PART 5- CHAPTER 182
JESS
The door creaked open, and my heart skipped a beat as Josh stepped into the room, followed closely by my dad. Relief washed over me, so intense it brought tears to my eyes. My dad‘ s face looked weary, his hair disheveled, and Josh looked like he hadn’t slept in days. But they were here. They were okay. I
pushed myself up, the sudden movement sending a sharp jolt of pain through my leg, but I ignored it.
“Jess!” Josh’s voice cracked as he rushed forward, and before! knew it, he and my dad had their arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace. I held on, feeling the steady thud of their hearts against my own, the familiar scent of aftershave and * sweat. They were warm, solid, real. It was enough to make me forget, for just a second, about the nightmare I had woken up from.
When they finally pulled back, I couldn’t hold back the smile tugging at my lips. “I remember,” said, the words tumbling out before I had the chance to think them through.
Josh’s brow furrowed, and he nodded slowly. “Yeah… I wish this night you would forget, though.”
“No,” I insisted, shaking my head. “You don’t understand. I remember all of it.” My voice was firm, the realization still making my heart race.
Josh and my dad froze, staring at me like I’d just told them I
PART & – CHAPTER 182
288 Wouchers
could fly. The weight of my words hung heavy in the air, and I could see the confusion and hope flicker across their faces, mingling with doubt.
“Wait,” Josh said, his voice barely above a whisper, “you mean… you remember everything?”
I nodded, tears welling in my eyes. “Yes. Everything. It’s all back.”
Just then, the door swung open, and the doctor stepped in, clipboard in hand. My father turned to her, his voice tight with disbelief. “My daughter says she remembers–she remembers all her memories. How is that… is that even possible?”
The doctor’s eyebrows shot up, but a smile slowly spread across her face. “Sometimes, a traumatic event can act as a trigger,” she explained. “The brain can be unpredictable, and sometimes the shock is enough to reconnect pathways that were once blocked. It’s a good sign, Jess. It means your brain is healing.”
I felt a mixture of relief and nervousness. Memories that had felt just out of reach for so long were now flashing vividly behind my eyes. Faces, names, moments–everything was coming back, and I wasn’t sure if it was overwhelming or exhilarating.
Maybe it was both.
“Now,” the doctor said, adjusting her glasses and glancing down at her clipboard, “let’s take a look at that leg of yours.”
My leg. Oh, God. In the haze of everything–Bryan, the–memories flooding back, the hospital–I’d completely forgotten about it. A
PART 5 CHAPTER 182
dull ache pulsed from below my knee, and when I looked down, I saw the thick bandages wrapped around it, tinged with faint blood spots. A wave of nausea hit me, and I swallowed hard.
“Right,” I muttered, trying to shift without causing too much pain, “my leg…”
Josh’s expression darkened, and I saw his jaw tighten. “They said it was fractured,” he said quietly, his hands still gripping the railing of the hospital bed like he was afraid I’d vanish if he let go. “Bryan… he didn’t just-” His voice broke, and he looked away, his knuckles turning white.
“It’s okay,” I said softly, even though it wasn’t. Nothing about any of this was okay. But I was alive. I was here. And
remembering felt like the first step toward being myself again, whoever that was.
The doctor moved closer, gently lifting the edge of the blanket covering my leg. “You’re lucky,” she said, calm and clinical. “The damage wasn’t as severe as it could have been, but you’ll need to keep off it for a while. We’ll need to do more X–rays to ensure it’s healing properly.”
I nodded, trying not to focus on the searing pain that flared up every time she touched the bandage. My dad’s hand found mine, squeezing tightly, and I held on, needing the reassurance.
“Do you think…” my dad began hesitantly, glancing between me and the doctor, “that she’ll be okay? I mean, will she recover fully?”
The doctor’s smile was reassuring, though her eyes remained serious. “It’s too early to say for sure, but Jess is young, and she’s clearly a fighter. With the right care and rehabilitation, I’m
288 Mouch
optimistic.”
“Optimistic I’ll walk again or optimistic I’ll run again?” I asked, and the whole room went quiet.
“Let’s not rush things.” The doctor smiled, but I saw the pity.
My dad let out a shaky breath, nodding, and I saw some tension leave his shoulders. It was the first time I’d seen him look almost… relieved. Josh still–looked shell–shocked, his eyes darting between me and the doctor, like he was waiting for something to go wrong. I wished I could say something to comfort him, but I didn’t even know where to start.
“Alright,” the doctor said, gently patting my leg. I’ll be back soon to run some tests. In the meantime, just rest. Your body’s been through a lot, Jess, but you’re doing great.”
She left the room, and heavy and uncomfortable silence settled over us. My father let go of my hand and pulled his chair closer, sitting down with a tired sigh.
I looked at Josh, “Do you know if Luke is coming?” I asked…
08
