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So, I thought of her incessantly Sadly, I had no chance to dream about her because sleep was impossible with a crushed elbow and what felt likeout of the back of my head

When Rachel makes it to the side of my bed—the side with the busted elbow—I can see the dark circles under her eyes and the grim set to her lips I want to reach my hand out to touch her

To comfort her

But I can’t

Her eyes roam all over my face I have no clue what it looks like, but I try to put on a cheerful look despite how crappy I feel None of that matters now that I’m back home

“You scared a lot of people back ho the bed rail so hard her knuckles are white

“Are you okay?” I ask,to her belly

“Yeah,” she says in a raspy, dull voice “Me and the baby are fine”

“You don’t sound fine,” I say flatly I sort of iined she’d be overjoyed to see me alive and well

“I thought you had died” I didn’t think it was possible, but her voice is flatter than mine

“But I didn’t,” I reply in a singsong voice, trying to make her smile

It doesn’t work Her expression darkens, and her blue eyes turn alray with pain

“Hey,” I say softly,to h with frustration, and use my voice only “It’s okay I’m fine”

“I can see that,” she murmurs She even atteray in her eyes

“I heard h the door Rachel turns and looks over her shoulder

Mya cardboard tray with three large Styrofoam cups with lids

Rachel backs away from the bed so my mom can come in She s with happy tears Her hand coht”