Chapter 5


He could see her eyelids flickering. She was still alive, thank god, but she was struggling.
"You can do it Rae, you can do it. Wake up, please wake up."
He could hear sirens over Yana's singing, which now was American Pie, that old song from the 60s or whatever. Singing…he thought. The 911 lady had said singing sometimes helps. He couldn't sing very well, but sometimes he had to sing to Anna or Danny when they couldn't sleep. He thought for a moment, only one song came to mind. He didn't know how he knew it but he had heard it on the radio a few times.
He took a deep breath and quietly started singing the only song that fit right now.
"How do I live, without you? I want to know. How can I breathe without you? If you ever go. How can I ever…ever…survive…" he choked on a tear. What would he do without Rae? She was everything. He squeezed her hand, "How could I, how could I live?"
How pathetic am I? I must look like a complete Bluebird. This is not working. He thought bitterly. But he couldn't stop singing. It was the only option he had. He barely heard the Ambulance as it pulled up next to him. Paramedics were running out and slipping a stretcher under Rae. A few others were helping up Yana, who had joined Anthony in song, although badly off key. He followed them into the ambulance, still holding Rae's hand. He was whispering the song still.
"I think she's going to be okay, she might be in a coma for a couple of days at the most…"
He couldn't hear them. "How could I live without you, Rae…"
She twitched her eyes, and fluttered them open.
"Anthony…" she whispered, "you're crying."
He smiled, "it's going to be okay, you're going to be okay," it was more relief than a statement.
"You're crying…"
"I thought I lost you," the tears had slowed, but one was dripping down his cheek as he said that.
"They were chasing me…" She looked down at her hand, his was closed over it, fingertips on fingertips. "Your thoughts…you…" she said.
He blushed, what did she hear?
She smiled. He slowly moved his hand so that their fingertips were no longer touching, but he was still holding her hand. It was so cold.
"Anthony…" she whispered. She was trying to tell him something, but he didn't need to hear her now. She was straining to talk, and he could see it was hurting her.
"Shhh," he said, "don't talk, you can tell me once you're better."
She smiled again. He looked into her clear blue eyes, they were so full of life. He was so happy that he was seeing those wonderful, beautiful eyes. He thought he'd never see them again. He stayed with her all the way to the hospital, never taking his eyes away from hers.