Page 33 of Lucky Laces
Hopefully, that means mine will go back to normal too.
Yet, even as I think that, I know it won’t be true for some.There were casualties, injuries that will linger for a lifetime, families affected, people who’ve been traumatized.
Life will be normal.
And it will be forever changed.
I inhale.
Because I know which side of the gamut I fall on.
Soft breasts pillowed against my chest, the floral scent of Diana’s shampoo in my nose, fingertips running through my hair, lips coming oh so close?—
Then a phone call.
Then a rescue, a path through the debris blocking us inside cleared in record time.
Then an ambulance ride.
How will I ever go back to normal knowing what Diana feels like in my arms, knowing what she smells like, knowing what she looks like on top of me, even knowing what she sounds like when she sleeps?
I won’t.
I know it.
But none of that really matters…
Because life goes on.Finds normal, or a new normal, and?—
“Go on in, darlin’!”I hear, and my eyes jerk to the curtain just in time to see it tick back and for Diana to come through, her skin pale, black circles beneath her eyes, a bevy of small bandages on her face, her arms.
And she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
She’s holding two white paper bags and freezes when she sees I’m watching.“You’re awake.”
“Uh, yeah,” I say inanely.
She hesitates, teeth nibbling at the corner of her bottom lip then she seems to take a deep breath, seems to shore herself up, and steps into our private corner of the hospital, allowing the curtain to swish closed behind her.
“You’re not hurting any longer?”
“No,” I say.“They gave me the good stuff.”
“Right.”It’s a whisper.“I…I got your medicine.”She holds up the bag like it’s the grand prize of a raffle.
“You didn’t have to do that”—she didn’t have to do a lot of things—“but thanks,” I add before she can protest.
“Um.You’re welcome.”
Christ, can this be anymore awkward?
“Wife?”I blurt.
Spoiler alert: yes.
Yes, itcanget more awkward.
By me opening my dumb mouth.
