Ethan's thoughts:
"Ethan, come on E, wake up." That's Benny's voice. I can hear him, but I can't move and can't see. It's like a heavy blanket is on me, holding me down. What? What is that? It feels like … stroking. Someone's stroking my face. "Wake up E." Benny again. He must be the one stroking my face. It feels good, calming me from freaking out about not being able to see or move. "Ethan, can you hear me? Grandma says sometimes unconscious people can hear even though they're out. I wish there was some way I could know you were listening." I wish I could move to show you I'm listening Benny. I really do. I can hear the worry in his voice. "Ethan, buddy, I need you. Please E, wake up soon. I miss you." Benny…
I wonder how long I was out this time. "Ethan, come on dude, you gotta wake up! Benny's a mess without you. I mean, he's just like miserable. Me and Sarah are trying to help him but … he's not the same without you by his side." Rory. What's he doing here, wherever here is? "Me and Sarah miss you too of course, but we both have faith that you'll wake up soon. Benny has faith too, but he's so worried." Benny. He needs me. I gotta wake up. I can't let the darkness get to me again. I need to wake up. For him. For all of them. I need to …
…
"Ethan, you okay?" Is that … Jane? "You're lucky that it's summer break. Mom and dad don't know you're asleep. They just think that you're going through teenage angst or something like that. I overheard them talking. Benny's paid me to not tell them. I wouldn't anyway but don't tell him that, I can use the money." Jane, you are so devious. "Anyway, wake up Ethan. It's not the same at home. I miss picking on you. And I would pick on Benny but he just mopes." Jane, thank you …
…
I won't let the darkness get to me this time. I will wake up. I will! Even if I have to force myself. "Ethan! Your hand twitched! The first sign of movement. Grandma! His hand twitched! Grandma!" Benny sounds so happy. I love hearing him that happy. "Ethan, come on, I need you, please wake up. Please." "Benny, what happened?" "Grandma, his hand twitched! It's the first sign of movement I've seen since bringing him here." "Well, then hopefully he'll wake up soon." Hopefully I do. What is that? I can feel someone holding onto my hand, intertwining my fingers with theirs. "Ethan, I gotta tell you something, even if you won't remember I'll feel better telling you this and getting it off my chest." Benny, what do you have to tell me? And I hope I remember because it sounds important. "Ethan… I found the poem you wrote… about the person you like. I think I remember it by heart actually. Let's see how did it go… Oh yeah. 'Taller than me, that's what I see. Hair as dark as mine, flared away from me. Eyes a beautiful sea foam green, always get to me. Why can't you see that we're meant to be?'" YOU FOUND MY POEM? Oh right, he can't hear me. I just screamed in my head for nothing. But he found it. Oh no. Nonononononononono. "Ethan did you hear me? Your hand is tightening around mine. E, it's okay. I don't mind. I… I like you back. I mean, if you wrote that about me. If not, then I really hope you forget that I just admitted my feelings. Ethan…"