FATE

97. Fluorescent Tubes

BROOKE

The polystyrene tiled ceiling greets me when I wake up, followed by the headache and pain that comes from the side of my head. Although the covered fluorescent tubes on the ceiling are not as bright as they could be, it's enough for me to close my eyes and groan.

"Brooke!"

I turn to my side. Blake is seated next to me, a happy yet tired smile on his face. He's dressed in his work clothes, but they're not the same ones I last saw him in and he looks stressed.

"Blake", I try to say but it comes out as a small whisper. I push myself up on the bed and he supports me with his hand.

"Don't move too much", he says, "you hit your head pretty hard"

"What happened?"

"You don't remember?"

I remember wanting to go to the cave, and I remember falling and not knowing what to do next. I remember dreaming about Jonah saving me. Seriously, of all the last things I could dream about, it had to be him.

I shake my head and Blake frowns. I place my hand on the side of my head, it's bandaged. That's going to be hard to hide.

"I guess you and Jonah were supposed to meet somewhere but when he got there, he found you on the floor", he explains.

I open my eyes wide, "Jonah?"

"At least that's what he told me", Blake crosses his arms, "did he lie? It was hard to tell if he was lying. He was pretty disoriented and I could hardly understand anything he was saying"

"Jonah's here?"

It wasn't a dream. He's back and he saw me. What was he doing there?

"Well, he left when I got here after work but he spent all night and day with you", Blake says, "you've been here since yesterday"

"I want to see him", I try to hop off the bed.

"Whoa there", he holds me back, "not until you get checked by a doctor and put me at ease. I was worried sick about you"

I pause to stare at him, then I look down at my feet. They're naked. I wonder where my shoes are. I'm still wearing the same clothes from before though.

"You worry about me", I say softly.

Blake scoffs, "of course I worry about you Brooke, you're my sister"

I take a deep breath and blink away the tears leaking out the side of my face. Why is it so easy for me to start crying?

I wish I didn't remember some things when I woke up, like how my entire life has been a lie since the day I was born and how I've been dreading letting Blake know because I don't know if he'll still see me as his sister, or as our mother's secret.

"What if I'm not your sister?", I murmur in a low tone.

"Are you crying?", Blake asks in an alarmed tone, "does your head hurt?", he places his fingers under my chin and raises my head to stare at him. When he sees my face, he frowns, "I'm going to call the doctor"

"No, not now", I say quickly, "I need to tell you something first"

"But you're in pain"

"I just have a headache. That's not why I'm like this"

He looks unsure but he motions to sit next to me anyway. "What's up?"

"Mom and I fought"

"I know about that", he says, "but you shouldn't let her get to you Brooke. You know how she is"