Page 234 of The Storm Boys Series Collection

I kept my eyes closed.

“The lights are low; things may appear dark. Open them, nice and slow,” Doctor Jillick said.

I did as she said. My eyelids felt heavy and I realised now that, yes, my eyes hurt too.

I was in a bed, there were white curtains for walls. A woman with dark hair and a stethoscope stood by the bed, observing me, and Mrs Larson stood at my feet with tears in her eyes. But there, holding my hand, was Tully. He looked tired and hopeful.

Beautiful.

“Hey,” I whispered.

He burst into tears and stood, pulling me in for an awkward hug, my face against his neck. His familiar scent and warmth made my head spin and my heart felt too full and jittery.

“Okay, he’s had enough excitement for one day,” Doctor Jillick said, urging Tully to pull back before she pressed buttons on one of the machines next to me. At least the beeping stopped.

Tully put his hand to my face and kissed me softly. He scanned my eyes, searching for something.

“Are they still blue?” I asked.

He grinned. “The bluest.”

Then Ellis and Mr Larson came through the curtain, surprised but happy to see me. “Lightning McQueen,” Ellis said. “You’re awake.”

Mr Larson elbowed him.

“Okay, this is far too many people,” Doctor Jillick said, checking her watch. “You have two minutes, then everyone has to leave. Even husbands, sorry.” She gave Tully a pointed nod. “This is the critical cardiac ward. Non-standard visiting hours apply.”

“Even husbands, Tully,” Ellis repeated with his usual grin.

Mrs Larson levelled him a look that shut him up. Even Mr Larson grimaced.

But something else...

“Cardiac ward?” I asked.

It was only then that I realised I had a chest full of sticky pads and wires.

Why was my brain so slow?

Doctor Jillick met my gaze, her stoic face giving nothing away. “Your heart stopped. You were wearing a heart monitor watch and a chest strap. We don’t have the numbers from the chest strap, but those watches give us all kinds of information. Your heart rate went from eighty, to one hundred and forty, to zero. Hard to tell if it was the lightning strike that caused your watch to stop or your heart, but given the accounts by your husband and the point of entry at your ribs, it’s likely.” She looked at Tully then. “His soreness is a direct result of the electrical entry and the shock to his heart, not from any attempt at compression.”

My heart stopped.

My heart.

Compressions?

I looked at Tully. “You...?”

He nodded and half shrugged. “I wouldn’t call it compressions. It was more that I punched your chest a few times because you weren’t...” He shook his head, tears in his eyes. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

Doctor Jillick shook her head. “I can assure you, Mr Larson, it wasn’t you.”

Tully nodded, and his chin wobbled. He didn’t look convinced.

I put my hand to his face.

“You were very lucky your husband was with you,” Doctor Jillick added.

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