Nonentity

Nonentity

Tendrils of flames engulfed everything. Smoke blurred my vision and stung my eyes. I had no choice but to jump out of the window. The pain from my landing caused me to knock out.

I woke in a hospital bed hearing all sorts of beeps and seeing awkward tubes everywhere. I found my best friend, Ryan, sleeping with his head down on the side of the bed. I wanted to wake him up and ask him why I was here, but i looked around.There were flowers and get-well cards along the windowsill. They brightened the monotonous room. I couldn’t remember what happened that caused me to be here. I thought so hard my head started to ache. I tried to get up but my legs were stiff and felt like I hadn’t moved in ages. How long have been here? Ryan shifted positions and looked up to check on me. His eyes became large and began to water. “Leah,” he cried and hugged me.  I felt tears flow down my cheeks as I hugged him back. Why was he crying? Why was I crying? “What happened,” I asked. His look turned from happy to sad and sympathetic.
He started crying again when he started talking. He told me everything from the fire to the five days I’ve been sleeping. Everything hit me. I had been the only one at home that night. Mom and Dad went out and big bro left for college two weeks before. I could’ve stopped it. I started to sob blaming myself for having everything disintegrate in a fire. “its not your fault. The pros said someone started the fire,” he said. He got into the bed with me and I pressed my face into his chest and let all my emotions run through. My tears wet his t-shirt. He held me tight and stroked my the back of my head like he did many times before. But this time it felt different. I looked up at him and noticed nothing but his lips. They seemed to beckon me to kiss him.