by C.L. Mozena
*****
Orion awoke, dizzy and sore, to a world of white. Blurred vision gave him the impression of lying in the clouds. He could just make out the shape of a person sitting over him. He turned his head to get a better look, but still couldn’t make out who it was.
“Look!” a familiar voice called out to someone Orion couldn’t see. “He’s waking up!”
“Calm down, Tanya, or you’ll get him worked up.” Orion recognized the second voice.
“Josh?” Orion asked, barely audible. He knew his brother was there, although he couldn’t see him.
“Oh, Orion,” the first voice sounded so sad. Orion felt warmth on his left cheek. He focused harder on the figure, and saw, to his great surprise, Tanya sitting next to him, her hand on his cheek. “Thank goodness you’re awake. I was so worried!”
“Am I dead?” Orion asked, whispering.
“No, silly,” Tanya half smiled, “but you came really close.”
“Then I must be dreaming,” Orion tried to move, but pain shot through his body, and he grimaced.
“You’re not dreaming, Orion,” Tanya said, “Don’t try to move. You’re in pretty bad shape.”
“But you’re talking to me as if you like me. You’d never do that in real life.” Orion remembered the encounter with Tanya that resulted in her throwing things at him. Tanya sighed.
“Orion,” she began, not sure what to say, “I did a lot of things that I wish I hadn’t.” She paused, looking deeply into his bright blue eye, and remembered when she had been the one lying in the hospital bed. “I’m so sorry,” she closed her eyes. “I had taken your kindness for granted. It hurt when you started ignoring me. When I saw you lying there in the hospital bed unconscious, something struck me inside. I realized that I cared about you.” She gazed into his half-bandaged face. “I realized that I-,” she bent over him, “I-.” She didn’t have a chance to finish her sentence as her lips met his. She tenderly held his face as she pressed her mouth to his.
“I love you, Orion,” she whispered as she pulled away. He didn’t hear her, though. He had fallen asleep again.
