered. “What happened?”

“Well, you rushed into a building that was on fire. You didn’t have the proper gear. That was a mistake.”

I slowly nodded. “I see that now.”

He chuckled. “Since you didn’t have safety gear, you suffered from smoke inhalation, which in turn triggered a heart attack.”

I felt my eyes go wide. “But I don’t have any heart issues.”

“No, youdidn’t. But the lack of oxygen supply to your heart caused the heart attack. It was mild, if that’s any kind of good news.”

“Shit!”

He smiled. “Yeah, shit.”

“Did it cause any damage to my heart?”

“Nothing long term, but in the short term, you’ll have some headaches, possible confusion, drowsiness. You’ll want to take things easy…no marathon running when you leave the hospital.”

“Gavin and James?” I asked.

“Gavin’s going to be okay. He suffered from smoke inhalation, as well. We admitted him because, on the scene, the paramedics were worried he might have some lung issues, but he was actually in shock.”

“Shock?” I asked.

The doctor nodded. “Yes, smoke inhalation can certainly cause shock. He was very weak and dizzy, he started to vomit, and his breathing became rapid. The paramedics brought him in because of those symptoms. But his lungs sound good, and his heart does as well.”

“Good. I’m glad.”

“James is in the waiting room. He’s fine, a couple of scrapes and bruises that were treated at the scene,” the doctor added.

“Can I see Harper now?” I asked.

The nurse, whom I hadn’t even realized was in the room until now, spoke up. “You’re in the ICU, Mr. Gallagher, so only one visitor at a time. Your mother’s been pretty insistent about seeing you.”

“I don’t care. I want to see Harper first.”

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