Awakening Read Free Page A

he doesn’t notice and push further.
    “Tell me about your dreams, Pea.  What was it like?” Danny asks, leaning back in the chair and kicking his feet up on my bed.  He looks genuinely interested.  I’ve been caught.  He won’t be so happy when I tell him.
    I fidget in my bed, putting the pizza plate on the side table.  I need to tell him something, but not everything; not until I figure the rest of this out tomorrow with Skylar.  I decide to start with something he can understand without giving the biggest thing away.
    “Danny, you died.  In my dream, I mean, you died.  I buried your body and grieved the loss of our love.  It was horrible, one of the worst things that could ever happen,” I say, telling God’s honest truth.  “Everything in my life changed.  I had to learn how to live without you, breathe without you.”  Remembering how I felt in my dream, the tears are welling up.  Looking over at Danny, I can see a slight glaze building up, blurring the beautiful ocean blue of his eyes.
    Danny puts his feet down, gets out of the chair and climbs into my bed; cradling me like I’m a child just as Skylar did moments ago.  The position is similar but the feelings are completely different.  I shift in his arms to lay my head on his shoulder. 
    “Pea, I’m right here.  I know how scary this must all be for you.  It was scary for us, too.  Sky and I have been here almost the entire time you were sleeping,” he says, gently rubbing the back of my head, “But I’m here, so don’t worry.  Okay?”
    I nod my head in agreement even though the only thing I’m doing is worrying.  Danny’s touch is comforting.  It always was.  But Skylar’s touch?  It’s magical. 
    There used to be a time, I guess not too long ago, when Danny would touch me and I would feel a spark but with Skylar I feel a current; like being zapped by an electric fence.  Sitting here with him now, having his hands on me, I don’t know what I feel.  Guilt?  I feel like I’m cheating on Skylar by allowing another man to touch me.
    Letting out the emotions that have compounded my heart, I let the tears fall freely into my lap as Danny continues to hold me.  Was Skylar right?  Would it be wrong to hurt Danny?  On the other hand, can I live my life in a marriage with one man, while I’m in love with another?  There really is no right answer.  Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.
    As he reaches for the nightstand, a young looking woman comes in wearing a white lab coat and a badge on her lapel.  I’m thinking she must be a med student.  From what I remember of this hospital, the doctors are usually old and ugly, but not her.  She’s gorgeous and I might be feeling a little jealous of her perfectly manicured nails, shiny dark hair and brown eyes, with a tinge of green mixed in.  Just looking at her makes me realize that I’m in desperate need of a shower, some makeup and a nail appointment.  I need out of this hospital.
    “Good evening, Mira.  I’m Dr. Byrum, the resident on duty tonight,” the young doctor says, while scrolling through a tablet. “The attending left a few notes in your chart that I wanted to go over with you and your boyfriend.”
    Almost correcting her for referring to someone else, other than Skylar, as my boyfriend, I nod my head, giving her permission to continue.
    “It looks like you’re going to be with us for a few weeks while we assess your condition.  You were hurt pretty badly and we need to make sure that all of your injuries are healed.  You are going to need some looking after once you leave.  Is there somewhere you can go until the Physical Therapy Department releases you from their care?”
    Before I can respond, Danny chimes in, “She’ll be discharged into my care.”
    “Danny, really, I can go home with Kylee or go back to my mom’s.  You don’t have to look after me,” I protest.  I sense he feels a responsibility to take care of me but I don’t know if I