Chapter 24

           Myeyesopenedtoabright,whitelight.Iwasinanunfamiliarroom,awhiteroom.Thewallbesidemewascoveredinlongverticalblinds;overmyhead,theglaringlightsblindedme.Iwasproppeduponahard,unevenbed-abedwithrails.Thepillowswereflatandlumpy.Therewasanannoyingbeepingsoundsomewherecloseby.IhopedthatmeantIwasstillalive.Deathshouldn’tbethisuncomfortable.

           Myhandswerealltwistedupwithcleartubes,andsomethingwastaped

           acrossmyface,undermynose.Iliftedmyhandtoripitoff.

           "No,youdon’t."Andcoolfingerscaughtmyhand.

           "Edward?"Iturnedmyheadslightly,andhisexquisitefacewasjustinchesfrommine,hischinrestingontheedgeofmypillow.IrealizedagainthatIwasalive,thistimewithgratitudeandelation."Oh,Edward,I’msosorry!"

           "Shhhh,"heshushedme."Everything’sallrightnow."

           "Whathappened?"Icouldn’trememberclearly,andmymindrebelledagainstmeasItriedtorecall.

           "Iwasalmosttoolate.Icouldhavebeentoolate,"hewhispered,hisvoicetormented.

           "Iwassostupid,Edward.Ithoughthehadmymom."

           "Hetrickedusall."

           "IneedtocallCharlieandmymom,"Irealizedthroughthehaze.

           "Alicecalledthem.Ren¨¦eishere-well,hereinthehospital.She’sgettingsomethingtoeatrightnow."

           "She’shere?"Itriedtositup,butthespinninginmyheadaccelerated,andhishandpushedmegentlydownontothepillows.

           "She’llbebacksoon,"hepromised."Andyouneedtostaystill."

           "Butwhatdidyoutellher?"Ipanicked.