Free Compass (Siren Songs Book 2) by Stephie Walls Page B

ignites a level of irritation I’ve never felt. Something that only yesterday seemed so insignificant, I wholeheartedly took for granted, and now I’m completely debilitated. As each minute passes, I lose more control over my muscle function. Taking deep breaths to calm myself, the table slowly moves into position and the lights go out in the room around me. I hold as still as possible while the technicians do their job counting the minutes until I can see Piper again.
    Returning to my room in the ER, I don’t find my wife. Instead, my mother and father are both waiting for me. My mom looks like Jeremy’s mom did the night he passed away. My dad seems confused. Hell, so am I. As much as I love them, they aren’t who I want with me.
    “Where’s Piper?” My question is callous, but I need her. They don’t understand me, so I grab the paper in my mom’s hand indicating I need something to write with. She produces a pen from her purse and waits while I scratch out my question.
    “She’s in the waiting room. They didn’t want two of us back here. She begged the nurse to let us both in so we could see you.” My mom’s voice sounds haunted. Fear hangs in the air.
    I nod my head in understanding. This is all going to become a waiting game, so I’m sure there’s plenty of time for me to spend with her. The presence of anyone else at my side irritates me.
    “Son, we’re going to get through this. You have a group of people who love you and are going to do whatever we need to do to get you back to a hundred percent.”
    It’s a nice gesture. I’m sure my dad means well, but it’s a little premature. We have no idea what this is, nor what it will take to get me back to fully functioning, or if that’s even possible. I try to voice my concern, but neither of my parents understand me. When my mom tries to hand me the paper and pen again, I knock it out of her hand, sending it sailing across the floor before turning away. She starts to cry and it just pisses me off. She’s not the one lying in a damn hospital bed. If I’m not crying, she needs to suck it the fuck up.
    “We’ll be in the waiting room, Moby. I’ll send Piper back in.”
    I don’t turn to face him but I know he’s still in the room.
    “You need to change your attitude, son. My guess is you have a long road in front of you. Anger won’t get you anywhere.” He pats my arm as he exits.
    Fuck him.
    Did he really just tell me anger won’t get me anywhere? My dad’s not the one lying here unable to move the left side of his body at thirty-two years old, unable to speak coherently. He’s not the one with a new wife who has two mortgages to pay on her own if I can’t work. No left side function leaves me pretty well useless in a gym. The rage building inside me is threatening to boil over, and we’ve only been here a few measly hours.
    When the curtain opens, my wife’s sweet smile greets me. I’m sure my parents gave her the run down on my attitude, but I can’t tell it by looking at her.
    “Any word from the doctors yet?”
    I shake my head, no sense in pissing myself off more trying to talk when no one understands me.
    “Are you hungry?”
    I shake my head again. I’m not going to bother trying to respond with any other answer. Surely, someone will bring food eventually.
    “Are you not talking to me?” She pokes me in the side, repeatedly trying to get me to crack a smile. I can’t ignore her peppered kisses and continued assault on my ribs. Releasing a laugh, she pulls back. “So?” Apparently she wants an answer. I motion for the pen I so loving shoved out of my mom’s hand that’s now lying on the floor. “No way. Talk to me.”
    “You won’t understand me.” My words a garbled mess. Hell, it sounds foreign to my ears, and I spoke the damn words.
    “Sure, I will. So tell me, are you hungry?” She always brings me back. Points me in the right direction. There’s no doubt in my mind she’s a gift to me from God. He sent her