I offered a half-hearted smile, and then my cell rang.
“I feel popular today,” I muttered, reaching for the phone. The number was unknown. My heart sank, worry settling in that it might be a cancellation for my appointment today.
Hesitantly, I answered, “Hello?”
“Hi, is this Lennon?” a kind voice asked on the other end.
“Yes. Who is this?”
“It is Blythe Graves. Asher’s mother.”
My heart sped up, nerves increasing.
“Is everything okay?”
“Well, he was taken into the hospital this morning for cardiac arrest. I’m not sure he’ll pull through to make it through the restof the night. I know you two had a falling out, but he spoke very highly of you. I thought you might want to come by the hospital to see him.”
Everything stopped in my world.
My head was spinning. My heart began to race.
What if Asher was dying and this was his last day?
His last day on Earth, and his mother called me to see him?
What if October 16th was meant for him, and not me?
“Rachel, I have to go,” I said as panic overtook me. “Asher’s in the hospital.”
I stood up, chaotically trying to free myself from behind the overly close table. Everything inside my brain swirled. I needed to get there.
“Did you need a ride to the hospital?” she asked immediately.
I nodded, forgetting where I was, and that I was several blocks away from where I needed to be. Tears began well behind my eyes.
“It’s going to be okay, Lennon,” she said, taking my hand and guiding me outside. “We’re going to get there in time.”
“Okay,” I said, bottling my emotions as she took my hand and led me out of the restaurant.
He needed to be okay.
Because suddenly…
I needed him.
Lennon
Aweek had passed.
Seven days.
Seven days of tubes, IVs, and machines breathing for him.
Seven days of staring at Asher, but only seeing a stranger.
I needed him to wake up.
Wake up.
