Free Falling ( Book One: Gravity)

“Ok, your mother and I are going to wait in the waiting room; the nurses said that you can’t have more than four in the room at a time.”


A few minutes later, Deanna, Karl, Randy and Chris were there. Deanna was shocked by my appearance and immediately started tearing up. “Sam, I……I,” was all she could get out without crying. She put her hand to her mouth and sat in one of the chairs. Well, that didn’t make me feel any better about myself. Karl smiled weakly to mask his emotions as he sat beside Deanna and put his arm around her.

“We’re really glad you’re ok,” Randy said.

“Yeah, we came down here right away to check on you when AJ called,” Chris said shyly as he shoved his hands into his pockets. I was grateful for all their sympathy, but I couldn’t stop worrying about AJ.

“Thanks, really.” I paused. “Have any of you seen AJ?”

They all shrugged and shook their heads ‘no’. I sighed and leaned my head back. “You want me to call him for you?” Karl offered.

“Please,” I responded quickly.

AJ didn’t answer the first time, so I begged Karl to try once more. The second time, he finally picked up.

“Yeah. Where’re you at? Sam’s askin’ about you,” Karl said after AJ answered. He listened before responding. “I’m on my way,” he said and then hung up the phone. He turned to Randy and Chris. “I think we should go check on him. He doesn’t sound too good.”

“What did he say?” I asked frantically.

“Not much, but I’ve just known him long enough to know when something’s not right. Don’t worry about it though, we’ll check on him and bring him back with us.” He turned to Deanna. “You staying here?” He asked her.

“Yeah, but call my cell as soon as you know something,” she replied. He nodded and they turned to leave.

“Wait,” I called out. “Where is he?”

“He’s somewhere out by his uncles house on the edge of town.” I was relieved that he was at least somewhere safe. He’d gone to our spot.

Deanna kept me company for the next two hours when I wasn’t dozing off from the medication. My parents had come back and fallen asleep sitting in their chairs. Deanna and I both jumped when we heard her phone ring. She answered it quickly. “Is everything Ok? I couldn’t hear what Karl was saying on the other end and it was driving me crazy.

“Good. Are you guys on your way back?” She inquired. “Ok, see you in a few.” She turned to look at me. “They’ll be here soon, Karl said for me just to come out when AJ gets here. I promise I’ll be back tomorrow though.” I was glad that she’d be here with me again. She made it easy to forget about my circumstances and that was exactly what I needed.

Half an hour later, AJ walked through the door, seemingly distraught. I wanted to talk to him about the news the doctor gave us, but didn’t want for my parents to overhear. He stood over me and looked into my eyes with the hurt still visible on his face. “Sorry I left; I just had to clear my head,” he whispered slowly.

“I was just worried,” I replied. I grabbed his fingers loosely, wanting to be closer to him somehow.

He sat down and rested his elbows on the edge of the bed. Slowly and very cautiously he leaned in to kiss me and stroked my hair a few times. “Are you ok?” He asked quietly.

“I don’t know how to feel. It’s strange to find out something as monumental as that in the same instant that you find out that it’s over.” AJ closed his eyes as he processed my words. I closed my eyes and imagined what it would’ve been like, if the accident had never happened. Sadness crept up inside of me and my chest started to feel tight.

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