Chapter 3
"Morning, Alex. It's Jennifer.
How are you feeling today? Ok, then, don't answer me. Be a stubern
bastard," Jennifer chuckled. "Ok, Ok, Ok. So you can't answer me
right now. Being in a coma has a tendency to keep a person from talking,
doesn't it?
"You know, you're missing a lot
out here in the real world. I'm sure whatever friends and family you have are
worried sick about you right now. I know if I were in their possition I would
be worried about you myself.
"So, what do you plan on doing
today? Laying in bed all day? Sounds like fun to me. If I had that option, I'd
probably take it myself! Unfortately, I have things I have to do. Like taking
care of your sorry ass. You know, my job would be a whole lot easier if you
could help me out here. But you're not willing to do that, now are you?"
As she talked, Jennifer fluttered
about, ming AJ a comfortble as possible. With tears in her eyes, she watched
him lay there, still as death. He looked so peaceful, and yet...
Shaking her head, Jennifer at down and
started to read aloud. No matter what happened, she wasn't going
to fall for this young gentalman. He had family somewhere, and probably a wife
judging the eligant, yet almost plain ring on his finger. She wasn't going to
do this to herself again.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Hello? Anyone there? Where am
I?" AJ's voice echoed back to him. Running water ran in the distance, and
the trees around him had an almost hazed look to them. As he turned in a
complete curcle, he noticed that he was in a small clearing, yet it felt like it
was full of...something.
"Can anyone hear me? Please, help
me," he called out in desperation. Sitting down on a large bolder, AJ
dropped his head into his hands and started to sob. "Oh, Sarah, forgive
me. I didn't mean to...Please don't leave me, I need you so incredably
bad...Sarah, I love you. Please don't leave me."
"AJ?" A soft voice called to
him from the mist gathered at the edge of the clearing.
"Over here! Please help," he
yelled out, jumping to his feet.
Out of the mist a tall, black haired,
green eyed young woman stepped out. Her eye's filled with compation and tears
as she watched AJ.
Stepping forward until he could see
her, she smiled softly, "Welcome."
"Welcome? What are you talking
about?"
"Not many show up here. I'm
surpised you of all people did," she said as she bent down and picked a
wild orchid.
"What are you talking
about?"
"It's lonely here when you have
to live here alone. It's nice to get visitors once in a while."
"Huh? What's going on
here?!"
"I hope you'll be able to
stay."
Walking over to her, AJ grabbed the
young woman by the shoulders and swung her around until she was looking him in
the eyes. "Tell me what the hell is going on here!"
"Welcome to...well, I guess you'd
call it limbo before limbo. This is where people come before they live or
die," she said bluntly, hiding the pain that seeped in her soul and heart
from her eyes.
"WHAT?!?"
Sighing, the young woman sat on the
bolder AJ had been sitting earlier. "You might as well make yourself
comfortable, Alex. You may be here for a while. You may be here for all
eternity for all I know."
"Who are you, and how do you know
who I am?" he asked confused.
"You can call me Anya. I'm the
one who...well, I guess you could say that I reside here. Sometimes I'm aloud
to visit Etheria, but I've never been able to stay there permenantly. I'm
praying someday I will. At least it's not as lonely there as it is here."
"What am I doing here."
"You're here until you deside in
your heart if you want to live or die.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Kev, have you seen Nick?" Brian
asked, worry filling his eyes and voice.
"Yea, he was going to check all the clubs
and bars we haven't already covered. He tod me that he though AJ might be in
one of them looking for a little fun before..."
"God Damn It!! Kevin, do you relise what
that boy's doing?" Brian asked, almost screaming at his cousin.
"Looking for his other best friend?"
Kevin asked calmly. He was surprised Brian was acting this way. Normally he was
the one that had to hold Kevin back when Nick started acting like this.
"He's out geting drunker then AJ ever had
been, and doing God only knows what! How could you let him? He's only..."
"Twenty-three. Give your cousin a rest,
Brian. Aren't you the one that keeps jumping on Kevins ack when he treats Nick
like a little kid?" Elizabeth asked as she walked over and handed Kevin a
cup of strong coffee.
"And who do you think you are, making
assumptions about someone you don't even know?! Who are you anyway?" Brian
sputtered, not wanting to admit that his cousin was right.
"This is Elizabeth. In fact, Bri, you
should remember her," Kevin said, chuckling.
"And why's that?"
"She's the only one who's ever been
successful at scaring you to death."
"What are you talking about? The only one
who's been able to do that was..."
"Our inocent angel from camp."
"God, no, please don't tell me what I
think you're trying to tell me. Please?" Brian begged, his eyes filled
with fearful memories.
Elizabeth leaned over and gave his a big hug.
"Sorry, Rok, but I'm back. Maybe I'll put Naomi's replacement where I put
her."
"Oh God! Why me?" Brian moaned into
his hands.
Before she could respond the telephone started
rining.
"Hello?" Kevin answered, hope
filling his eyes.
"Mr. Richardson?" a strange voice
asked.
"This is him, how may I help you."
"By any chance do you know a young man
about 5 feet 10, brown eyes, bright hair that's obviously a dye job..."
"So many tattoos it takes a while just to
count them all, esspesually on his arms? Yea, I know him. HIs name's AJ McLean.
Why do you ask?"
"I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
My name's Dr. Charles McKenzie. I work at Florida Medical Center. There was a
young man brought in a week ago fitting the discription you just gave me. I'm
sorry to have to be the one to tell you, but Mr. McLean's in a coma. From the
extent of his ingeries, I don't expect him to survive a month."
***
