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Chapter 19

Opening my eyes seemed like an impossible task, so I didnʼt even attempt it People spoke in hushed tones around uish one voice fro chemicals strained to mask the decidedly more human smells underneath

"Scout?"

I knew that voice It took a couple of tries, but ed to pry thehtly blurry and surreal The television blended seamlessly into the cabinet that faded into the wall that was attached to the head of a ed woman with curly brown hair, petite features, and sky-colored eyes

"Moue triple its nor to be just fine"

"Where--?" Had someone washed my tonsils with a Brillo pad? I didnʼt knoas possible for a throat to hurt so much

"Youʼre in the hospital There was an accident"

Hospital? Accident?

I re in the woods with Alex He had let me see him as a wolf, and then--

Oh God

"Alex! Mom, Alex! We have to help Alex!" I bolted up, but i, a blood-curdling, ear-splitting sound that filled the tiny room

"Scout! Donʼt try to move!" Mom placed her hands on my shoulders to restrain me, but it was unnecessary I couldnʼtin lared at the portly wo in the rooive it to her before she busts her stitches out!"

And then the world went black again

Our final play in Shakespeare was to be Rorand finale, in my opinion With the exception of that really pretty version with a pre-balding Leonardo DiCaprio, I pretty much hated Romeo and Juliet The plot never ers kill the each other for a couple of days? I didnʼt get it

Lying in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, I finally understood Alex and I had known each other less than nine ht with the intent of dying by his side Instead, I ended up in a hospital roo overthe monitors, IV drips, and pillow situation while Dad stared blankly at the television I spent ainst the tiny , disappointed that ed to beat