Hello all! This is Nixy (Nicole) writing for Sillver who forgot an author's note. Sorry that chapter updates are taking so long...but as you know we are all busy, which is probably why not many people are leaving reviews. Thanks to xXxShadowCatxXx ( probably wrote that wrong), cross.my.heart.hope.you.die, and Suspension. You guys have been awesome reviewers...and we really really apreciate it:)

On with the chapter...props to sillver. Shes an amazing writer!

The first thing I noticed about the room was that it was small. Small and white, with three monitors that incessantly beeped…beeped…beeped…

And then, of course, Griffin.

Once Carly had fallen in the seat at his bedside and had started to cry into her hands I could get a clear shot of him. His head was bandaged heavily, almost mummy-like, and he wore a neck brace. His face was whiter than the sheets, if possible, and there were bruises on his face. His eyes were closed, and it nearly broke my heart to know they might never open again, and even if they did they would see nothing but an everlasting darkness…

Carly's parents had briefed us prior to our entry, and five minutes and two sloppy hugs later here we were—completely unprepared for the truth. My stomach was churning, churning, churning and I clapped a hand over my mouth and swallowed hard.

Oh, God…

Breathing fast, I tried to calm myself down as a sudden anger filled me again. Hatred washed over me; hatred at Zack--at my frickin' brother! My toes dug into my sneakers as I grounded my teeth in fury. This was all his fault! ALL OF IT was! I wanted to go back to his room, grab him from his bed, and drag him into to see the life he had ruined. To see the kid who'd had his life ground up and spat out like some waste product and hadn't even woken up to find that never again-never again- would he be able to look upon someone's face or gaze about the world as he had loved to do.

"No, no, no, no, no…" Carly moaned at beside, and gulping back tears I walked over to her, pulling up another chair and draping my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to me for comfort her.

"He'll be fine," I whispered soothingly, trying to stay strong for her. Tears burned the backs of my eyes but I held them at bay.

"He's blind, Cody," she murmured helplessly. I tightened my arm around her. "Cody he-," her voice broke and she closed her eyes for a moment to collect herself.

"-He's a painter. He-he lives to see things around him…" she looked at me with an expression of raw and utter despair and I felt my strong façade crumble like stone around me. "And even if he does wake up…This'll kill him…"

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Mom was asleep in the waiting room in Zack's wing, so when I slipped past her a few hours later to go talk to my brother she knew nothing of my actions. I found him asleep, too, a pained expression on his face. I ignored it.

"Zack," I said loudly. He didn't stir. "Zack!"

With a small cry he opened his eyes and I stiffened knowing he could still see anything he wanted to.

His hazel eyes, black in the dim light of the room, focused on me and his shoulders seemed to fall. Sighing softly he mouthed hi and I didn't return the greeting. When he saw that I was angry he turned his head to the side, staring seemingly at the wall, eyes glittering.

"Why?" I asked him, voice thick with emotion. I struggled to keep the anger out of it, but it came through regardless and I could make no move to stop it. "Why, man? Why didn't you stop them? Why'd you let them drive?"

Zack's voice was strained and soft, and tears fell from his eyes. Identical ones fell from my own. "I didn't know," he murmured. "It was my ride home. I-,"

"-You could have called us!" I nearly shouted at him, raw emotion making each word I spoke devastatingly clear. "You didn't have to go with them! And now-," I attempted to calm myself unsuccessfully, shaking uncontrollably. "And now Griffin's dying because of you!"

Zack's eyes were wide and slightly unfocused and perhaps a different me from a different time would have felt pity for him, but I felt only anger. And for a moment, a terrible, horrible, demoralizing moment I wished that it were Zack laying unconscious and blinded in that ICU and that Griffin was here, talking, breathing, looking at me because that, somehow, felt more fair-

-And then the weight of what I had just wished fell upon me and I nearly buckled under the shame. I covered my face with my hands and sank into a chair, sobbing for the first time all night; letting the tears overwhelm me and drown my own hideous soul.

How could I have wished such a fate upon my own brother? My twin? He may have become the scapegoat for every thing that had gone wrong this past school year, but, like it or not, he was my other half.

And I loved him because of that.

Because he was my brother.

"Cody?" His voice was soft from the bed and when I lowered my hands to look at him, to meet his worried gaze, my heart constricted in fury and pity and disgrace and fear and cold-blooded love.

"I'm sorry," I said, voice choked, as I stumbled up from the chair and clumsily made my way over to the closed door.

"What?"

I couldn't bear to look at Zack knowing what I'd almost wished upon him. He may have caused the near-death of my best friend, but I had to forgive him. I had to forgive him, because if I didn't than I'd never forgive myself.

"Cody-,"

"-You haven't been a very good br-brother to me this year," I said quietly, swallowing thickly and forcing myself to meet his identical eyes. He bit his lip, winced, but didn't look away. "But-," I began, before my voice broke and I had to clear my throat. "But maybe I-I haven't been a very good one, either,"

He sniffed and wiped a shaky hand across his eyes. "I'm sorry, man," he said sincerely, attempting to take a deep breath but coughing slightly. I nodded.

"Me, too, man. I'm sorry, too."

And that was that.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

"Cody, wake up!"

Someone was shaking me awake, and I snapped to attention; bolting up, I rubbed at my eyes and tried to get my bearings. It was that waiting room again; I must've fallen asleep when I'd gone back after talking with my brother.

Carly stood over me, dark bags under her eyes and hair wild. "Griffin's awake," she said breathlessly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "He woke up a few minutes ago and he's asking for you."

I stared back at her in disbelief, my heart skipping inconsistent beats. "Is he-?"

Carly shrugged. "He was a little…overwhelmed at first, you know, but now he's talking and he's coherent and all that..." she sighed slightly and tossed back her dark hair. "I think he's kinda in shock about the blindness."

I nodded solemnly but couldn't stop the smile from lighting up my face. "Can I go see him now?"
She motioned towards the door and as I followed her direction I saw a familiar form slip in before me. Ben, I thought immediately and I suddenly felt reassured with his presence.

It had been a hell of a night, and though the woods still stretched unheedingly before us, there was a hope inside me that seemed too bright to let die.

Clasping Carly's hand tightly in my own, I led her into the hospital room and into the next phase of our young and ceaseless lives.

Step by step, we walked inside.