It felt like forever and also just a blink before Alicia could respond.
"What? Pardon?" she said, totally surprised by the shocking news.
Chuck Noland was supposed to have died thirteen years ago. She had seen his coffin go into the ground on his funeral day. She'd visit his grave on all the holidays, leaving gifts and prayers. When someone died, they were gone for good, so where did this new Chuck Noland pop up from? It didn't make sense.
Chuck cleared his voice and said, "Alicia, it's me, Chuck Noland, the one and only."
Alicia heard him loud and clear this time, but it felt like a weird joke. She laughed, shaking her head, "No, no way. You're not Chuck Noland. Chuck is... don't pretend to be my Chuck."
As she laughed, tears started to fill her eyes.
"I really am Chuck Noland. Where are you? Still at the hospital? Let's meet up."
"I'm home now. I'm at Upper Hill."
