Page 138 of Things I Read About
Em?…That’s Canton 4 talking.
Wait, what?
Tell them what?
“Adrenaline.” Sally answers Samantha. I try to grunt but can’t. Sally’s voice keeps going. “Duty. He does this. He gets worked up in the moment and then later he takes it all back.”
“I wasn’t sure about him at first.” Jon Canton says. “Not until Skye told me how he carried you. He was shot, bleeding, could barely stay upright, but he wouldn’t put you down until they shoved a gurney at him.”
“It was unreal.” Sam sighs.
Sally sighs, but in a different way. “Exactly, not real. Adrenaline.”
“Sal, don’t you think the adrenaline had worn off by the time he went through surgery, woke up,removed his own catheter,hauled himself up three stories, in pain, half naked, half high on meds and dragging Shep by the IV bag? I mean, have you ever seen anything like it?” Canton 3, Skye. Skye laughs. They all laugh.
“I didn’t get to see theassets,” another sister says.
“I sure did. Congratulations, Sally.”
More laughing.
Assets as in my ass.
Fantastic. Just great.
I focus on opening my eyes but when I do that, I can’t hear. My body can’t handle very much right now, I guess? It sure can handle registering pain though.
I hear Sally again. “Don’t congratulate me. I’m telling you. It’s not real. We shouldn’t have moved him in here with me.”
“Matthew said it would be easier for now, better than dealing with Nate and Shep tag teaming the poor staff. After you talk to him, I’m sure he’ll move out if you want.”
False. I’m not moving out.
I try to reach out, feel with an arm, but I still can’t. I try to talk, but only a sigh comes out.
I know Sally’s right here next to me. Looking tiny and pale in that horrible bed. Bruised and bandaged with her hair back and her glasses on.
Because she took a bullet.
For me.
Sally, baby, I’m not going anywhere.
“Suze, call the nurse in, his heart is going berserk. They need to increase his morphine. And raise his head, too.”
I don’t want more meds, baby, I want to open my eyes. I want to see you. I want you! I…
oh, man, that feels much better…
_____
I try to open my eyes and this time they actually work.
“He lives,” Shep says, and I groan.
He’s too loud. And it’s too bright in here.
But then I look to my left and Sally’s right beside me. I don’t care about the rest.
