FATE

77. I'm awake

JONAH

"Jonah!", a panicked voice yelled. Arms wrapped themselves around my body. It felt cold, why did it feel so cold?

"Jonah, please wake up!', I recognized the voice this time. it was his. No, I didn't want to wake up to him. I wanted to be with her.

"No no", he said in an urgent tone. Why was he so worried? I could have sworn he would be relieved.

 

I'm awake.

Something soft pokes into my chin and a slight pain eats me from the inside. I groan slightly and there's a small gasp as my eyes flicker open. In place of a ceiling is a pair of ocean blue eyes opened wide, brown curly pigtails and parted lips. Her eyelashes curve over her eyelids. I frown slightly and she gasps again before scurrying away.

I close my eyes again and open them before turning my head to glance around the room. It's arranged like a little boy's room, with posters of lightning McQueen. The wall is painted baby blue. At the end is a tv hung up with a couch in front of it. Right next to the door is a dresser and when I glance to my right, the little girl is right there, bending next to the bed and peeking at me.

"Uhm...", I mutter. My mouth is dry, too dry and my stomach hurts. I'm hungry. I stare at the white ceiling- where am I?

What's the last thing I remember? My birthday, the bathroom, my mom...Brooke.

Brooke.

I turn to the girl, "hi"

She rests her chin on the bed and studies me, "hi", she waves at me.

Her voice is so soft and pretty too. I wonder how old she is.

"What's your name?", I ask.

She stands and sits next to me on the bed, "Lauren", she answers and my heart skips a beat. She's my mom's namesake.

"Lauren?", I croak and she nods shyly, avoiding my gaze. I clear my throat, "that's a pretty name"

"Yeah, I know. I was named after my mom", she grins and my jaw clenches but then she stares at me and my demeanor calms, "your name is Jonah", she pokes my cheek.

I force a painful smile at her, "yeah. How'd you know?"

"My aunty told me", she cocks her head and smiles.

"Oh yeah?", I try to sit up but the pain holds me back. I shuffle out of the covers instead and glance at my wrist, it's covered in a bandage, "who's your aunt?", I ask, "and, where am I?"

She opens her mouth to reply but then looks up as the door opens.

"I knew you'd be here, you brat!", a voice says and I turn to stare at them.

The girl at the door freezes and her eyes open wide. Her short is white and it matches with the shirt she's wearing as well. On top of the shirt, she wears a basketball jacket. Her hair is black- dyed red at the curly tips. She pushes it behind her ears as she steps backward once.

"Jonah...", she trails.

Oh, she knows my name too.

"Who are you?", I ask and she bites her bottom lip.

"Mom!", she yells and it makes my heart pound. Her gaze shifts to the Lauren and she frowns slightly, "get out of here", she whispers loudly.

Lauren pouts slightly and turns to me, "see you later, Jonah!", she says before hopping off the bed and skipping out of the room.