Both asleep.
Both safe.
I exhale in relief. It makes me forget the pain for a moment. Instead, my chest becomes tight and my throat closes up.
They’re okay.
They’re alive.
They’rehere.
But... they shouldn’t be here.
Shouldn’t see me like this.
Whatever “this” is.
I try to lift my left hand again.
Agony.
It won’t cooperate.
Bandaged.
Of course it’s bandaged.
I reach for the call button with my right hand again. Find it after fumbling against the bed rail. Press it again.
Wait.
Still nothing.
I press again. Harder.
Where the fuck is she?
The door opens. Finally. A nurse I don’t recognize. Young. Efficient looking.
“Mr. Fiore?” Her voice is too loud. Way too loud.
I glance at the corner. Jess stirs slightly. Ben doesn’t move.
Fuck.
I need to get them out before they wake up.
Before they see me like this.
A shadow of my former self.
“Morphine,” I whisper. Or try to whisper. My voice comes out wrong. Wet and garbled like I’m talking through a mouthful of ground beef. “Fuckingmorphine. Now!”
“I need to check your vitals first.” Still too loud. Why is she so loud?
If she wakes them up I’m going to strangle her...
“Keep your voice down,” I hiss. “And I don’t give a fuck about my vitals. Get me the morphine or get me someone who will.”
