by Holly Hood
“I’m not dead?” I asked her.
This time her face looked agitated.
“Of course not,” she said, hurrying out of the room.
I was floored. I was alive. I was actually alive. It was all I could think of, a million thoughts pouring over me. I tried to sit up, but felt way too weak to even lift my head.
“What day is it?” I asked out loud, my heart racing.
There was a short knock on the door followed by Hannah, my sister. She almost ran to me. She touched my face, tears falling.
“I can’t believe it you’re awake!” she cried.
I shook my head, feeling even better now that I saw a familiar face.
“Eve, you’re awake. How do you feel?” she asked me with a worried look on her face.
“I feel alright,” I said to reassure her. Even in chaos such as this, she still needed me to be the strong one.
“I’m so glad.” She smoothed my hair, kissing the top of my head.
“Where is Dad and gray?” I asked, starting to cry.
I knew they would be here if Hannah was, and she hadn’t spoken of them.
Hannah became teary all over again at this. She grabbed my hand.
“Hannah, just tell me. Tell me all you know,” I said with a harsh tone.
“Gray was released about two weeks ago,” she started.
“Wait, what?” I asked.
Two weeks was a long time. How much time had passed? I thought, starting to feel crazy.
“Eve, it’s been almost six weeks since you were in a coma,” she said quietly.
I couldn’t believe all the time that had passed; I was nothing more than blown away. How could all this have happened? What had happened? I didn’t remember a thing besides being on the plane.
“What happened to Gray and Dad!” I yelled, trying to sit up and making it halfway before I felt pain in my back and gave up.
“Gray had some broken bones, nothing serious. His arm, dislocated shoulder, um, some fractures in his face, and sprained leg. Dad, well, Eve, I don’t want to upset you. You just woke up,” she said touching me.
I swatted her away. Something was not right. “Just tell me Hannah, right now!” I screamed.
“He’s down the hall. They’re all telling us he’s brain dead. They don’t think there is any chance,” she trailed off, crying all over again.
“So they’re alive,” I said.
“Eve, if someone is brain dead, they’re basically-“
“No, they’re alive. They’re here. I don’t care what they say. We are alive, that counts,” I said, sitting up through the pain.
I looked down at my legs. One was in a cast. Apparently, when you survive your death, you get all kinds of souvenirs.
“Eve, I really don’t think so. I talked to a lot of his doctors; they all say the same thing. I think it’s best if we let him go,” she said, sniffling.
“No, you don’t understand what this means,” I said, ignoring her.
“Yes, I do!” she yelled.
“No, you don’t at all. You’re not giving up on him. He is here, he is alive! That means more than you will ever know!” I yelled back at her.
She shook her head, walking out of the room. Hannah was never one to push any kind of issue, and I could see that she was like I always knew; she was willing to give up without a fight.
I knew better, because I knew that it was all or nothing and we were all alive. He still had a chance.
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