From what I pick up from the conversation, other than the concussion, my nose took a massive hit, but didn’t break, and my ribs are bruised from the seatbelt.
“My friends,” I speak suddenly, my throat parched, “are they okay?”
“They’re fine, honey,” she assures me with a pat on my hand, shooting daggers at my loud-mouth brother, “a little banged up like you, but they’ll be okay.”
“Can I have some water?”
“Of course. I’ll be back with the doctor like your brother requested.” She gives him a pointed look.
As soon as she’s gone, he’s back at my side, pulling a chair up to the edge of the white bed.
The covers are stiff against my body. Grabbing my right hand, he cradles it in his. There are a few scratches on top of my hand, but I have no idea how they got there.
“I could’ve lost you again,” his voice cracks, his eyes filling with tears.
“Sage.” My hand wiggles in his. I don’t know what to say. Sorry feels weak and pathetic, it’s not like this was planned, it just happened. “I’m okay,” I go with instead.
He rubs his other hand over his tired face. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you. Mom left me in charge of you, and I don’t think getting you nearly killed would make her very happy.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” I say, confused.
His face pinches. “I let you go. I should’ve said no.”
I roll my eyes. “It was a freak accident. I could get hit by a car on a crosswalk. You can’t control everything, no matter how hard you try.”
He winces. “Don’t say stuff like that, D.”
“It’s true,” I protest. “You can’t hide away because you’re scared of what could happen. You have to get out there and live. I had fun with
my friends. A deer ran out in front of the car. No one could’ve anticipated that.”
His lips quirk the tiniest bit. “Stop being logical.” I crack a smile and groan. “What?” His hands flutter around me. “What hurts?”
“My face.” I touch my cheek gently.
At that moment the nurse returns with a Styrofoam cup of water with a lid and straw, a doctor in a white coat trailing behind her.
I take the water from her gratefully and slurp it down. I have no idea how long I’ve been here, a few hours I assume, but my throat feels like it’s been days since I’ve had a drop of water.
The doctor explains the same things the nurse had, but tacks on that they’d like to observe me for a few more hours before letting me go home, and that I’ll also be sent home with painkillers.
I wrinkle my nose at that news. I hate taking pain pills. Most of the time they make me sleep the day away and that annoys me.
Sage nods along to everything the doctor says, asking questions here and there. Finally, after fifteen to twenty minutes of endless questions, my brother lets the man go.
When it’s the two of us once more, he looks at me with a slight smile and shake of his head.
“Do you think you could stop almost dying on me?”
I squeeze his hand. “No promises, but I’ll try.”
He exhales a weighted sigh. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Love me, even when I drive you crazy.” I feel tears burn my eyes, thinking of all the fear and turmoil my brother has endured because of me.
“Well, that’s easy enough, Weed.”
Chapter Fifty-Six