As I stare up at the blue sky, my eyes focusing and unfocusing on the random smattering of clouds, I swear I hear my name being called.

“Thea! Thea!”

It must be my imagination, because it sounds just like Aiden, but not like Aiden. My Aiden is confident, his voice unwavering and deep and commanding the attention of everyone around him. This Aiden doesn’t sound like that. This Aiden sounds frantic. Desperate.

As the edges of my vision become blurrier and the feel of Annalisa’s hand in mine weakens, the sound of Aiden’s voice gets louder, closer maybe. I don’t even get to answer him before I give in to the darkness.

29

The next little bit is fuzzy. My eyelids feel so heavy. I remember waking up in the hospital, seeing Aiden talking to some doctors in the hallway. I remember my mom sitting beside me, crying. I remember seeing the flowers that filled the room. But I don’t remember much else.

When the grogginess clears and I pry my eyes open again, I’m met with darkness. I’m lying in a bed that’s not mine, and when I turn my head I see Mom, sleeping in a big reclining chair beside me, illuminated by the moonlight coming through the window.

“Mom?”

My voice is rough, and I reach up to rub my throat but stop when there’s pulling on my arms. Needles and tubes are stuck in my hands and arms, and I’m grabbing one to try and pull it out when a hand stops me.

“Thea?” Mom removes her hand and rubs the sleep from her eyes, and she immediately tears up. “You’re up! How are you feeling? Oh honey, you had us so worried. You’ve been in and out for a few days.” She pulls me against her for a hug but it’s a bit awkward because of all the stuff in my arms.

“A few days?” My throat is still sore, and I try to clear it again.

Mom notices. “Let me call the nurse, she’ll get you some ice chips. It’s from the tubes they had in your throat during surgery. But don’t touch any of the needles in your arm, you need the IV.”

Surgery? Mom scurries around the bed and is out the door, the light from the hallway leaking into the room.

I lie there in the hospital room, letting the memories come back to me, and as the events of that afternoon flood my mind, my heartbeat increases and the beeps on the monitor beside me speed up. I remember the call from Andrew. Locking Aiden, Noah, and Mason in my room. Meeting Annalisa. My tires being popped. Meeting Tony. Shooting Tony.

Where’s Annalisa?

Mom enters the room with a cup in her hand and sets it on the table beside me. She notices the heart monitor’s loud beeps and her eyes widen. She rushes to me and smooths my hair away from my face. It’s almost odd, seeing her so worried, so concerned.