Heavy light

Jane slowly opened her eyes. The room was bright and she felt sick. No, sick was an understatement. She was dyeing it was official. The light pierced her cornea offering her no mercy. The light shot through right to her brain at every peak. Her eyelids flutter showing her small glimpses of the room.

Jane could feel the dry vomit in the back of her mouth and much more was brewing in her core below. It wasn't long before the green liquid covered the side of her bed. Her hair wasn't spared and she didn't care. Bitter taste remained as a reminder of its wrath. The involuntarily liquid spared her only moments of pain, it slowly build back up to its full strength. Threatening her once again.

Jane's eyes rolled around in her head looking for anything to hold her gaze. Her breathing was steady and short. It didn't hurt to breathe but it wasn't easy. Her eyes roamed, looking for anything to focus on, something to pull her conversation. Sweat dripped down her headline clinging her hair to the back of her neck. Her eyes continued to roll around in her head, as her eyelashes tried to provide protection. Jane felt an out of body numbness, while her head swam in it's dizzy reply.

She couldn't remember the last time she felt so sick. Maybe once a very long time ago. When she was hospitalized, many years ago. It was hard to compare the past to her current status. The memory was hazy and she didn't wish to recall it. It wasn't like she hadn't felt sick before in fact she seamed to get sick at least once a year, just never like this. She felt dead, no, she felt undead. If it wasn't for the pain remanding her that she was alive, then she would be dead.

Jane knew she wasn't in her bed and didn't care. She didn't care that she was now covered in vomit. Or that her favorite blanket wasn't there to hold her. She didn't care if she was alone or not. No comfort could soothe her pain. She felt like dyeing was a better option. She wished she could spread her angle wings and fly away. Jane would welcome the grim reaper as a friend and beg him to take her away. Yet the steady ruthenium of her heart echoed through the room.

Her whole body ached, placed she didn't know she had resonated pain with in her. She felt hot and cold simultaneously. Making her comfort impossible. Her back, butt and legs felt like weights where strapped to them. Tossing felt impossible so she just laid in one spot. Slowly molding the mattress to her frail body. The feeling of a dole numbing spread along her lower limbs. Meanwhile a fever raged over her upper body. Her chest clinched and her stomach turned. Jane focused on breathing, the sounds of the air leaving and returning to her lunges. Holding her eyes shut to only to open them for only a millisecond. Focusing was all she had to quiet the off key orchestra in her head.

Jane noticed a man standing at the computer. She could feel his presence in the room. The back of his white jacket welcomed her as he slipped in and out of focus we. She couldn't recall any physical features do you her foggy state. His voice was strong and at the same second it was soothing. She liked it somehow reminding her of her father. The childhood feeling of protection emanated from his white coat. She knew he was speaking about her, giving orders to a person. Words that she couldn't understand. Her mind mixed the words forwarded and backwards and forwards again. She blinked and then closed her eyes.

A lady came in and cleaned her face and whipped down her hair. She ran a brush through her hair and talked sternly. If Jane wasn't so sick she would have had words with this lady. Jane felt as if her personal space had been violated. Her blanket was removed from under her like a tablecloth leaving the table, quickly not disturbing the cutlery. The cold sheet welcomed her, and Jane's body reacted in a mixed fashion. Jane was rolled from one side to the other, as the a new blanket took its place. She was quickly covered up with a new warm blanket. The comfort of the blanket calmed her back into the world of sleep. Thankful to leave the ruthenium of this room behind her.

Her dreams brought her back to the creek. She could hear the sounds of the water. The slight breeze kissed her face and beckoned her to fall deeper into tranquility. The tall cliff walls that seamed to challenge the sky shouted hello. The sound and the stream Echoed through her mind. Slowly massaging a her brain into a happy state. The sight of the water that seamed to wind father down then any of them could venture. Brought excitement that had been long forgotten. The smell of the bushes that grew under the foliage swam in the air of the tall tree canopy circled around her. It just was a dream and yet she was home.

Two boys played on the edge of the cliff edge waiting for her. One face was clear and it showed a cunning smile. He felt like family, like a little brother, yet different. How did she recognize him. His smile warmed her dreams. The three of them crossed the bridge made of rope, braided wire cords and wooden planks. She listened to the sound of their footsteps a long forgotten sound that resonated in her sole.

On their way to their secret fort, they throw rocks down the canyon edge. Giggling and laughing as they watched the rocks bounce down the cliff. She felt the butterflies in her chest as she peaked over the edge. Slowly they wondered into the forest to the tree fort. The boys called to her to join them. She climbed up the rope ladder. She sat on a cushion and pulled a card game from her backpack fallowed by snacks she had robbed from the pantry. The dream seamed so real. It was so sweet a small tear streamed down her cheek.

Her body relaxed and she soon drifted into a deeper sleep. The boys faded away slowly as she yelled to them, meet you tomorrow. She waved goodbye and ran across the bridge. Soon they where gone back to the deep happy corners of her mind. Ready to welcome her another day.

....

Troy walked out of the building and the sun welcomed him. Normally the sun was his friend, but not today. The sun was not his friend today Troy had no friends. The warmer the better was Troy's outlook on weather. He loved the sun welcoming him. He liked being hot. He didn't mind taking off extra clothes as needed. Neither did anyone else mind him shedding his shirt. Air conditioning are priceless and he preferred them to heaters. His eyes still hurt and the sun stung. He was still hazy and angry. His eyes took a beating from last night and the sun was doing its best to finish him off. He felt like it was him against the world today and he was losing.

Troy found a pair of sunglasses from his pack. he needed all the help he could get today, even if it was from tinted plastic. It had only been six hours since he woke up. Plenary of time to be focused, yet he was struggling. He had learned his whole life was fake, his parents where lying to him. He learned that he was part of a hidden research, that was a test, that he had failed. This was the first test he had failed as long as he could remember. He was losing his little brother to the same this same lye. The same one he had been rejected from.

It was now twenty eight hours since when he went missing. An alibi had already been created. More lyes that he had to now live by. His mother was informed only hours after he went missing. Before he even woke, his destiny was set for him. No, it was decided for him like a toddler. All along his decision where never his own, he was a puppet. He had to play along. Troy felt like a child and wasn't happy about it. Troy walked out to a car that was ready for him.

Troy retrieved the keys in the center conceal and started the rental car. It was provided for him and was a huge part of his story. Troy started to drive to meet his mother, they needed to talk. It had to be in person and alone. So despite his ornate desire for answers he was just going to have to wait. Since the news of his brother had already reached the hospital. He was going to have to play dumb. That meant no phones.

The news of Reese was already spreading like a small typhoon. Troy's phone started to buzz nonstop during the drive. Troy had a few hours to collect himself. He turned his phone to silent and turned in the radio. Focusing on driving was all he could do. He drove with his hands clinched and a rock glair at the windshield.

....

Ann was staying at a motel nearby with Angela's parents. She had accommodations made for them by the hospital till they had more information or until they where ready to go. She was waiting for details given by the hospital. In truth she was buying time for Troy to arrive. In reality she was aiding in the confusion regarding Troy and Angela. No one else knew all the information except her.

Ann was comforting her in-laws family and was looking for Angela in vain. She made phone calls to her friends asking if they had heard from her. Ann knew exactly where she was but she couldn't tell anyone. She had to protect her children and playing hide and seek was her best move.

Angela's mother got a phone call saying she was on her way to the hospital. That she had taken a transport service. On her way to the hospital the ambulance got in an accident and there was no survivors. Angela never arrived at the hospital, instead she had sent a text saying she heard about Reese's accident. That she was contacted by the police force by phone, with the sudden set of events and her current situation she needed some time to rest. She needed to be alone for a bit. This was the last time anyone had heard from her.

Troy had sent word that he wasn't on the ambulance like they previously thought. That he decided to rent a car because Reese was going to be transported by air at the next hospital. He also couldn't ride on the helicopter with Reese. Information he received moments before the ambulance took off. He had taken a bus to a nearby car rental.

Angela's mom roamed around the halls talking on the phone. She cupped the phone as she talked to her husband. The police said there is nothing they could do. Angela was is grown woman and technically she wasn't missing.

They where upset and where looking for answers. Sometimes the truth is just as bad as not knowing. Ann didn't know if they would ever see Angela again. Ann hoped that they wouldn't for many reasons. Russel had decided to leave her options open. She knew that Russel would give Angela the opportunity either way. How well Reese's recovery was still hanging in the balance as was Jane's. This was a huge risk on his part and they both knew it. If it went south they wanted to give her the ability to go back home.

....

Hope arrived home from her small trip. She found Russel in the study looking out the back window at the garden and to the small trail that lead out to the canyon. The small trail changed their lives so many years ago. Linking them to Ann and her boys in an tangled weave. Hope broke his concentration when she hugged him from the side. Russel kissed his Hope on the crown of he head and pulled her close.

Russel asked Hope when are you expected at the hospital. Soon she answered as they stood in the glow of the large bay window. Neither of them would have changed a thing.