Chapter Twenty Three - Oliver Twist ... In The Flesh!-1

The first thing I registered in the back of my mind as I slowly came back to consciousness was, Dang, I'm hungry. My mouth felt dry and cottony, telling me that I needed water desperately; the fact that I could barely swallow alone made the need to open my eyes and search for something to drink a top priority. The second thing that came to mind? What is with that annoying beeping sound? With a groan, my eyes opened, squinting around with blurry vision. I could make out monitors and cords and with a little effort, I realized that my left arm wasn't moving. I rolled my head to the side and winced with the effort it took to find my arm. My entire body cringed as I viewed the obnoxious amount of tubes and needles that were sticking out of my forearm, leading up to a machine, AKA, the source of the annoying beeping. It took a few seconds to let it sink it and finally register in my brain, but then it hit me and knocked the breath out of my lungs. I was in a hospital. Now, I'm not one of those people who has a morbid fear of doctors and hospitals. Check ups and shots were a regular thing around my place, so it never bothered me much. However, what did send me into a frenzy was the fact that no one else sat in the room with me. I scooted farther back into my bed, crossing my arms as best as I could with all the tubes and what-not. The events of the other night were fresh in my mind, coming at me in flashes and making me shudder. I wanted those memories as far away from me as I could possibly get them. The only problem? I blanked out and I couldn't quite remember what happened after that. I had the distinct feeling that it had something to do with my falling. Looking to my left, I found one of those rolling trays right next to the bed, a clear mug of water sitting on top of it. With great effort, I managed to reach out and grab it, trying not to spill it on myself as I tipped it to get a better grip on the straw. I drank the entire thing in record time, not bothering to take it easy. I just needed some sort of relief from my parched throat. Sighing, I set down the mug and focused on other things. Like, for instance, the fact that my head and my tail-bone hurt to no end. "I need meds," I moaned, beginning the search for that cool little remote that called the nurses. "Oh?" Cocking my head to the side, I noticed an envelope tucked under the standard box of Kleenex that hospitals felt obligated to provide. I grabbed it eagerly, lifting the flap and nearly squealing with joy when I found the sender, my pain temporarily forgotten. Gab - I'm not gonna lie to you - I can feel claustrophobia threatening to sink it as I write this from being in this hospital for so long. I've been here for two days. Two days, a full forty-eight hours that you haven't even fluttered an eyelash. I saw some of the photos from the scene that the police found you in and it was just ... horrific, in my opinion. I had never seen you so lifeless before and it seriously scared me - I thought you were dead until everyone told me that you were okay and that you had only received a mild skull fracture. Well ... I didn't mean to say that in such a non-chalant manner. I was just overwhelmed. I didn't know what to think. But I'm thankful you're okay, I need to tell you that I was just a worried mess and I had a flash of a weird alternate universe where you didn't exist. Allow to express my sentiments on that particular subject: it completely bit the dust. Try to remember that the next time that you venture out to complete a life and death mission, would you? I couldn't help but smile as I read the letter over and over, the fact that Oliver (or Keegan, if you will) had already been here to visit me. Now I had to get up and out of this stupid bed. Gripping the side bar on the bed, I attempted to push myself into a sitting position. "You probably shouldn't sit up, you know." My eyes panned over to where the voice came from; standing in the doorway, hair disheveled and bags under his eyes, stood a boy that I didn't really recognize. He looked vaguely familiar, but not enough for me to get a light bulb over my head. He pushed his thick framed glasses back up the bridge of his nose before meeting my eyes again. I carefully folded the letter back up in it's original form, my eyes never leaving the newcomer, and gingerly set it on the bedside table once again. "Uhm, hi?" The words came out a bit more awkwardly than I originally intended them to. I'm pretty sure the thinly veiled confusion that I had made him uncomfortable, but I really didn't care. After all, the boy came into my hospital room. Not the other way around and it made me a bit nervous. After the incident I just endured, having an unknown individual in my room wasn't something I felt interested in. "Hello," he replied, squeezing a little smile onto his face. He said absolutely nothing other than that and now, I began to feel uneasy. I didn't really know what to do in this instance. What's the protocol for strange people randomly entering your room? Scream, maybe? Of course, I didn't take any drastic measures. I decided the best way to solve this enigma would be by asking a question. "So ... there anything I ... can ... help you ... with?" I narrowed my eyes slightly at him, a tad annoyed that he showed up before I could really digest the message Keegan had left for me. The warmth that came with the knowledge of his concern for my well being just seemed to warm my heart completely. The fact that I now knew who Oliver was made everything okay and when I saw Keegan again, I would tell him how much the letters meant to me, to have someone there to talk to. Even though it had been a concealed act, it meant the world to me. I didn't even get the chance to say anything when I found the letters. He just booked it. But I would make sure that we had a long conversation once I left this hospital room. With great effort, I tried to push myself up. It seemed my body was still a bit weak though. With a disgruntled sigh, I fell backwards once again, crossing my arms. Well, that wouldn't be happening anytime soon. I heard a breathy chuckle and soon, the guy standing in my doorway now stood by the bed. "Here, let me help you."