“You have to,” she said, her smile bursting over her face. “I insist. You have to see this.”
“But Delia—”
“Delia can suck it. Come on.”
I followed her upstairs to the rec room. It was full of doctors and staff, clustered in a loose circle. In the center was Thea. She wore pajama pants and a matching shirt. Barefoot, her hair tousled as if she’d just woken up. Her face was free of makeup and her luminous blue eyes looked as if they held all the happiness in the world.
She’s so fucking beautiful…
Alonzo stood off to the side, watching with a joyful smile on his face. Delia kept close to her sister, her expression wary, not daring to let herself be happy yet.
Anna led Thea around, introducing her to the people who had been taking care of her for two years.
“And this is Nurse Sarah,” Anna said. “You remember her?”
“I do,” Thea said. “Hi, Sarah.” The doctors all bent their heads to take notes as Thea threw her arms around the nurse’s neck. “I’m so happy to meet you. Again and for the first time.” She laughed, a ripple of pure joy that filled the rec room. “I remember all of this. All of you. It’s like a dream slowly coming back.”
My goddamn eyes stung, and I bowed my head, jaw clenched. The last time I’d cried was at Grandpa Jack’s funeral and I hadn’t done it since. But the tears that tried to get me now were different. Good. So good they scared me.
But I didn’t cry. I never cried. Thea was okay. She was there and she was okay. Free. I didn’t need anything more.
I can walk out of here with my head up.
I turned to go.
“I think that’s everyone,” Anna said. “Dr. Milton, would you like to—”
“Guns N’ Roses,” Thea said suddenly as if the name had been on the tip of her tongue and she’d just found it.
I froze.
“Sweet Child O’ Mine,” Thea said. “Oh my God, I remember.”
I turned around. Thea was walking between all the people, wending her way toward me. Her eyes wide and taking me in, a shy smile on her lips.
“And… Lady Gaga. One of my faves.”
My heart stopped then jolted again, double-time. Delia was scowling, but now Thea was singing softly, “I want your love. Love love love…”
She was all there. Standing right in front of me.
I waited for our usual script—one that we’d played out a hundred times.
How long has it been?
The doctors are working on my case.
Can I call you Jimmy? You have kind eyes…
“Hi,” Thea said.
I swallowed hard. “Hi.”
She cocked her head. Her gaze roamed my face, my eyes, my mouth, studying me. “You’re Jimmy. Right?”
I wasn’t wearing a nametag. Rita had pulled me out of the break room before I could put it on.
“Yeah.” My voice was gruff. “That’s me.”