Chapter 37

Joe and Micah enter the hospital room. I wave them in but stay seated at her bedside, still clutching her hand. I never broke that connection because it feels like the second I let go, she will be gone forever.

"Did they have to wheel you into surgery beside her? You look like shit bro," Joe attempts to joke but just pats my back when he receives no laughs in response.

Micah sits down in the chair beside me, rubbing my shoulder, trying to soothe me in whatever way she can. "Mr. Rennet called her mom. They said that as soon as she was stable enough they would fly you guys to the hospital back home to be with Mrs. Jones."

"Sylvia probably fucking hates me right now. Probably wants to rip me to shreds for not keeping Claudia safe, and I know I absolutely deserve it." My voice comes out hoarse. I haven't had anything to eat or drink since just before I found her. I can't bring myself to because it means I would have to leave her and I just can't do that.

"Don't say that. You couldn't have known this would happen. In fact, she is probably grateful to you for saving her daughter's life," Micah gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before getting up to stand next to Joe. Joe tosses a brown paper bag into my lap. I look over at him for a moment before returning my gaze back to Claudia.

"You need to eat something dude. I know you haven't been. I can practically feel C screaming at me from inside my head to knock any type of sense into you." I nod, removing the bag from my lap and setting it in the chair beside me that Micah was previously occupying.

"Have you called anyone? Your mom? Does she know where you are, about what's happened?" Micah questions. I know I should have called her by now, but how on earth am I supposed to do that. She is already so worried about her sister and I can barely bring myself to even think about the situation we are in now. I just shake my head no, deciding it's best that I eat something, hoping it will encourage the two of them to leave me to my thoughts. They get the hint and give me a few hugs before disappearing back into the hallway.

--------

I'm sitting underneath the cheerful sun, petting the silky wisps of the bright green meadow beneath me. Few clouds cover the sky above me, letting the sun bathe me and the field in its radiance. It feels so nice and warm and kind. Like a gentle hug.

I play with the blades of grass for a little while longer, just content to be here in this extraordinary place. I hear shuffling behind me and turn to see my father smiling back at me. He is dressed in what he calls his Sunday best. We never went to church, but he always believed in looking nice when you go out into the world.

He sits down beside me, wrapping me in his loving embrace. We don't talk. We just sit under the sun, enjoying the scenery. I feel a dull ache in my chest. I try to ignore it. Nothing could be wrong at this moment. I am in a beautiful place, with my dad, just enjoying life. I can't remember the last time I felt this at peace with the world. The ache returns, shifting from dull to throbbing. I ball my hands up in the grass, trying to withstand the pain. I don't understand.

"It's okay honey. Don't worry. The pain will go away with time." I try to focus on his words but they become muddled and he looks fuzzy. It's the strangest sensation. It's like he is looking at me through a pool of water. The water muffles his voice and blurs his image. I struggle against the water, fighting it, trying to swim to the surface. I reach out for his hand, but he just waves at me as if he's letting me go. It isn't a temporary goodbye. It feels so much more permanent. I can't hold my breath any longer so I just let the liquid take over my lungs.

---------

She sits upright with an urgency I wasn't expecting. She starts coughing and dry heaving. I press the alarm button on the side of her bed to alert the nurses.

"C! C! Calm down, please. Calm down and try to breathe." Seeing her struggle and knowing I am unable to do anything but watch hurts, but that hurt fades away instantly once she catches her breath.

"Foster? What happened? Why are we here?" She grasps at the blankets in an attempt to pull them off. I get up, and pull her into my chest, raking my fingers through her hair, kissing her forehead, trying to confirm that this is real and that she is truly awake.

"I missed you so much. You were asleep for so long. I was so worried and scared that you weren't coming back. But you're here," I take a deep breath, inhaling her scent. She lays back against the bed, settling into me. I feel something wet hit my cheek. I look up but don't see any leaks.

"Foster, you're crying. It's okay. I'm here. I was never going anywhere." This time, she is the one who comforts me. I rest my forehead against her shoulder, continuing to breathe her in. It helps.

"Sorry C. I'm just so thankful and so happy that you are awake. I know you have a lot of questions and I have answers to those questions I swear. But I just need to hold you first for a minute if you can wait for me." Instead of nodding or saying yes she just clings on to me. It takes a minute. The nurses came, checked her vitals, gave a brief explanation of the state that her body is in, and then head out to retrieve the doctor.

"I know it's a lot. We were just at the lodge yesterday and we were skiing and enjoying our time with our friends. Then there was a freak accident and you got hurt. When Julia returned without you I panicked. I guess you veered down a path that was supposed to be blocked off but it wasn't and then I found you." I try to explain to the best of my abilities but feel the panic creep up through me. Claudia gives my hand a gentle squeeze. It isn't weak like before, it's strong and sturdy. She's okay now.

"I remember feeling a nudge or tug on my ski and the next thing I know I was going down a path and nobody else was there. I kept going because I couldn't believe that I had just gotten myself lost but then I guess I was and then I was on the ground." She recounts everything that happened before I found her. The stories and the information doesn't line up but I don't care. All I care about is her being here with me, alive.

At some point in the day, the doctor came and spoke with us about the injuries and gave us care instructions. Because Claudia had woken up and seemed to be coherent, the doctor decided that after one more night of observation she could go home entirely. She wouldn't need to be shipped off to another hospital. We could just go home and focus on her healing. We could see her mom and the cats and I would call my mom and let her know what happened. Micah and Joe came back at one point after they'd heard she was awake. Micah just sobbed and threw herself into Claudia's arms. Joe didn't say or do anything but we could see a look of serenity wash over his features once Claudia was within his line of sight.

The next thing we knew, we were back at home adjusting to the way our life was going to be for the next few months.