Page 51 of Reaching Hearts

“What?”

He laughs, more freely, then stops. “You don’t have it in you.” It sounds like a challenge.

“Yeah? Watch me.”

We sit here, neither of us speaking again. The awkward silences between us are always long and many. As always, he backs down first. “I’ll see you ‘round, Brendan. You take care now.”

“Bye.”

I hit the end-call button and dial Mark’s number immediately.

The difference between the two calls is like night to noon. “Tell me you ran off to Vegas and got married.”

Grinning, I walk back and forth a couple times, getting used to mobility, the cord of the IV trailing behind me. “I did. I’m married and we’re already expecting a baby. Will you please be the Godfather, oh Mark, you asshole you?”

He laughs. “Okay, so, you have fun? Are you at her place?”

“No. I’m in the hospital. I got shot.”

There’s a heavy pause on the other end of the line. “What?”

“I got shot. We got robbed that night. I’ve been in the SF General this whole time.”

His voice changes completely. “Are you serious, B?”

“Dead serious. Are you back home?”

“Just got in. What room are you in?”

“323.”

Without saying anything more, he hangs up. With the call over, I look at my phone and consider calling everyone else back, checking in with work, all that. But I decide not to and tuck it into my jacket again, then sit on the edge bed. I feel better. Stronger. The wound is doing alright, slowly beginning to heal, and it’s not infected, so this is just a matter of time now. I want to take it easy, but I’m going to push myself when I feel I can, make sure I don’t go soft. And thank God I’m not drugged up as I was on day one and two.

A knock at the door sounds and Annie peeks toward the bed, her long hair falling softly in front of her as she leans in. She sees me sitting here, my feet bare on the tile, and her eyes light up. “Oh! I wasn’t sure if you’d be sleeping.”

The prophecy Rebecca left lingering behind her, like poisonous fumes, is all around me as I watch Annie’s smile. “Hey. Come in.”

Wearing office-style clothes and looking very graceful and beautiful, she walks in with mischievous eyes. “It’s after visiting hours, but I told them I’m your sister.”