As The Coals Glow

Two Truths and a Lie

I wasn't quite sure how long the darkness kept me but eventually it slowly gave pieces of me back.
Feeling came first then the noxious odors of any sanitized hospital, I felt like puking when I first became aware of the heavy bleach odor.
It was quite a long while after my sense of smell I heard them.
They were arguing, part of my friend group was here with me. Dan, Phil, Cleo and eventually Jessy.
"Stop it Phil." Jessy snapped at her brother

"It's not a big deal, Jessy!" Phil whined

The kept on arguing about something until Dan's hand brushed mine, it wasn't long enough to even attempt to focus to try to send him a message. Suddenly I heard the familiar soundtrack and opening scene to one of my all time favorite movies; Stay Alive.
"Dan! Turn that smut off." Cleo demanded

"No. She likes horror movies." Dan mumbled

The argued for most of the movie, but I was beyond glad I could at least heard them. I heard Val come in as the end credits rolled his voice was no bullshit and stern "Everyone out."

I heard Phil and Jessy leave followed by Cleo. A Hand grabbed mine and squeezed it as I felt someone's lips kiss my hand. I focused allowing my gift to latch onto Dan. I showed him Everything from the ambulance accident to their petty squabbles that ruined my favorite movie. I felt Dan lift himself onto the bed as he laughed "Kig! Are you gonna wake up?"

Val spoke gently as I felt him going over my vitals "You sir are lucky."

"Me? Lucky?" Dan asked

"Mhm, She showed you her gift." Vals voice took a chipper tone.
I turned my focus onto Val and kept showing him the ugly Pink Volkswagen Beetle. "No, she didn't make it." Val patted my hand then released me and  mumbled to Dan "I think someone should perhaps tell her."

"I can't hurt her." Dan groaned.

I had no idea what they meant but over the next four days every time someone laid hands on me long enough I showed them Jake. Where was he? Was he okay? Why wasn't he with me? What did I need to be told?
No one told me anything except late on the fourth night while Dan snored and  Urban Legend Final Cut played somewhere in the room I heard the door creak open.
I didn't like someone sneaking in, not with Dan asleep, and damn sure not when I was utterly unable to defend myself. I laid in wait ready to let my gift manifest the trespassers worst fears, until he whispered "Hiya Kig, it's Richy."
Richy! You're alive! I thought and began silently pleading with him to grab my hand. When he did I focused on Jake, but unlike with anyone else I was showing Richy the last time he had seen Jake.
Cooper had followed us with his partner Smith Jacobs, if it wasn't for Cooper, Jake wouldn't have been able to get me out or save Richy.
Cooper had carried me while Jake helped Jacobs move Richy to their SUV. The next thing I saw from Richy was Cooper dragging Jake put of the ER. Jake fought covered in dirt, shiny pieces of glass and blood that wasn't his screaming to Richy "Tell Her! Damn it Cooper!"

No, no, no, no I panicked to myself. I reflexively made Richy turn me loose by showing him his worse fear; Losing Jessy and being alone.

"Kig, I'm sorry. You have to wake up and tell us what's going on. Please?" Richy whispered three times.

He attempted grabbing my hand again but I restrained my gift. He pleaded quietly for a while then snuck back out when Dan began waking up.
Time, which I had began tracking based on which friend came when suddenly became irrelevant.
Dan was always there, even after Val told us both that he was discharged but maybe we could do PT together.
Cleo had come every morning while a Raven sang its song of woe by my window, Thomas and Hannah came for lunches, then Jessy would check in after dinner.
I didn't show any of them anything for a whole day. It had began bugging Dan halfway through Cleos usual visit.
Cleo had told him not to Panic, which was best sense they didn't know anything about my unique gift.
Instead of Hannah and Thomas though Phil had come for lunch saying "Hannah will be by later with Jessy. Dan you really smell."