Page 660 of One More Kiss

Chapter3

Beep.Beep. Beep.Beep. Beep. Beep.

A bright white light shines in my face. I squint to see what’s causing it, but my eyes feel heavy. Blinding light or not, I need to find the constant beeping noise and make it stop.

If only I could keep my eyes open long enough to find out where I am. I can hear both of my parents. My mom sounds worried as she apologizes for leaving.

“Hi, baby,” my mom says, sighing. “Sorry I had to leave for a bit, your dad convinced me to go home and take a shower, but I’m back. I’m right here.”

I can feel my mom’s hand in mine, but I can’t see her or Dad. This light is so fucking bright.

Why can’t I see them? Did I go blind?No. That can’t be it. That doesn’t make any sense.

I’m dreaming. There’s no other explanation. With everything inside me, I try to force myself awake.

My mom gives my hand a little squeeze before I feel her pull away.

No. No. No. Come back.

A wave of déjà vu comes over me when I remember the time Lennon and I got separated from our parents at Disney World. Mom and Dad were grabbing drinks and Lennon started to walk away. I went to grab her, and we got lost in a sea of people.

Like I did when I was ten, I scream for my mother. Overwhelming panic fills me when no sound comes out. Over and over, I call for her and every single time, there is silence from my lips. The more I try, the weaker I feel.

“This isn’t fucking fair.”

Lennon?Lennon’s here too? Looking around, I search for my little sister, hoping she’ll be the one to break through this blinding light. She’s going to need my help. We’ll find Mom and Dad together, just like we did when we were kids.

“This is not the time or the place for this, Lennon.”

“Right, because it’s my fucking fault Lochlyn got into a car crash.”

My eyes flash open, and I try to say something, anything, only to find myself intubated with tubes. The beeps I heard in my head seem to pick up in speed. Looking over frantically, I realize they’re coming from the machine monitoring my vitals. I’m in a hospital.

I gargle on spit and make an incoherent noise, grabbing the attention of my mother.

“Lennon, go get a nurse.” My mom leans over grabbing my hand again. “Hi baby. I’m right here. Wait, just one second, baby. Save your strength. Lenny went to get a nurse.”

Turning my attention to my mom, I feel my heart sink when I see her. Her red hair is thrown up in a ponytail and there isn’t a trace of makeup on her face; the absence only highlights the heavy black bags set under her green eyes.

The longer it takes for my sister to come back, the more anxious I become.

“Well, good afternoon, Sleeping Beauty,” a voice I don’t recognize says from the side of me. “I’m Jenny, one of your nurses. It’s nice to see those hazel eyes I’ve heard Milo talk so much about. Let’s get this tube out.”

Jenny explains the process of extubating as she leans over the bed and begins suctioning down the breathing tube, then my mouth. She tells my mom and dad that she’s about to take down the “air balloon” in my trachea and then remove the tube. As I cough, she pulls the tube out and places an oxygen mask over me.

Pressing a button on the side of my bed, the back of my bed raises, allowing me to see my parents. I can’t wrap my head around how but they both look older. There’s a lot of grays peppered in my dad’s black hair and he’s wearing glasses. The worry lines on his face are more prominent—something I’m sure my current situation doesn’t help.

My mom and I have always had a decent relationship, but my dad and I are two peas in a pod. I want to work with animals because I’ve watched his career as a Fish and Game Officer. He taught me everything I know about football—a sport we both love. We have the same laugh. We both love iced coffee with a little too much cream and sugar.

Coffee sounds delicious right now.

Which is why as soon as Jenny pulls the oxygen mask off my face, I ask if I ask for one. When I do, I barely recognize my own voice. Jenny stops fiddling with the IV I hadn’t yet noticed was attached to me to chuckle at my request.

“All right, sweet pea, any minute now Dr. Chaudhary should be peeking her head in. She can answer any questions you have about your surgeries. For now, I’m going to ask you a series of questions, don’t worry if you don’t know the answer, and your throat might be sore. We’ll get you that iced coffee as soon as Dr. Chaudhary clears it. Are you ready?”

I want to ask what she means by “surgeries,” but I nod and brace myself, though, I’m not exactly sure for what.

“Can you tell me your full name?” Jenny asks.

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