Chapter 27
When Martha and Phillip rushed into the hospital, the first thing they saw was Kayla’s clothes soaked in blood.
They both checked Kayla several times, and only after making sure she wasn’t hurt did they finally sigh in relief.
But the next to arrive–Luke’s parents–weren’t nearly as calm. Although their faces were drawn with worry, Luke’s mother still walked right up to Kayla and took her hand, squeezing it tightly.
“You must’ve been scared, sweetheart. Don’t worry, Luke’s tough. It’s just a small wound–he’ll be fine.”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Kingston. He got hurt because of me. I’m so sorry.”
Kayla’s voice broke. She couldn’t even look Luke’s mother, Olivia Whittaker, in the eye.
Everyone around could see she was falling apart. No words would help right now.
Minute by minute, time crawled past. Finally, the light above the operating room flicked off, and the surgeon stepped out. Kayla was the first to rush up. “Doctor! How is Luke?” she asked worriedly.
“He’s okay. The knife missed all the vital organs. We’ve stitched him up–he’ll be out shortly.”
The moment those words left the doctor’s mouth, all the tension Kayla had held in for hours snapped. She tried to say thank you, but before the words came out, her vision blurred, and she collapsed.
When Luke was wheeled out of surgery, the first thing he saw was Kayla passed out cold, while everyone around her panicked.
Luke panicked the most.
Kayla şlipped into a long, drifting dream. Her dreams were filled with scattered fragments of the years she’d spent with Jonah–every memory playing like film in reverse.
From the divorce, disappointment, and emotional numbness to their long, exhausting long–distance relationship; that fleeting glance at dusk during their senior year; and finally, time froze that summer of her junior year in high school back when she hadn’t yet left Astra.
Kayla had just finished painting the stairwell bulletin board and was returning the ladder to the store room when she saw a young man smoking on the training mat.
His hair was long, hanging low over his eyes, and there was a fresh scratch down one cheek. Muddy footprints marked his clothes–he’d clearly just been in a fight.
Kayla had a sensitive throat, so the smoke instantly made her cough. That sound startled the man.
At that moment, sunlight streamed in, cutting through the pale smoke–and their eyes met.
Kayla set the ladder down and slowly walked over to him.
“Smoking is prohibited on campus. That’s a violation of the school rules,” she said.
The teenager grunted, not even glancing at her again.
Just then, the warning bell rang. Kayla noticed the blood still trickling down his check. She reached into her small shoulder bag and pulled out a cartoon bandage and a tangerine–flavored hard candy.
“Smoking is harmful to your body. When you’re upset, try taking candies. Also, your face is bleeding. Here’s a bandage.” She placed both items next to him, then turned and walked away.
It wasn’t until Kayla had disappeared down the hall that the teenager looked down at what she’d left. She left a piece of candy and a bunny–print bandage.
It was childish. Silly, even. But no one ever knew that those two tiny things were what pulled a teenager, drifting in rebellion and confusion, back onto the right track.
She didn’t know how long she had slept, but when Kayla finally opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Luke’s face.
“You’re awake.” He looked well–rested, smiling as he looked at her.
But Kayla couldn’t bring herself to smile, She said, “Luke, I remember now,”
“What did you remember?” Luke asked, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
“You. I remembered you,” Kayla sald softly.
The memories were never gone. They’d just been tucked away, waiting to be uncovered.
