If I had been holding her hand—
When the screech of skidding tires pierced my ears, I slowly turned around, scared to see what I'd find.
Evidently, there was another impatient friend in the bunch, and he flew around the patient driver, striking both my parents in an attempt to swerve around me.
I was on the sidewalk by the time I saw what had happened.
I was too young to understand what forever meant.
Spending forever without my parents.
Spending forever wondering who would take care of me.
Spending foreverwishing I could see them just one more time.
A hand on my knee startles me awake. I didn't mean to fall asleep. "Sir, you're here with August Taylor, right?"
I didn't know her last name was Taylor.
"Yes, Ma'am."
"She's awake now. She's fortunate. The doctors haven't spotted any damage or injury yet. They're still doing a few more tests, but you're welcome to go on in and visit with her now. I will warn you; she's fatigued, which is common."
By the time I make it into August's room, she has already fallen back asleep, so I take the chair, planning to sit with her until she wakes up or until someone kicks me out. I spot her belongings in a bag near the window, but I don't feel right going through her stuff to see if her phone is working. They said she's okay, so I'll give her a bit of time to decide whether she wants her family contacted.
After taking a little rest, I feel wide awake now, which leaves me watching August sleep, wishing I could ask her a million questions.
About a half-hour passes before her eyes flutter beneath her lids. Her eyelashes bat slowly, showing the energy she lacks to open her eyes all the way. I take her hand, knowing I shouldn't, but I want her to know she isn't alone right now.
My touch startles her. She opens her eyes and twists her head to look over at me. "Chance?" she questions.
"Hey, beautiful." I didn't mean to say that. She's not mine to talk sweetly too.
She mouths the word beautiful as if she's confused.
"How are you feelin'?" I try to veer away from my previous statement.
She exhales heavily. "I don't know what happened."
I still don't know if she ended up in that water on purpose or if it was indeed an accident.
"What's the last thing you remember?"
Her eyes shut for a long blink before reopening. "I—um—" She swallows hard, proving her throat must be dry. "I was just trying to throw a note into the water. It flew back against the bridge, and I tried to grab it."
"You fell in?" I question, praying that was the case.
"I think so," she says. Her legs squirm under the sheets. "I'm cold."
I stand up without thinking and poke my head out of the room, searching for a passing nurse. The nurses' station is just a few feet away, though. "Excuse me; August Taylor is cold. Could I request an extra blanket?"
"Of course, sir. We'll be right in."
A nurse is quick about following me in with a blanket. I help the nurse cover August, tucking the extra fabric underneath her legs. "Better?" I ask her.
"Yes," she says.
"Let me know if you need anything else," the nurse says before returning to her station.
