Page 157 of We Are Just Us

Samantha nodded. Looked at Kieran.

Kieran took a breath. “Okay.”

They walked in. And there he was.

Rory.

Lying in the hospital bed, propped up at a slight angle. Pale. So pale. His hair was still damp…they must have cleaned him up after surgery. The cervical collar was bulky around his neck, keeping his head immobilized. Tubes and wires ran from his arms to machines that beeped and hummed and monitored everything.

IV drip. Heart monitor. Oxygen sensor clipped to his finger.

He looked small. That was the thing that hit Kieran first. Rory, who was solid and strong and took up space, looked small in that bed. Fragile.

Kieran’s stomach dropped.

This was different from his mom. Different from sitting in those other hospital rooms, watching her fade over time.

This was sudden. Violent. A reminder that life could change in an instant.

But Rory was still here. Still breathing. Still alive.

Samantha moved first. Walked to the foot of the bed and gently touched Rory’s foot through the blanket.

“Rory,” she said softly. “It’s me. It’s Sam.”

Nothing. Just the beeping of machines.

Then Rory’s eyelids fluttered. Opened slowly. Unfocused at first. Blinking against the light.

“Hey,” Samantha said, her voice trembling. “Hey, you’re okay. You’re in the hospital. You had surgery.”

Rory’s eyes moved to her. Recognition flickered.

He tried to speak. His lips moved but nothing came out at first.

Then, a sound. Raspy. Rough. Like gravel scraping against pavement.

“Sam.”

It didn’t sound like him. Didn’t sound like Rory’s voice at all. The surgery. The intubation had left his throat raw.

Kieran’s chest twisted.

“I’m here,” Samantha said. “We’re both here.”

Rory’s eyes shifted. Found Kieran standing near the door.

Their eyes locked.

And the room went quiet except for the beeping.

Kieran stayed completely still, the ability to speak or move slipping entirely out of reach as he simply took it all in.

Broken. But alive. Here.

Samantha wiped at Rory’s forehead with her hand, brushing back his hair.

Rory’s eyes stayed on Kieran.