Mom stroked my forehead as she did when I was a baby. I looked emaciated lying in that hospital bed. All the life seemed drained from me and I found it hard to recognize the person lying there.
“We’re going to have to call someone in to help her.” Tammer said, rubbing his temples with his fingers. “I just don’t know who can do it. Troen’s gone - nobody’s seen him since the battle. Geiruna passed. There aren’t many who know the old ways well enough to help guide Morgan back.”
Guide me back? I didn’t know I could come back. Back into my body? Was that possible? I’d been hovering around my room for five days, without a clue what was supposed to happen next. I figured I was a ghost and was going to stay that way until my body died and I was guided to the light. If there even was a light.
“What about Aletheia?”
“That’s out of the question.”
“Why? She’s the only one I can think of who would even remotely know how to handle this situation!”
“No one knows where she is, Elan! I don’t know how to get a hold of her and even if I did, she’d never help us - not in a million years.”
“You don’t know that!” Mom stood. “Morgan could die, Tammer! I’m not risking my daughter’s life because you’re afraid of facing your sister!”
Tammer’s face grew red. “Don’t you think I want the best for our daughter?”
Mom was quiet.
“Well?”
“Tammer, it’s the only way we’re going to be able to help her. She’ll die here. They don’t know how to help our kind.”
“Crap!” He cried in defeat, shoving a chair across the floor.
A few moments later, Nurse Dahl appeared in the doorway, a frown across her face. “Is everything all right in here?” She asked.
“Yeah,” Tammer stared out the window. “Everything’s just friggin’ wonderful.”
She looked at each of them. “We have grievance counselors who can help you through this. The hospital offers this service complementary.”
That was the wrong thing to say. Tammer turned, stalking up to her. “She’s not dead,” he said, his voice harsh. Narrowing his eyes, he stepped around her, leaving the room. Raindrops began to spatter against the hospital window, making dirty streams across the glass.
“I’m so sorry,” Mom stammered and flew out the room after him.
Batting her eyes innocently, Nurse Dahl focused her attention on Thayde. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean any harm.”
“It’s okay,” he sat heavily on the edge of my bed. “He’s upset.”
“How are you holding up?” She asked, taking a step toward him.
“Not well,” he admitted.
She stepped sideways, purposefully grazing Thayde’s arm and began to check my vitals. The envy in me began to rise and if I had been able to touch her, I would have tackled her.
I knew that women were extremely attracted to Thayde - who could blame them? He was tall, slim, and very muscular. He could have been a male model, and he had what Mom had – The Love. For me, this meant getting used to the fact that the opposite sex was unable to mask the feelings they experienced around Mom and Thayde.
The nurse finished quickly and turned to him. “My name is Jessica. I’m here for you, with whatever you need.”
“Thank you,” he said, distracted briefly by the heart monitor.
“Whatever you need,”
Thayde frowned, confused. “What do you mean?”
She inched forward, until she was directly in front of him. “I’m not dating anyone,” she whispered.
Thayde leaned back. “Are you coming on to me?” His voice was incredulous.
She looked surprised and hurt.
“No,” she lied, “I’m sorry.” Flustered, she left the room in a hurry.
Thayde watched her close the door and shook his head. Suddenly his breath caught and he rubbed his chest. Something was wrong.
Moments later, Tammer and Mom entered. They made their way to the edge of my bed.
“We’ve been thinking,” Tammer began, “She may be aware of us and we need to let her know that she can come back.” He directed his attention to me.
“Morgan,” Tammer began, “Can you hear me?”
Yes, I could, but I couldn’t make my body move.
“Honey, if you’re aware of us, you have to know that you can come back to us,” Mom said.
That would be wonderful, but how?
“How is she supposed to do that?” Thayde asked, mirroring my thoughts.
“We don’t know,” Tammer admitted, “I just know that she can do anything she wants. Anything.”