As an unplanned experiment, she reached out to touch his hand and received an immediate jolt. Her eyes widened with an instantaneous understanding of the young man standing in front of her. “You have come a long way, Creed Young,” she surmised.
Just as surprised as anyone to see Meg up and around, Creed stood with his jaw slack and his eyes wide. All he could think to say was, “Meg?”
Her knowing fingers released his hand and reached to touch one of the holes in his shirt from the bullets he took for her. His eyes followed her hand. “Thank you for helping my family, and for helping me.”
Alik who was standing right beside Creed asked, “Meg? How are you feeling?”
Meg smiled beautifully at her brother, “I feel stronger than ever.” And before she turned to hurry down the corridor to her bedroom, she demurely grabbed the gown at her back to keep it from exposing any more skin to the eyes she knew were following her.
Margo, Theo, Paulie, Alik, Evan, Creed and Cole stood exchanging confused looks for a moment before Cole blurted out, “Okay, it could just be the pain killers talking here, but dang, did she look amazing or what?”
“Remarkable,” Paulie smiled at his fellow doctors.
“That was the fastest recovery I have ever seen. Meta, or not!” Theo’s eyebrows were still raised in the surprised position.
“I don’t think it was just the medicine working here,” Evan said thoughtfully.
“Boy, you don’t know how right you are,” Margo said breathlessly.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Creed asked.
Too steeped in thought to answer Creed directly, Evan walked to his computer and began working. “I have a theory, but—mom, did Meg seem different to you? And I don’t mean different from her comatose state. I mean changed from the way she behaved prior to her illness?” Evan asked without looking up from what he was typing.
“Evan, Meg’s gift seems to have—changed,” Margo was still staring down the hallway where her daughter was moments before.
“Changed?” Evan asked. He stopped typing and turned to look at his mom. His honey eyes were crisp with excitement. “Could you mean evolved?”
Margo exchanged a look with her youngest son that spoke louder than words.
“I need to work for a few minutes. I’ll meet everyone in the living room; please don’t start the family meeting without me.” His back was turned to everyone while his fingers flew across the keyboard as if possessed.
The group began walking back toward the other side of the house—most of them lost in their own thoughts until Theo broke the silence. “Margo, can you tell us what’s going on?”
“Let Evan and Meg explain it. I just have a hunch right now, but what I can tell you is that Meg is even more vibrant than she was before. She’s stronger, more capable.”
“Meg’s awake.” Creed whispered to his still tingling hand where she had just touched him. He felt a surge of joy and fear all at once as he quietly brought his hand to his lips.
True to her word, Meg walked into the living room fifteen minutes later with Maze nudging against her bare feet. She gently rubbed his ears and was careful to avoid his still-tender and healing wounds from just a couple nights before. Maze stared adoringly up at her and whimpered happily at her touch.
Fresh from the shower, she was wearing blue jeans and a simple pink T-shirt. In her hands was a towel she was using to squeeze the excess water from her long wet hair. Defiantly, her dark curls bounced right back out of place after being tugged on.
She looked radiant. The whole household sat expectantly. There was an air about her and everyone in the room could feel it. Meg had changed.
58 I Have Evolved
“Thank you all for meeting me in here,” I began, but noticed my youngest brother wasn’t present. “Where is Evan?”
“I’m right here, Meg,” a voice came from the hallway with the sound of a few quickened steps. Evan was grinning as he sat next to me with papers in his hands.
Everyone was staring at me expectantly so I began. “I need to ask for your patience while I try something. I’ve been out of it for the last week, and I can only imagine at this point all that you have gone through in your efforts to help me get better. Rather than you explain from the beginning what part each of you played in the events as they unfolded, I would like to try something, so please bear with me.” I stood and carefully draped my wet towel over the back of my chair.
“May I start with you, mom?” I asked.