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Scarlett knew wh
at she meant without further clarification. She was angry, but her voice came out weak and resigned. “Carter has been in a coma for the last week, so he couldn’t have had anything to do with the fire.” She ended the call and turned off the light, huddling under the covers. Tears surprised her by leaking from her eyes. She wasn’t sure if she cried for Carter, her Father, herself, or for everyone.
Carter
He was floating, he thought. Maybe he was getting swim lessons from Pop, out in the crystal blue of the Aegean. He’d taken to swimming like a duck in water, but he’d always had difficulty relinquishing control, so he’d never been able to float. “I finally learned how, Pop,” he said.
It wasn’t Pop who was with him. He was alone in perfect darkness, except for the sound of a voice. He knew that voice. Carter wanted to respond to Scarlett’s soft murmurings, but he couldn’t seem to work up the energy. Sometimes she seemed very close, and other times she was so distant he couldn’t hear more than a hushed whisper. Rarely could he make out the words, but the sound of her voice kept him from floating completely away.
She sounded very close this time, and he could tell she was crying. Some of the words came through to him, but in a disjointed way.
miss
doctors
fire
dead
gone
He could not make sense of what she was saying. His brain felt sluggish, and he just couldn’t seem to form any words. She seemed even closer now, and Carter wondered if he was floating to shore. He plainly heard, “I love you,” and knew he had to respond to that. He forced his eyes open, and though things were blurry, he could make out Scarlett’s face.
21
Scarlett
She was telling Carter about her day, not really paying attention to what she was saying, as she stroked his hand. The doctor had told her it was a strong possibility that Carter could hear her, and she refused to leave him in there alone if there was the smallest chance he could. So she’d been there almost every day for a month. Spending all her free time with him.
Scarlett stopped speaking abruptly as Carter’s hand tightened weakly around hers. She looked down, expecting it to be a muscle spasm, but hoping for more. His eyes were open, and he was staring at her. He didn’t seem to be too confused, and she was sure he recognized her. Before she could react, even to press the call button, Dr. Goff came hurrying in the room.
“He’s awake,” Dr. Goff said in a shocked tone, confirming Carter’s consciousness with a small penlight.
“Carter.” Scarlett leapt from her chair, still holding his hand. “Do you know me?” she demanded.
Carter blinked fuzzily, trying to make his mouth move so he could answer. He knew who she was, and he was remembering the last time he’d seen her.
“Give him a moment,” Dr. Goff cautioned. “He’s still trying to process everything.”
Focusing on Scarlett, Carter said his first word. “Sorry.”
“Sorry?” she asked, puzzled. “Why are you sorry?”
“Hurt you. Made you leave.”
“I came back.” Tears streamed down her face. “It wasn’t important.”
“Heard you.”
“You heard me talking to you?”
“Yeah. Floating and talking.”
“I love you.”
“Love you too,” Carter told her with his last reserve of strength before closing his eyes again.
It was several days before Carter was strong enough to have a long conversation. When Scarlett arrived at the hospital, she found Carter sitting up in bed, eating. His complexion was no longer so sickly, and he looked less haggard. “We need to talk,” he said abruptly.
