by Tara Brown
“Yeah.” I was not convinced at all. “Like somehow our subconsciouses are linked from drinking the same poison and I can see your subconscious.”
“I’m glad you can see me.” She sniffled and curled up in her bed more.
“Me too.” As much as I was glad I could, I was also fairly worried. Maybe I was crazy and the whole thing was the result of the drugs. Maybe I was losing my mind.
When the nurse brought my bed and set me up I was relieved to get into it and close my eyes.
“I hope I wake up, Aimes,” Giselle whispered into the dark.
“Me too.” I hoped the same thing for myself. Her being a figment of my insanity or own dream was better than this really happening.
When I woke she was staring at me, grinning. “I woke up.”
“What?” I rubbed my eyes and blinked a couple of times before looking at her. “What?”
“I woke up. The nurse can see me today.” She beamed. “You remember yesterday, how they couldn’t?” She sighed. “Today they can. I woke up and I was awake, for reals though. Yesterday I felt awake but I was like in a foggy place. All clear today.”
“Oh my God, you remember me seeing you yesterday and the nurse not?” What did that mean? There were loads of cases where coma patients had out-of-body experiences and people saw them. Maybe because I’d sort of died too I was closer to it all and saw her.
The nurse walked in. Her feet were loud as she busied about the room, fawning over Giselle who couldn’t have cared less about the out-of-body experience she’d had.
It wasn’t long before Giselle was regaling me with tales of boys and shopping discounts. There was no more sad talk about moms and dads or boys who like to drug girls. We didn’t even bring up the other girls who were already sick or the fact I’d seen Giselle before she woke up.
At first I obsessed but eventually I relaxed and listened, happy to be distracted by simple things that had no bearing on my world.
Which was weird for me.
Normally, I surrounded myself with people who only talked when important or interesting things were being said. In that moment, during a story of drinking while in Cuba and a few helpful hints about strange Cuban men, I was extremely entertained.
* * *
In the midst of our peaceful afternoon nap, I heard her before I saw her, which was always the case.
“They’re sharing a room?” my sister’s voice interrupted my siesta.
I opened my eyes to see the nurse with my sister and dad in the doorway.
“Yes, they’re scared. They’ve had something horrid happen to them and they’re alone here, except for each other.” The nurse also let my sister know she could be a snotty bitch, but with a smile and actual authority.
My dad tried to be pleasant. “Right. Of course. Thank you. I think we should just see if they’re awake then.” I grinned as his face lit up at seeing mine. “You have color and your eyes are clear again. How are you feeling, kiddo?” he asked, sitting on the end of my bed.
“Okay.” It sickened me to think of what he had been through in one year. My sister appeared odd or uneasy but I ignored her. “Better. I’m ready to get out of here though. The nurse said tomorrow, if the blood tests come back showing my liver and kidneys are functioning.”
“Your liver?” my sister asked as though she might throw up.
“Yeah, did you even show up for bio? The liver and kidneys filter the blood. Drugs and alcohol are filtered through them. That’s why underage drinking is so bad. You’re damaging developing organs.”
My dad laughed. “Well, good to see you’re feeling like yourself again. We’ll come back tonight with some food if you want.”
“Yeah, I’d love something I can eat. It has to be like super clean though. They have us on a special diet. Maybe bring Giselle something. Her dad has been busy lately.”
Alise rolled her eyes at the comment. I didn’t know why I was unreasonably annoyed with her. I literally had to count backward from ten to stop myself from lashing out, or throwing something at the very least.
She seemed apprehensive. “How’s the memory coming?”
I furrowed my brow. Alise was up to something. “Good. I’m remembering little bits more and more every day.”
She nodded, even though it was obvious the news made her uneasy. “Oh good.”
“What?” I snorted. “Did you poison us, Alise? You’re being weird.”
“No, oh my God. I would never.” She shook her head violently.
Dad peered at her suspiciously. “Alise, I agree you’re acting odd. This is the moment to confess if you know anything about this, even if it was a joke.”
She started to cry. “I never did this to you, Aimes. I would never hurt you.” She had barely cried when our mom died and here she was sobbing.
Dad grabbed her by the arms, not moved by her display. He’d seen it before over petty things like the wrong cereal. He stared deeply into her eyes, examining her. Then he pulled her into his chest, stroking her head. “You just don’t take things seriously, Alise. You do things so recklessly.” Dad soothed her as she cried into him.
I glanced around, wondering if anyone noticed the circus I called family.
If I was being honest, it wasn’t a stretch to believe my sister had drugged me. It would have been done innocently, to be funny. To watch me freak out.
Her face poked out of our dad’s armpit where she whispered, “I kissed Blake.”
“WHAT!” My stomach lurched forward, threatening to escape my mouth. A small crack in my heart grew as I processed the words. Even if he wasn’t my boyfriend, he was mine. He was my best friend, my rock in it all. He was there when all the extra crappy things that seemed to seek me out ruined my life. I screamed even though it hurt, “Blake is mine—my friend! You don’t even like him! You make fun of him all the time!”
“I know.” Still hiding in our dad’s armpit, she cried harder. “I was drunk and I never thought about what I was doing until it was too late. I’m so sorry.”
“Go away.” I closed my eyes, desperate to push the pain down. “I don’t even care!”
“I’m so sorry.” She let go of our dad and knelt at my bedside and begged with the most sincere expression I’d ever seen. “Please say it’s okay. Please.”
After a momentary struggle, my natural instinct kicked in and the bad feelings were pushed down. It was like swallowing acid but I forgave her. I even justified it, telling myself it was better that her guilty behavior made sense than her having something to do with poisoning me. I didn’t forgive her aloud though. I let it ride a moment longer. “Well, you have everything else, Alise. You have looks, friends, and everyone loves you. Every boy in school is in love with you, or her.” I pointed at the sleeping Giselle. “So I guess, why not take the one boy I thought I had all to myself?”
Dad cringed, outwardly disappointed. “I’ll leave you to apologize to your sister properly. Aimes, I love you, kiddo, and I’m really glad you’re coming home tomorrow. We’ll bring you something to eat tonight.” He kissed my forehead and left the room.
My sister’s eyes shimmered with tears as she grabbed my hand desperately. “I am sorry. I have never been this sorry in my whole life. It just happened, and it will never happen again. I didn’t know he was in love with me all these years.” The words came spilling out before she could dam up her mouth.
“He said that?” My heart was breaking even more as things clicked into place.
He was always at my house.
He constantly made excuses to be around us.
He asked if she would be wherever we were going before we got there, every damned time.
I had thought it was me, that he was checking because he hated her too.
“I’m so sorry. I won’t ever see him again. It was a mistake.”
“No.” I pulled my hand away. “It’s not your fault. You can’t even help yourself. You ooze sex and punishment, which is something boys seem to want.”
“Yo
u don’t get it!” Alise lost it. “I’m—like—so jealous of you. You’re so smart, you’re still a virgin, and you’re funny in a way only smart people get.”
“Witty, and I don’t think the entire hospital needs to know I’m a virgin.” I tried to quiet her down.
“Whatever. You know what I mean. Aimes, you are the kind of girl every MAN dreams of, and I am the kind of girl every boy dreams of. This is my time to shine and it’s nothing compared to yours when you finally stop being—well, whatever you are.”
It was the kindest and most loving thing my sister had ever said to me. I knew she was trying to be nice.
I should have responded back lovingly and we could have had a moment, but I was still too angry. I couldn’t help myself—I was so furious, defeated, and embarrassed. “You have Shane. How could you do this to him, Alise? You’ve already cheated on him with every popular guy.”
“I can’t even with Shane.” She waved her hand. “I only dated him because it seemed like the right move, like we should be together. Like we matched. I honestly don’t think he even likes me. He barely kissed me. It’s been like nine months and nothing. His parents have a lot going on, but come on—nine months and almost no sex? We hold hands like we’re ten-year-olds. I love you, Aimee, and when I find out who did this to you, I will make them pay.” Her stare became malicious and sinister and she sounded like Batman. It was a weird moment for me. “I’m going to kill whoever did this.”
As quickly as it had all started, it was over.
“I love you.” She stood up and left my room, waving goodbye to me. I clearly understood her less than I thought. Oddly enough, I felt better from the weird moment. She did have a magic about her. Being angry with her was nearly impossible. She manipulated me, almost making me sympathize with her and be angry at myself for being so mean.
She was a master.
And while I didn’t know what to do about Blake, I didn’t care nearly as much as I expected. Maybe I already knew, subconsciously.
After a moment of contemplation, I glanced over at Giselle who smiled from her fake sleep. “Okay, that was like weird.”
“I know, right? What was the whole ‘I will make them pay?’ Who does she think she is? What will she do? Whack them with a stiletto?”
“Girl, I can’t even.” Giselle laughed. “She is so crazy sometimes.”
“So crazy.” I chuckled, agreeing with it all. It was like a truck had hit me. “I’m sorry for the nuttiness. My family has been a little freak show lately. I didn’t see that coming.”
“Yeah, dude, your sister has never cried in front of me, except at your mom’s funeral. She didn’t even cry as many tears as she should have then. So you like that Blake kid?” She switched channels on me too quickly.
“I guess. Yeah, I did and she knew it. I thought she did. It just seemed like the way things would go, a natural progression. We make sense to be together, me and Blake. Two nerds. We’re both smart and easygoing but passionate about things we believe in. I’m a vegetarian and he doesn’t eat red meat. Sort of like her and Shane, I guess.”
“You girls are the weirdest ever.” She laughed. “That is the dumbest thing I’ve heard a smart person say. You can’t make a relationship out of math and science, you weirdo. It’s safe to say you’ve never been in love. Dude, your sister is right. You’re gonna have an amazing love when you find it. You’ve held out for so long that when it happens, it’s going to rock your world.”
“I guess.” I snickered more at Giselle than with her. Alise and Giselle treated me like a spinster because I had yet to fall in love, at seventeen. They acted like I was thirty. “I think I’ll probably end up the lonely old Miss Havisham, with cats and craziness.”
“Who?” She frowned. “I don’t know this Havisham lady, but I doubt you’ll be lonely. A little makeup, some hair product, and maybe gain a little weight—girl, you wait and see.”
I didn’t respond. How did I defend my dislike of makeup to her?
Chapter 10
Dr. Doom
The doctor came into our room.
His eyes seemed off. “Girls, do you want your assessments alone or together?”
I peered over at Giselle and shrugged. “I’m good with together. We’re in the same boat.”
Giselle agreed. “Yeah, go ahead.”
He swallowed hard. “I’ve spoken with your parent, Aimee, and he’s given me the go ahead, but Giselle your father isn’t here. We’ve not been able to reach him. So I am going to talk to you about the decisions we’re going to make without him. Is that all right?”
Giselle looked lost.
“He wants to tell us what’s wrong with us without our parents here.”
“Oh, that’s okay.” She nodded.
“Your bodies have sustained an adverse reaction to a chemical in the drug you were given. A hepatotoxicity, a drug-induced liver injury. On top of that there was mercury in the drug which damaged the kidneys, leaving you with some transient damage to those organs. It’s reversible and you could be on the mend quite shortly. I wouldn’t recommend drinking again. You may never be able to tolerate fatty foods, and certainly no drugs. But we are seeing a reduction in your levels and your symptoms are diminishing. We are optimistic you will make a recovery, perhaps not full but a recovery nonetheless. It will happen over the next few months. But with a healthy diet, constant checkups, and a lot of sleep.”
“Okay, I’m a vegetarian anyway and I never do drugs or drink, and I’m lazier than you would imagine. Basically, I’ll just live my life the way I do anyway and avoid parties. I’m good with that.” I could sense the clean bill of health just around the corner.
He didn’t smile but he sounded more cheerful-ish. “That’s excellent that you’re already used to that because there is a possibility of some permanent damage. Time will tell with you.”
“Great.”
“Right.” He cleared his throat again, staring down at the floor. “Giselle, your body appears to have had something else going on. I suspect you drank the most poison. You’ll be transported to the main Children’s in Portland. We’ll keep you on hemodialysis for the time being. Your symptoms have not diminished at all. I am so sorry.”
“What?” Giselle gaped at him and then at me. “What? What does that all mean? I’m still sick? No, no this isn’t right. Your tests are wrong. I feel fine.” Tears sprang from her eyes and then mine.
“All this means is that your body needs a larger center with better care than we can provide. We are transporting you within the hour to Children’s because we want those tests to be wrong. Are your parents away? Your friends handed in your medical information from your purse when they checked you in, but no one is answering the numbers we have on record.” His voice was soft again. The news was so bleak it bothered the heartless doctor.
I reached for Giselle, ignoring him. “This is good news because they already know what’s wrong with you and how to treat it. You’re going to the best hospital. They will find answers, and I’ll find your mom if it kills me, okay?” It was a lie. Hemodialysis meant she was on dialysis and she would never come off of it. She needed a transplant.
She nodded but she had shut down. She was trapped in the doctor’s first sentence.
“I’ll talk to her.”
“Thank you.” He agreed with a head nod and walked from the room.
I sprang from my bed like a sloth and started emergency texting my sister: Dude, get G’s dad here 9-1-1.
Clearly not understanding, she texted me back: ???
No time to talk get her dad. He’s sleeping at work. Tell him to bring Visa bill with the resort name wife is at.
OK??
YOU HAVE 10 MIN to be here.
KK.
Then I sent Blake a message.
You :* my sis??
He messaged back instantly.
His broken heart meant nothing. I turned my phone off. At least he never found out I liked him.
Giselle was sitting up, staring blankly at the bed. I turned my phone back on and ignored the messages I was receiving from Blake. I Googled kidney failure. Sometimes reading made people feel better—it did me anyway. I read for about half an hour, searching for a bright side. I didn’t find one. I decided not to share my findings. Or focus on them.
I was the good side of acute kidney failure and she was the bad.
For whatever reason, likely how healthy I was compared to her, I would heal over time and she would need a new kidney, at least one.
“This is treatable at the hospital. In the city they have resources we don’t.” I needed to lie to her.
Giselle smiled. “I’m glad you’re going to be okay.” The look in her eyes was killing me. She was quickly coming to terms with her situation. Giselle should be screaming and having a fit, but she was used to disappointment. It was not how I would have imagined her.
Giselle’s dad rushed into our room in his rumpled suit. My sister was hot on his heels. “Oh my God, Giselle—oh my God! Baby, are you okay?” He melted into a hot mess, kneeling at her bedside, crying. It disgusted me to see her comforting him. Giselle had the most selfish parents I had ever seen.
I got up from my bed and left them alone. The doctor stormed into the room. He seemed infuriated with Giselle’s dad. Evidently, leaving your seventeen-year-old alone to cope with near death was not cool, even to doctors with no bedside manner.
“Hey.” I dragged my IV machine, squeaking the whole way to where my sister stood. She was holding the piece of paper I had asked for.
“He gave it to you?” I asked, seeing the Visa bill.
She smiled. “Yeah, I told him about Giselle being sick and the hospital trying to reach him. He’s been drunk in Handley for three days and before that in Portland on business. He went home a few times, but never checked the messages. He just thought she was out with friends. He’s a douche.”
“Really though.” I took the Visa statement. “What an idiot.” I read the words aloud, “Grand PLDM White Sds Rst, $3,200.00.” I punched the code into Google with the word Mexico in front and felt like Nancy Drew. “Ha! Look at that—Grand Palladium White Sands Resort in the Mayan Riviera. There is a number here.” I punched in the numbers, feeling hopeful.