“WHERE IS HE?”
Startled, my eyes shot open. Blinking I looked around, and realized I was in the hospital.
Suddenly the door swung open revealing a puffy eyed Luke, holding a coffee.
“Oh, hey,” he greeted, “You’re up.”
“What’s going on?” I demanded, “What happened? Where’s Michael? Why am I here?”
“Um….” Luke said slowly, sitting down in a chair next to me, “I….uh… I don’t know what you want me to answer first.”
“Where’s Michael?” I demanded.
Luke looked down sadly.
“Where’s Michael?” I repeated.
“Ashton,” Luke mumbled.
“Where is he?” I snapped, swinging my legs over the side of the bed, and pulling the Iv out of my arm.
“Ashton!” Luke shrieked, “You can’t do that!”
Placing my hand over my arm which was not bleeding I rose to my feet, only to have the ground tilt, everything around me spinning.
“Ashton,” Luke sighed, pushing me back onto the bed gently.
“What’s going on?” I demanded, squeezing my eyes shut, trying to stop everything from doubling in front of me.
“You have a really bad confession.” Luke informed me.
“What?” I asked.
“Or is it concession?”
“A concussion?” I demanded.
“Yeah!” Luke cried, sending a shooting pain through my skull, “That!”
“How long have I been out for?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” Luke sighed, “When they let me in here the big hand was on the twelve and the little hand was on the three.”
Glancing up at the clock on the wall which now read nine thirty, I tried to stand up again however Luke pushed me back down.
“Where’s Michael?” I demanded.
“He’s…. Ashton, he… it’s not your fault.”
“Where is he Luke?” I pleaded, “Tell me!.... please.”
Looking down at the coffee cup in his hands, Luke took a shaky breath before answering, “He’s in a comma.”
“A coma?!” I cried, standing up.
“Ashton sit down!” Luke snapped, gently pushing me down.
“No, he’s gonna be okay right?” I asked, “He… he’s going to be fine? I… I have to see him!”
“No, not right now Jess just got here, he’s with her.”
“This is all my fault!” I cried, burying my face in my hands, “He was…. He pushed me out of the way, he saved me! That should be me!”
“Don’t say that.” Luke sighed.
“It’s true!” I sobbed, “I wish it were me.”
“Ashton stop,” Luke whispered, looking close to tears.
“Why?” I demanded, “Why would he do that?”
“Do what? Save you?” Luke replied, “I would have done the same thing and so would Calum and you would have done the same thing for us, that’s what family does for each other.”
