Troy worries his bottom lip between his teeth, the silver ring piercing glinting beneath the harsh hospital lights. “What’s the last thing you remember?”
I clear my throat. “I remember heading to Mom and Dad’s house, but... after that, everything gets fuzzy.”
Olivia’s brow furrows. “Wait,” she says carefully. “You really don’t remember anything?”
I shake my head, then immediately wince as a sharp pain throbs through my temple. “Not really. Just bits and pieces.”
Justin frowns. “Not even when you first woke up after surgery?”
“Surgery?” I echo.
Chloe’s eyes widen slightly. “It’s been a full day since you came out of surgery, Ash.”
My stomach sinks. I look between all of them, suddenly more disoriented than before.
“A full day?”
No one says anything.
“Oh, shit.” I push myself a little straighter, ignoring the ache flaring through my side. I turn toward Justin as realization dawns on me. “That’s right. Your birthday dinner. I totally ruined it, didn’t I?”
Justin shakes his head and reaches over to squeeze my knee. “Don’t worry about it, bro. You can make it up to me later.”
“You just woke up in a goddamn hospital, and you’re worrying about Justin’s birthday?” Olivia scoffs, crossing her arms. “It was serious, Ash. You were nearlycrushedto death.”
I sink back against the stiff hospital pillows, suddenly feeling exhausted. “I...” My voice catches. “I don’t remember any of that.”
A strange sense of dread begins to creep in.
I swallow against my dry throat and glance around the room.
“Wait.” My gaze moves from face to face. “Where are Mom and Dad?”
No one answers. Instead, they exchange another round of uneasy looks, like they’re silently debating who should speak first.
I let out a frustrated huff. “Tell me!”
Another heavy silence settles over the room.
Troy shifts in the chair beside me. He drags a hand down his face and pinches the bridge of his nose, drawing in a slow, steady breath. When he finally looks at me, his eyes are tired… and careful.
“When you first woke up after surgery,” he says slowly, “you were on some pretty strong pain meds.”
I frown faintly. “Okay…”
“You were pretty out of it,” he continues. “Didn’t really know what you were saying.”
My throat tightens.
“And?” I press.
Troy sighs. “You saw me standing in the room. And you… uh…”
“What did I do?” I demand.
He meets my eyes. “You called me your boyfriend.”
The room tilts. I stare down at the bedsheets, clutching the stiff fabric so hard it hurts. My heart hammers violently in my chest.
