I open my eyes and stare at the bright light above me. 'Did I fall back asleep?' I wondered. I looked around the room to see if anyone had entered, but no one was here. 'I guess it should be expected, not like they have time for only me.' My head has been throbbing since yesterday, although the pain has been nominal. It's just annoying honestly. 'When will I get out of here?' It's not like I'm really that injured. I was told that when the crash happened, my seat belt protected me from flying through the windshield. 'Like Summer' I felt a pain in my chest. 'She should've had her seatbelt on, what an idiot.' I attempted to crack a smile at my joke, but couldn't seem to. I sighed and laid back down on the bed. The bed deflated into a comfortable position as my body plummeted into it. 'These beds are much more comfortable than they look' I thought. My door opened up, it wasn't slammed this time at least. There was still a mark on the wall from where the door hit it, and mom had to apologize to the doctor.
"Max, you up?" The doctor said.
"No, I'm still asleep." I responded.
The doctor quietly closed the door behind him and pulled a chair in beside my bed for him to sit in. In his hands was a clipboard and a few papers.
"It's about time we start some tests to check if your brain is all fine. I assume you've calibrated to your new space at this point, yes? Can you tell me where we are?" The doctor raised an eyebrow.
"The hospital." I bluntly responded.
"Could you specify what hospital?"
"Appalachian Plateau Hospital."
"Good. Could you tell me what you're doing here?"
"I got into a car wreck."
"Good. Just a few more things here. What's your name and birthday?"
"Max Smith, August 22, 2001."
"What's today's date?"
"September 17, 2015"
"Good. Finally, where do you live?"
"9791 Crossing Ridge North, Craycraft Kentucky"
"Well Max, it seems like you'll be discharged here soon. I don't see anything wrong with your brain and most of your injuries have healed great. The only thing we'll need is to give you a pair of crutches for a few weeks."
I looked back over at my left leg. 'Of all the things to not heal fast, of course my leg was one of them.' I shook my head.
"How many weeks will I need the crutches?"
"I'd say, maybe 4-6 weeks."
I sighed. The doctor stood up and walked over to the door. He reached for the handle, but stopped. He turned his head and looked at me with a somber expression in his eyes.
"Your sister will be staying with us for a while. She isn't showing reactions to any form of stimuli."
I pretended to be surprised. But I already knew it. When I heard him and that nurse talking about her, I immediately looked up the Glasgow Scale. Basically, she's classified as brain dead. She doesn't respond to anything. Not pain. Not light. Not sound. Nothing. The doctor averted his eyes to the door and quietly said,
"I'm sorry."
Then he left the room. A few minutes later, my mom came in, tears in her eyes. My father behind her, looking at the floor. She walked up to me and pulled me into a tight embrace. She moved her hand up and down my back, although I wasn't sure if she was trying to comfort me or herself. She sat there for a minute or two before releasing me.
"Max… I'm so sorry… your sister…" she stifled between sobs.
"I know mom, I know." I looked at the floor. Silent tears ran down her face with the only sound coming from her sniffles. We sat in the pseudo-silence for a while before dad spoke up.
"Your sister will pull through, she's always been strong."
He's right. If there was anyone who would pull through it would be Summer. She was always one upping me in everything. Sports, grades, friends, everything. 'I always hated her, so why do I feel so sad?' I was confused. I knew I should feel sad, but I never actually thought I would. I mean, she always bullied me and teased me. I've even had thoughts of locking her in her room so she can't escape and other things along those lines, so why? Why did I feel this pain in my chest?