Page 17 of Midnight and Mine

I struggle to stay awake, but exhaustion pulls me under. The last thing I remember is smiling as I hear Mom telling Dad, “She’s the strongest person I know.”

“Love? Who wants tobe in love when I can play the field? We’re best friends. He has about as much interest in a relationship as I do, Vanessa.”

She looks at me like I’m plumb crazy.

“Are you kidding me? He’s had puppy dog eyes for you since we were teenagers. Give him a chance. We can all be together as a ‘couple’ group,” she says as she twirls her blond, curly tendrils. “Do you want him going home with another woman?”

“I don’t care. He can be with whomever he wants,” I protest, my voice salty with jealousy.

A guy comes up and circles Vanessa’s waist with his arms, kissing her cheek. “If Nessa and I can find our way back together, then you can explore a relationship with…”

Beep. Beep. The noise ramps up, getting faster, and I’m stuck between a state of consciousness.

Stay asleep. Who is Vanessa and this guy she’s talking about? Drake? Or someone else?

A large warm hand touches my arm, and it comforts me like a lullaby soothing a baby. “It’s okay. I’m here.”

I open my eyes to a dim room, the bathroom door slightly ajar. Light filters out, highlighting my friend Scott, who looks like an angel with golden light outlining his dark head of hair.

Am I dead? Is he an angel here to take me home?

“Hey. You okay? You were thrashing around, and you’re sweating.” He hands me a Styrofoam cup of ice. “I hope my touching you didn’t upset you. Or were you having a nightmare?”

“No, I was having adream.” I chew on a few small pellets of ice. “Or maybe a memory. Do I have a friend named Vanessa?”

Scott’s nods before he says a word. “You do. We do. She’s been one of our best friends since we could ride bikes. She was here most of the last two nights in the waiting room.”

For a moment, I feel safe and unworried, but then reality crashes against my rib cage, and my heart rattles desperately, wanting to feel the love I have inside for these people. If they love me enough to stay here all night, I should be able to remember something about them.

“Can you tell me about her? In my dream, she had curly, blond hair. Is that correct?”

“It is. She always hated it, wanting straight hair like yours.” He drops his chin into his chest, but I can see him smiling.

“Can I see her?”

“The doctors only let family in while you’re in ICU.”

My brows furrow and I ask, “Then why are you allowed in the ICU?”

“I’m… I’m your…”

Nurse Nancy peeks in. “Your OB/GYN will be here tomorrow during her rounds.”

He asks, “Do you know what time that will be?”

She glances at him and then to me. “Most doctors do their rounds early in the morning. But you never know with obstetricians who have to deliver babies. Now, I must insist on you eating, then it’s lights out.”

On cue, a nursing assistant rolls in a cart of trays and lays it on my table.

“Thanks.”

They both leave, and Ipeer at Scott. “Do you know if I like meatloaf?” I ask, taking off the plastic dome.

“They really want you to remember stuff on your own. But I will tell you that you’re one of the most adventurous people I know, so I’m sure you’ll at least try the food. If you don’t like it, I’ll get whatever you’re craving.”

I love his smile.

“So… I hate meatloaf, and this is your way of getting me to taste it,” I joke.

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