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I forcedto tell the unfamiliar voice that someone had set fire toabout that But the words couldn’t ain Closer

So squeezed my hand

Michael?

He leaned over o”

I wanted to mumble “okay,” but the darkness pulled et the word out

There was that beeping noise again Jesus Christ, it was irritating This time as I swam up out of unconsciousness, the pain in my shoulder wasn’t so bad Not at all

My eyelids were heavy, and it took hts, to get them to stay open

When they did, the first person I saas Michael He sat sprawled in a seat beside me, his eyes closed, his face pale beneath his natural tan I wondered what he was doing in h my bed was

And the beeping

Christ, the beeping

Withoutmy head, I took in the room around me and realized I was in a hospital bed

A needle with a drip was stuck in my hand

The beeping was from the monitors above my head

What …

A loud bang ricocheted in my ears, and I winced