Chapter 34
A few hours later, Shannon was in a room of her own taking a nap. The doctor told her to take it easy, and everyone went to get some dinner. She was awoken but a light knock at her door as she saw Chris’ face peek around the corner. "Hey sweetie, how are you feeling?," he asked as he took a seat next to her bed. "Tired," she said with a smile on her face. He took her hand and gently squeezed it, flashing a smile back at her. She let out a sigh, "I can’t wait until I’m out of here. I can’t stand this room." Chris laughed, "I don’t blame you. Hospitals give me the creeps. So, I was going to ask you. . . what did you mean earlier when you said ‘If you only knew’?" Tears welled up in her eyes as he asked her. "What’s wrong?," he asked, noticing the tears. She wiped her eyes, "You wouldn’t understand, you really wouldn’t." Chris frowned a little, "Try me." She laid her head back on the pillow, trying not to cry as she told Chris her story about seeing "Justin". After she finished her story, Chris had tears in his eyes as well. "That’s just crazy, but I believe you," he said, softly running and hand down her cheek. They smiled at each other when a young nurse peeked her head in the room, "Sorry to interrupt, but visiting hours are over, Mr. Kirkpatrick." He frowned a bit, "Just lemme say goodbye." He gave her a light kiss on the lips, "I’ll see you tomorrow babe." He leaned down and gave her a hug, and as he stood back up, he dropped a folded piece of paper onto her and was soon out the door.
Shannon slowly picked up the piece of paper and opened it up. As she started to read it, the phone beside her rang and she leaned over to pick it up. "Hello?," she said quietly, waiting for an answer. "Hey, its JC, is Chris still there?" Shannon let out a slight sigh, "Hey Jace, no, visiting hours are over, so he’s on his way home. Why? Do you need to talk to him?" "Yeah, but I can talk to you since you are on the phone." Shannon laughed, "Well, that’s very sweet of you." They talked for awhile until JC decided he’d try to call Chris’ house. Hanging up the phone, Shannon’s head hit the pillow and she was out like a light.
Shannon slept like a log that night, and the next morning, she awoke to Chris’ smiling face. She grinned at him, "I could really get used to that." He swooshed the hair away from her eyes and smiled at her, looking into her sparkling eyes. He looked down onto the floor as he stepped over a piece of paper. He bent down to pick it up, "Oh, did you get a chance to read this?" Shannon took the paper from him, "Not yet. Should I?" "No, not yet. Save it for later. Right now, you are going to get dressed so I can take you home. You are allowed to go now." Shannon buzzed the doctor to make sure that it was okay that she get up and get ready, and he gave her strict instructions on what she can and can not do.
She finished getting dressed and got ready to leave as Chris sat beside the bed, waiting for her to finish. She could tell that something was bothering him, so she came closer to him and put a hand on her shoulder, startling him. "What’s wrong?," she asked him quietly. He shook his head, "Nothing, it is silly actually." She sat down on the bed, "You know me. Just tell me." Chris sighed, "Last night, when I was laying in bed, I couldn’t sleep. And. . . and the strange thing is that I swear I saw Justin. Kind of like how you said you saw him when you were unconscience. . but he came into the room and told me that everything would be fine, and then he was gone. I couldn’t sleep at all after that." Shannon quickly shook her head, "Wow, that is strange. First me, then you." Chris nodded his head, "Yeah, tell me about it. Lets go home now, I’m really tired." They stood up and Chris led Shannon out to the Explorer and helped her in. They got home and everything went by as smooth as silk.
A few days later, Shannon and Chris were laying in bed when she decided that she would read that note finally. Shannon’s stirring in the bed caused Chris to wake up as well and question what she was doing. "Are you sure you want to read it now?," he asked her quietly. "Unless you don’t want me to." He shook his head, "You might as well." She slowly unfolded the paper and read what was written.
Shannon looked at the back of the paper. "Why is half of it missing? Great! I’m reading something and I don’t even know what the end of it says! What did it say Chris? Was it good? Was it bad??"
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