Summer’s other hand rests on our joint hands.“Hey, why don’t I walk up with you, and I will wait outside until they kick you out of the room?”
I hate how vulnerable and weak I feel right now.Still, I ask, “You won’t leave?”
Another tear slips down her cheek as she sucks her lower lip into her mouth.She slowly shakes her head before clearing her throat.“I promise.I will wait for you.”
“Is that okay?”I ask the doc.
Sympathy fills his eyes as he nods, so I jerk my chin up and let him lead the way, hoping like hell my brother is still my brother.
I don’t want my last memory of him to be him in pain.I heard the doctor, I understood it, but I just keep seeing the blood, hearing his shaky breaths as he tried to keep it together instead of breaking down.
This feels like a dream, as if my hope has manifested him being okay.I can feel the throbbing in my hand, so I know I’m not dreaming.Still, I have to see him for myself.
“Will he be awake?”Luke asks as we get off the lift.
“It depends.He is on heavy pain medication.He was coming to when I left him earlier.”
My head snaps up.“Earlier?”
The doctor nods.“Yes.”
“Are you saying you could have put us out of our misery earlier?”Luke bites out.
“Did a nurse not come and tell you that I would be down to talk with you?”
Summer clears her throat.“Yes.She did.She explained the surgery went well but that’s it.”
The doctor, whose name I’ve already forgotten, let’s out a breath, stopping at the nurse’s station.Anger is rolling off both Luke and I.It’s pulsing to the point I don’t know which one of us will lash out first.“Okay, I know this is upsetting, but please look at it this way.If your brother had been brought in second, would you be okay with me talking to the family of the first patient, or would you want me to help your brother?”
I glare at him and the sense he’s spewing.“Now I feel like a prick.”
He smiles.“Don’t.It’s fine.You have a family member you are worried about.”
“Sorry.”Luke grimaces, unable to meet the doctor’s eyes.
“Now, Isaac will be in a lot of pain despite the medication he’s on.He probably won’t even remember you being here or what has happened, so be patient.Please try not to panic him or make him laugh.”Both Luke and I nod.“He is in room b.You have ten minutes.He needs rest.”
Summer lets go.“I’ll wait here.”
I brush the back of my knuckles down her cheek.“Thank you.Thank you for being here.For...just thank you.”
“Go see your brother.Tell him I said I hope he gets better soon.”
“I will,” I assure her, then lean down, pressing my lips to hers before following my brother.
Walking into the hospital room, I knew what I would see, yet the first sight of him laying in that bed, looking so small and vulnerable, really takes me aback.It hits me how close we were to losing him.Fuck, during the agonizing wait, I thought we did.It felt like we did.The hope had nearly suffocated me, yet I clung to it, praying he would be okay.
“Hey,” Luke gently greets, placing his hand on Isaac’s knee.
Groggily, Isaac reaches up, pulling the mask over his face off.“D-did you...”He clenches his eyes shut.“P-please tell me we got him.”
My throat tightens as my head hangs.“I don’t give a fuck about Black right now.Neither should you.”
“I— I didn’t think I w-would see you two again,” he sluggishly states.
“We don’t want to be twins,” Luke declares jokingly, but I can hear the clogged fear in his throat and how badly he is trying to keep it together.
“Don’t ever do that again,” I plead.
