Free Dream Runner by Gail McFarland

behind them. Pulling away from the doctor, Libby stopped walking and folded her arms around her body. She was suddenly very cold. “So she’s out of the coma now, right?”
    “Ms. Belcher,” the doctor said slowly, “we’ve already reviewed the procedure of the medically induced coma with you, and—“
    “And it’s time you got off your medical high-horse and talked some common sense to me, Dr. Reynolds.” Libby stretched herself to her full five feet and looked directly into the doctor’s chin. “That’s my friend you’ve got in there, and she doesn’t have an idea in the world about what’s going on. You’re playing God with her life, puttin’ her to sleep for days at a time, waking her up when you feel like it…You need to talk to me!”
    “Right, then.” Reynolds swept his teeth with his tongue, and then tucked it into his cheek. “Two days in the coma has pretty much done its job, and she’s healing.”
    “Uh-uh. That’s not what I’m talking about,” Libby frowned. “What I want to know is, when are you gonna wake her up and tell her? She deserves to know.”
    “And so she will. At this point, that’s the best answer I can give you.” The doctor turned on his heel and walked away from her.
    “You arrogant SOB,” Libby muttered, going back into Marlea’s room. “You know you owe her some kind of explanation, and you need to be here to give it to her.”
    The nurse murmured something as she quietly left the room. Libby heaved a sigh and went back to the blue, vinyl-covered chair where she had left her stash of magazines. Flopping low in the chair, she watched Marlea’s sleeping form and was grateful for the gentle rise and fall of her chest.
    “But one day soon, you’re gonna wake up. Then what?” Libby promised herself that Hal would understand if she spent another night at the hospital. “I’m his wife,” she said softly, hoping Marlea could hear her, “but I’m your friend. I’ll be here when you wake up, Marlea. I’ll be right here.”
    Libby had no idea when she had fallen asleep, but she knew it was her name that awakened her. Her eyes moved fast, taking in her surroundings. Hospital. Oh, yeah. Marlea . She carefully pushed herself erect in the hard blue wooden-armed vinyl chair and looked across the room.
    “Libby?”
    Libby held her breath. Marlea’s head moved on the white pillow, then her hand against the stark white sheet, the fingers lifting slowly. “Hey, girl,” Libby whispered, rising slowly. Easing through the shadows, she made her way to the bedside. Marlea’s breathing was shallow and raspy. She sounds tired , Libby thought, looking into her friend’s slack face. It’s like she’s been drained of herself, and this shell is all that’s left of her. I hope it’s enough. It was willpower alone that kept her from falling to her knees and weeping. “How you doin’?”
    “I…” Marlea coughed and then cleared her throat. “Where…what…” She closed her eyes and coughed again. Her eyelids fluttered, settled almost long enough to cue sleep, then fluttered nearly open. “Where…what…”
    “I know,” Libby said softly. “You want to know where you are.” Marlea nodded. “What happened.” Marlea nodded again.
    Debating whether or not to lie, Libby dropped her eyes and wished for the intervention of a night-stalking nurse. When none showed up, she took Marlea’s fingers between her hands. She felt the cool fingers tense, anticipating. “You’re in the hospital, Marlea. You’re at Grady.”
    “Hospital?” Marlea’s head moved against the pillow, her face a study in confusion, as she struggled to stay awake. “Why?”
    Oh, Lord, don’t make me have to answer this girl , Libby prayed, turning her eyes to the ceiling.
    “Why?” Marlea whispered along the edge of a yawn.
    Libby was still trying to find the right words when she felt Marlea’s fingers slip free of her own. Marlea had succumbed to sleep.
    Grateful for the reprieve,