I have been sitting at the hospital for three hours hoping and praying that Eddie would wake up like he did last week. His breathing has gotten better and they have taken the tube out of his throat. They still have small oxygen tubes in his nostrils, though. This morning doctor told me that Eddie is proving to me a miracle case. He’s not on life support anymore, but he’s still hooked up to God-knows how many different machines doing God-knows what for him. Not to mention the shit ton of morphine they have pumping into his veins.

I sigh and start packing up my small bag of goodies I had brought in expectation for a long visit: a couple of magazines, books, and snacks. After packing everything back up, I sit back down in the chair next to his bed for a little while longer to tell him goodbye and that I will be back to see him first thing in the morning. As I am saying this his fingers move slightly. I look up at his face, and I can see him squinting at me. The swelling around his eyes has calmed down significantly, but most of his face still has colorful shading from the bruising. “You leaving now?” he asks, his voice hoarse and scratchy after having that tube down his throat for several weeks now.

My stomach starts doing flips. It’s the first time I’ve heard his voice in weeks. “Eddie…” I manage to say his name, but I’m honestly at a loss for words. At the risk of him being able to pick at me for the rest of our lives about it, my eyes start to water.

He looks tired, but he still manages to grin at me –showing off his newly crooked smile due to some missing teeth. “I feel like I got hit by a truck,” he says.

“You look like it,” I say and wipe my face dry. “You’ve been under for a while, man. You woke up for just a few minutes just a few days ago… do you remember?”

“Not really,” he says and lets out a soft groan.

“I’m sorry.” I spit out quickly. “God, Eddie, I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry?” he questions, “For what?”

“For being such an ass,” I say. “Man, I treat you like shit. And I’m sorry. We got into that huge fight right before all of this happened, and I just want to say I’m sorry.”

“We got into a fight?” he asks. “James, I don’t even remember. I’m sorry if I did anything.”

“No, you’re not the jackass,” I say. I smile at him. “I’m so glad you’re awake.”

“Don’t get used to it,” he says groggily.

“Eddie, who did this to you?” I ask.

He stares at me for a minute. He appears to be concentrating. “I don’t remember,” He says, “I don’t remember what even happened. Did someone break into my house or something?”

“Geeze Eddie, no. I found you at the factory like this,” I say.

“Damn,” Eddie says and raises a shaky hand, touching his head.

“Careful,” I say, “You’ve got a cracked skull.”

“Is there anything on me that’s not broken?” he questions. Then he lifts up his sheets and takes a peek down south, subtly saying, “Just checking,” under his breath.

I laugh. “You’re such a dumbass.”

“Fuck, man, I can’t feel shit.” He says. Then I see a slight panic in his eyes. “I can’t feel my legs…”

I frown. As far as I know, he did not have a fractured spine. “You’re okay,” I say and place a hand on his shoulder. “It’s just all the pain meds you’re on.”

He puts a hand to his chest, “I’m short of breath. It kind of hurts to breathe.”

“They removed a lung, man,” I say, and he looks really freaked out by this.

“A lung? Can they do that?” he questions.

“I guess so,” I say. He looks like he’s going to start hyperventilating. I gently squeeze his shoulder. “Listen,” I say, “You’re going to be fine.”

“What else is broken on me?” he asks.

“Two broken arms-” I begin, and he cuts me off.

He holds up his arms, both of which are in casts, “Geeze, really?”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t be a smartass.” I say that, but truthfully I’m glad to see he feels up to joking around. “You have a fractured skull, broken neck, a broken leg, and you had a collapsed lung… now you’re just missing one, I guess.”

I don’t think he heard much of what I just said. He is drifting in and out of sleep. He perks up suddenly. “I think… I think I heard my sister in here…”

“Kate?” I smile, “Yeah. She brought her kids up here one day.”

He looks embarrassed. “So you two have met now?”

I nod. “I went and had lunch with her one day too. Her son, Bobby, told me about you getting him into motocross. He’s a tough kid.”

“That must have been awkward for you,” Eddie says, and I shake my head.

“No. I like Kate.” I smile. “And I’ve met Max too.” Eddie’s face turns red. I just smile big at him. “He’s a good guy, Eddie. And you learned sign for him, didn’t you?”

“I couldn’t understand him,” Eddie embarrassingly admits. “Those are the only ones you’ve met, right?”

“Not exactly.” I say. “I had your phone on me when Nick called. He had overdosed at your summer home, but don’t worry, he’s fine. I got him in rehab and I have been talking to child services. We thought we had lost you, man, so I’ve been working on getting Nick to come live with me.”

Eddie has tears in his eyes. “You were going to do that? He’s not your brother, James.”

“But he’s yours,” I say. I then add, “Although, since you’re starting to look better, I’m sure Nick would much rather come stay with you once you’re up on your feet again.”

“James…” Eddie looks at me with these serious eyes. “Kate, Max, and Nick… there the only ones you met, right?”

“Well-”

“Who?” he snaps.

“I went to see your dad,” I say, and he looks really pissed. “I met him and your brother Tommy briefly.”

“Why the fuck would you do that?” He asks.

“Eddie, listen…” I can hardly bring myself to say it, but I do, “they were telling me that you were dying. They were talking to me about taking you off life support and just letting you die until you stirred a while back. I just wanted to make sure he knew what was going on.”

“I’m sure he was worried,” Eddie says in this bitter tone that just screams sarcasm.

“He’s been following the story on the news,” I say, “I guess that’s his own way of showing he cares. I’m sorry about him, Eddie. He was a real tool. I know it’s none of my business, but what’s the deal with Tommy? It’s just… well, it seems like Tommy knows him better than the rest of you. Like he stuck around for Tommy or something.”

“Trust me,” Eddie says with his teeth gritted, “That just makes Tommy the unfortunate one. Stay away from them.”

“All right, all right,” I say and put my hand back on his shoulder. “I’m just glad you’re awake.” I lower my hand. Eddie’s eyes look like they’re getting heavy. “You don’t have to stay up for me, Eddie,” I say, and just like that he drifts off to sleep.