Page 21 of After All This Time

He’s changed from what I witnessed today.

I mean he’s still an ass, but it doesn’t annoy me to look at his stupid face with his annoyingly perfect features.

There’s something about Noah Kaplan I can’t put my finger on.

And it’s bugging me.

I’m in Lizzie’s room, trying my best not to stare at her too long, so I don’t cry. It doesn’t work. My eyes are glassy, and I can’t stop the tears from falling.

She’s lying there.

Her chest rises and falls.

The beeping of the machine that shows her pulse is something I will be hearing in my nightmares tonight.

Looking around the room, I can’t help but feel the soul-sucking air swirling around me.

Lizzie’s bed is against the back wall, leaving enough space for the doctor and nurses to make their way around the machines and do what they need to do.

I walk over to her, delicately placing my hand on her shoulder. “I know you can’t hear me, but I want to let you know I’m here. You’re going to wake up. I love you so much, Lizbug.”

Walking away from Lizzie, I find a giant cushy chair hanging out near the window with a blanket on the table across from it.

That’s not a hospital blanket.

I graze my hand over the soft and plushy material.

It’s a blanket from home.

How did she know?

Mom had to have known I’d show up because she wouldn’t have brought this with her otherwise.

I used to use this blanket all the time when I was younger.

Nostalgia floods through my brain like old DVDs playing on an endless loop in a DVD player.

Snapping out of my nostalgic acid trip, I grab the plush material with both hands.

There’s a pajama top gently folded on the big, long desk across from Lizzie’s bed. Something else I know my mom left for me because she’s that kind of person.

I make sure no one is coming in before I remove my tank top.

My bra is next.

Slinging both of them over the back of the chair, I put on the pajama top. The soft cotton feels so nice against my skin.

Sitting down on the chair, I drape the blanket over my body.

Before I know it, everything fades to black.

My eyes slowly open and it takes a bit for everything in my view to appear clear.

I lightly rub my eyes, stretching my arms out wide.

The sunlight is breaking its way into the hospital room.

“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty.” A deep voice says to me.

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