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Magda's eyes never left my face as she gently brushed a stray curl away from my damp forehead. The room seemed to close around me, suffocating me with the stark reality of her new existence.
"Can you open the windows, please?” I choked, ripping the IV out of my arm and bringing my hands to my face.
Magda sat back, confused.
I gasped for breath. "¡Abren las malditas cortinas!" I screamed.
Magda flung herself away from me, nodding with wide eyes. She hurried to the window and started yanking on the heavy fabric. As the first rays of light streamed into the room, I choked.
“Now the windows," I begged, and Magda obliged me.
Cold air rushed into the room, and I held my arms around me.
Just then, the door burst open, and Antonio appeared, his face a mask of worry. As soon as he saw me rocking back and forth and crying, he crossed the room in two long strides and embraced me. He kissed my forehead tenderly as I wept against his chest.
"Why are the windows opened?" he asked, enraged and quickly covering my exposed leg.
It was impossible to hold my expansive agony in his two arms, but he seemed determined to try.
"I can't breathe," I choked out. My mouth opened wide with my heaving breaths.
"I'm here," he said firmly.
I clung to him for dear life, feeling his warmth seeping into my bones. His heart's beat steadied my rapid pulse as I released my despair to him one labored breath at a time.
I felt dizzy with grief, and the last few minutes of consciousness returned to me. "Santiago."
I felt Antonio tense under me.
Magda answered. "He's alive. He looks a little different, but he's alive."
The volcano came back to me. There were so many people. It happened so fast.
"Are they all dead?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"You just woke up. Don't worry about that yet," Antonio replied, his expression somber. He didn't ask who I was referring to, though.
It was answer enough.
"San Volcán." My trembling hand fluttered up to cover my eyes, the weight of the responsibility settling heavily on my shoulders. "Isaac is dead," I whispered, suddenly remembering the fight. He had tried to kill me by ruining one of my cords.
Tears spilled out of my eyes faster than I could wipe them away. I had wielded so much power during the eruption. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced—raw and untamed, exhilarating. I had controlled the very earth beneath our feet for a few moments.
Their deaths were my fault.
I couldn't feel my hands, and a strange spasm started in my lip.
Antonio brushed his knuckles across my cheek, but I refused to lean back into the comfort. "Hiciste todo lo que pudiste, Carmen. Ninguno de nosotros podría haber hecho más."
I hated the way he said that. "No, because I could've done more. I could've stopped all of this, and I didn't. Now, I'm surrounded by things that cannot be undone."
Finally, Antonio pulled away and told me I needed to eat. He was going to get the Médico.
My stomach grumbled painfully, reminding me I had spent too much time on the IV.
Antonio bolted upright. "I'll be right back. You need to eat."
I eased myself back, and two more people came into my room.
