Fledgling

by Natasha Brown

  Now, as she stared at familiar scenery fly past her window while he drove, Ana turned to study Chance’s face. His features were tight and drawn, and she wondered what he was thinking about.

  ***

  Chance glared at the cloudy gloom outside; the weather matched his mood. While he drove up the hill, he recalled that earth shattering night Ana revealed her secret.

  After he left her house, he’d sped home to tell his family. His mother was saddened and grilled Chance on Ana’s condition so she could teach him more about it. But he sat with deaf ears, unable to hear anything.

  Niyol remained silent and offered no response. That night, he took Chance out for an evening hike so they could talk, although that did little to calm Chance’s fears. Grandfather couldn’t offer him what he wanted. Maybe he wanted too much.

  He frowned and tightened his grip on the wheel and his knuckles turned white. Ana looked at him from the corner of her eyes, scooted closer and rested her head on his shoulder. He relaxed at her touch.

  “So, did you let the school know you’re going to be absent tomorrow?” Ana asked, her tone calm and light.

  “Yeah. Turned in a note. Also printed out the directions and filled up the truck. Ready.” But the tone of his voice said otherwise.

  “So am I. I have everything I need packed in my bag.” Ana touched his arm and said, “Don’t forget, I’ve done this plenty of times before—it’s old hat.” She sat up and played with her necklace between her fingers, regarding him from the corner of her eye.

  “Right. . .I keep forgetting.”

  His fingers grasped the wheel so tight they blanched from pressure. The familiar sloped roof came into view and Chance visibly relaxed when he saw it, exhaling with a soft hiss.

  After they popped into the house to greet his father and grandfather, they went outside to take one last walk before their road-trip the next day.

  The habitual walk always satisfied. There was no need to ask any longer; it was assumed they wished to be outside together.

  “Are you nervous?” Ana asked Chance and reached for his hand as they started on one of the trails that led south down the mountain through a dense grove of pine trees.

  Chance grabbed Ana’s fingers. His thumb brushed hers in a skittish movement as he said, “A little.”

  “I’ll be fine. It’s just a simple procedure. I’ve done it plenty of times.” She rubbed his shoulder with her free hand.

  “I know. I just hate thinking about you lying helpless. I just don’t like it,” he frowned.

  Chance slowed down. This was the point in the trail Ana usually required a rest. He turned with a softened expression and caressed her cheek, which evoked a shiver down her spine like a feather drawn down her back.

  “Thanks for caring.” Ana kissed his cheek affectionately, trying to lighten the mood.

  “Of course I do.”

  He cared so much it hurt. Chance pulled her near and stared at her lips. He held off, waiting to see if she was ready. Ana leaned in, and brushed her lips against his. His hands grasped her shoulders while he attempted to control his hunger. If he didn’t, he’d wind up hurting her delicate heart. He withdrew slowly and his eyes focused on the trail. He dug his hands into his pockets and said, “I want to take you someplace new. It’s just up ahead. Take another minute to rest and I’ll lead you there.”

  His eyes traced the branches above as they sat on some mossy stones that lined the worn trail. Distracted by mountain jays flitting between trees, the forest seemed to help relax Ana’s body. She stood and Chance darted to her side almost immediately.

  “Ready?” Chance drew pleasure from whispering in her ear and seeing the goose bumps that raised on her arms.

  He led her to a rocky embankment that formed a high craggy peak. “Hold on. Wait here a second—I see something I want to get you.”

  Chance climbed up the rocky ledge behind them. He scaled the embankment like an experienced mountaineer and quickly reached an upper precipice thirty feet above her.

  He examined something at his feet, leaned down and picked it up. Then he turned to climb back down and descended the rocky face. Rocks tumbled free. Chance flung himself aside from the falling shale. Chunks just missed his head, but hit his forearm and ricocheted off.

  “Careful, Chance!” Ana alerted too late.

  He continued his descent and made his way down to Ana within moments. She rushed over to him and grabbed his arm to inspect the injury.

  Ana’s voice rose with anxiety. “Are you hurt?”

  “Oh, don’t worry—it’s nothing.” Chance tried to pull his arm from her grasp, but she wouldn’t relinquish her hold. Her strength surprised him.

  She straightened his arm to determine how bad the injury was. A long scrape ran along his forearm. The top layer of skin was razed off and blood covered the wound.

  “We should go back so we can dress your cut. Maybe your mom has something to put on it,” Ana said and tried to pull him back up the trail.

  Chance held his ground and grabbed her arm. “It’s okay, Ana. Don’t worry. It’s really not that bad. I’ll be fine. I heal fast. Plus, I have something for you.” He held out his hand. In it was a long feather. “It’s a golden eagle feather. The nest is up the mountain. Sometimes feathers drop down.”

  She accepted the gift and said, “Thank you.” Then she glanced back down at his arm and crinkled her brow. “Um—that looks like it hurts. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yes, don’t worry about me.” Chance adopted a cool expression and shrugged. Then he leaned in and kissed her sweetly on the nose before rubbing her back and asking, “So, are you up for seeing one more thing? No more injuries, I promise.”

  Chapter 20

  Early the next morning, Chance waited for Ana at the kitchen table with a full plate of toaster waffles, a banana, yogurt and a tall glass of orange juice.

  Melissa provided him with a cornucopia of food. She pushed him down into the seat, smiled and waited for him to begin. Chance was restless but decided it would be easier to placate Melissa rather than reject her kindness. He grabbed the banana and forced down a couple bites before Ana appeared.

  “Want some breakfast? I have plenty,” Chance asked, not wanting the responsibility to clear his plate to fall wholly on him.

  “I can’t,” Ana said and cringed.

  Chance cursed to himself. “Damn. That’s right—I’m sorry. I forgot you can’t eat anything.” What an insensitive jerk he was. She couldn’t eat before anesthesia. As punishment, he force-fed himself while Ana went over some paperwork with Melissa, checking to ensure nothing had been forgotten. Melissa handed Ana a credit card to use for gas and to cover the payment at the clinic. She somberly hugged them both and gave Chance a grateful smile. Melissa’s eyes welled up and she rushed past Eva, who was clomping down the stairs one at a time and emerged with a sullen look on her face.

  Ana tugged her little sister to her and her gave a long embrace. “Don’t worry Eva. Everything will be fine. I’ll see you tonight—I promise. Have fun at school today, and say hi to Aunt Tera. I love you.” Eva wound her long arms around Ana’s waist and snuggled in for a moment and said, “I love you too, Ana.” Eva released her and wandered to the stairwell with a despondent backwards glance.

  Ana stared at Chance with a barren expression. Chance closed the gap between them and held her close while he caressed her back in little circles. He inhaled Ana’s delicious fragrance and imagined himself in the forest with her. Away from there. Away from the reality that he could lose her.

  ***

  Ana procrastinated while she gathered her bag. As she walked through the living room her eyes lingered on the painting over the mantle. She walked over and adjusted it, then touched the eagle soaring over snow-tipped mountains.

  Ana closed the front door behind her and stepped outside to join Chance. Too early for the sunrise, the dark morning beckoned her silently. Chance’s ebony truck shined in the
dark. The lights flashed on and the engine fired to life.

  As they turned out onto the highway Ana said, “Hey, how about a game of I Spy?”

  Chance nodded. “Yeah. I warn you though—I’m good.”

  After half an hour of playing, Ana lost severely, unable to spot anything Chance had.

  “Ugh! You’re impossible! I can’t see anything that matches your description! You have way better eyesight than me. I think I need to get my eyes checked.” She crossed her arms and said, “Maybe it’s time to play a spelling game.”

  While Ana thought about the next game, she glanced at Chance’s arm. “Hey, what happened to your scrape? It’s gone. . .” She touched his arm in confusion.

  Chance remained silent and grimaced at the highway ahead. “I told you it was nothing. Mom put something on it and it cleared right up.”

  Chance continued to stare at the black asphalt that curled through the wilderness. Ana thought he tensed in response to her question. She frowned at him. “Nothing heals that fast. I saw it—you had like a four-inch scrape on your arm. Where’d it go? You don’t have a mark of any kind.”

  Chance seemed irritated with her questions. “What can I tell you? I’m fine—obviously.”

  “Geez, if I healed as fast as you. . .” Ana cut herself short, unable to continue.

  Chance closed his eyes and winced. He reached for her hand.

  “I wish you could, too.” His strangled voice caught her up short.

  For the remainder of the drive they sat in silence. Ana slid over so Chance could wrap his arm around her.

  At the heart clinic, they walked hand in hand to the admissions desk. Chance sat in silence beside Ana as she signed forms and completed the necessary paperwork. He watched people pass by with a blank expression.

  When Ana rose, he clutched her cool, limp hand and walked with her into the elevator. An awkward hush fell in the cold iron vault. The doors chimed and opened, and they stepped out.

  Ana approached another desk where a girl, who looked barely older than herself, sat. The girl smiled and appraised Chance while she asked for Ana’s name. “If you go sit down, someone will be out to get you soon.”

  Ana walked to the outdated seating area. She was pleased Chance seemed oblivious to the receptionist’s attention. Then she noticed he seemed oblivious to everything. As though lost in a fog, his eyes appeared unfocused. She wanted to comfort him, but was too numb to try. Instead, she leaned against his chest. He wrapped her in his arms and she took a deep breath.

  “Ana Hughes?”

  Ana’s head snapped up and saw a woman dressed in blue scrubs with a clipboard. The nurse smiled at them and Ana reluctantly withdrew from Chance’s embrace.

  The nurse led them down a hallway lined with windows that blinded them with morning sun light. She pulled a badge out, paused at an indistinguishable door and swiped a security sensor to unlock it. She stopped Chance and asked him, “Are you a family member?”

  His shoulders slumped as he stared down at the blue Berber carpeting and said, “No.”

  “I’m sorry, honey. I can only allow family in now. I promise I’ll come update you as soon as there’s news. I wouldn’t expect anything within the next two hours though. There’s a TV down in the lounge and free coffee if you’d like. You can come see her in recovery once we’re through.” She turned to Ana and said, “I’ll give you a minute to say goodbye. I’ll be waiting for you just inside.”

  Ana nodded and held the door open as the nurse disappeared down the hallway. She lifted her face to peer into Chance’s deadened eyes.

  “Oh, that’s right. . .” She dropped her head and unclasped her necklace. “Would you hold onto this for me until I wake up?”

  She lowered the chain and pendant into his palm and he closed his fingers around it. He moved into Ana, caught her up within his tight embrace and lifted her off the ground. The part of her heart that had never been reached before felt alive, even if it was clumsy and irregular. No doctor could heal her the way he had.

  She gazed into his deep hazel eyes and let her cool lips brush against his. Chance seemed to wake from his distant exile and returned the attention she initiated. Ana’s chest squeezed tight, caught up with excitement and she gave in. The heart clinic was the best place for a kiss like this. She grew lightheaded and faltered. Chance pulled back suddenly, the fire still present in his eyes.

  “I’m sorry,” he breathed. “I got carried away.”

  A shadow crossed his features and Ana drifted her fingers along his temple. “You can carry me away any time. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.” With a mischievous smile she added, “I’ll beg the nurses to let you in as soon as I wake up. I really appreciate you being here. See you soon. And, thanks—for everything.”

  She lifted up on her toes and kissed his eyelids. Before he could open his eyes, she disappeared behind the door. It swung shut with a loud and final thud.

  ***

  Blurry shapes phased into view as Ana blinked. She moved her head to see where she was. Her limbs were heavy and sluggish, and an unpleasant metallic taste filled her mouth. Consciousness returned like the sun creeping above the horizon, slow but intense. While the anesthesia wore off, her eyes cleared and she remembered where she was.

  “Welcome back,” a cheerful voice echoed in her ears.

  She tilted her head on the table and focused on a bright face above her.

  “Hi, I’m Jenny. You’ve been out for a while. Everything went well. They didn’t have any problems going in through the femoral artery. I’m just checking the entry point on your leg now. How’s it feel?”

  Cool air touched Ana’s skin as the nurse carefully lifted the edge of her gown to peek underneath.

  Ana winced. “Ouuch, ewww, that hurts.”

  “Well, it looks good. I’ll get you something for the pain.” Jenny patted her arm and said, “I think Sue just went to go bring in your boyfriend? Brother?”

  Ana cleared the bitter gravel from her throat and weakly answered. “Boyfriend.”

  That was the first time she’d used that title. But that’s what he was, right?

  Suddenly apprehensive, she touched her face with her deadened hand. How did she look? Ill probably. How would Chance react to her presumable pale skin and gaunt eyes? She normally didn’t care how she looked, but now she worried this could be the final straw. He may not have realized what it would really be like, to see her go through all of this. Hospitals made even the strongest people quake in fear.

  Ana noticed Nurse Jenny’s strong penchant for cosmetics and asked, “You don’t have a mirror I can use, do you?”

  The nurse disappeared then scurried back with a black compact. “You’d better hurry up. He’s on his way in.”

  Ana grabbed the mirror and opened it to assess the damage. She readjusted her gown and combed her hair with her fingers to flatten the strays against the bed. She rubbed her puffy eyes and pinched her cheeks to brighten her color. Well, there wasn’t much she could do except hope her appearance wouldn’t rattle Chance. She tossed the compact back to the nurse and said, “Thanks.”

  Chance followed a plump nurse through the long recovery ward, past curtained cubicles. The low murmur of voices and intermittent beeps filled Ana’s ears as she watched him draw near. She smiled up at him and held her hand out. He approached her swiftly and stopped beside the bed. His hand found hers and like two magnets, they snapped together.

  Ana tried to adopt a peaceful expression. She took a deep breath and visualized her body sinking into the bed beneath her. Punch-drunk with drooping eyes, she opened them wide to appear alert. Her heavy body felt like it was submerging into the mattress and she noticed the nurse inject something into her IV. She fought to keep her eyes open but found the back of her eyelids particularly soothing.

  Soon, she floated through the clouds with Chance by her side. Everything slowed and her consciousness fell into darkness.

  When Ana woke again, Chance
sat beside her with his hand resting on her arm. The pulse of her blood pounded just below the weight of his fingertips.

  Chance squeezed her wrist and said, “Hey, there. Just when I was beginning to miss those green eyes.”

  Ana turned her head and regarded his calm face. His amber eyes glimmered in the florescent lights. All traces of worry and fear that were visible earlier had been replaced with a serenity that surprised her.

  She cleared what felt like rough debris from her achy throat and winced as her groin flared up in pain. “What’d I miss? Has the doctor come by?”

  “No, not yet, but your nurse says it should be soon.”

  He glanced down the table toward the source of her discomfort and she followed his gaze suspiciously. “What else happened?”

  Darkness visited his face and then disappeared as quickly as it came. He shrugged, but his eyes grew serious. “You started bleeding. They had to put pressure on it for a while.”

  “Are you okay?” she said, her voice barely clearing her throat.

  He sat stone still. “I don’t want you to worry about me, Ana. I’m fine. What about you? You seem sore.”

  Just then, she realized she was clutching the bed, her body taut. She tried releasing the tension in her limbs and smoothed a smile across her face. “No. I’m good.”

  The soreness at the entry point radiated down her leg. She boxed it up and kept it away from her thoughts. It took all her effort.

  ***

  As convincing as she was, Chance didn’t believe her. Does she really think I can’t see through her? He considered that if he were the one on the table he’d probably say the same thing. But the only difference was, he’d never wind up in the hospital.

  Chance adjusted in his seat and pulled out Ana’s necklace from his back pocket. He fumbled as he reached around her neck to fasten the clasp and it took him a couple of tries.

  “Much better. I missed seeing it on you.”

  She lifted her hand to touch the metal shape. “Thanks. I missed it too. So, how about Mom? Have you talked to her?”

  Chance chuckled and said, “Oh, every hour since we got here!” His eyes traced her face. “It’s hard for her not being here.”