The same dream; night after night. Driving along the dark two-lane blacktop, heading home from what’s his name’s party. Alex and I singing off key to the music blaring from the radio. Both of us feeling loopy from the booze from the party. Alex squeezing his eyes shut to hit a high note. The right front tire sliding off the pavement and hitting the loose dirt on the shoulder. The car is rolling and rolling and rolling. Alex screaming my name.
“SAMANTHA!”
“Oh, Sami.”
I hear him whisper. This is the first time outside the dream. I feel a rough thumb stoke my fingers.
“Sami, I’m so sorry. Please wake up.”
I moan. “Wh-what time is it?” I ask hoarsely. My mouth is like a desert, and my throat is so scratchy.
“Samantha,” I hear my brother call, only his voice is different. Deeper.
I open my eyes and blink from the brightness of the room. After a few moments to let my eyes adjust, I find myself in a hospital room. “What’s going on?” I ask, trying to sit up on the bed.
Alex wraps his arms around me and kisses my face.
“Jeez, bro, I love you too.” I croak with a small chuckle. “Gosh, you act like you haven’t seen me in years.”
Alex pulls back and stares into my eyes. “That’s because, it’s been ten years since I’ve heard your voice.”
The air thickens, making it hard for me to breathe. “What do you mean, it’s been ten years? We were just heading home from that party, just last night.”
Alex squeezes my hand. “No, sis, you’ve been in a coma. Today is our twenty-seventh birthday.”
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