Estranged Heart

Prologue

Silas

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Securing the ear tips of the stethoscope in my ears, I listen to the steady sounds of my heart while kicking my legs forward.

“Sounds good, huh?” my dad says, removing the ear tips from my ears to place them back in his. The cold circular metal part comes in contact with the naked skin of my back when Dad lifts my shirt, and I try my best to stay relaxed.

“Can I listen again?” I beg. The sounds give me hope. I can run again. Play basketball. Go on roller-coaster rides with friends at theme parks. At fifteen, I haven’t exactly lived the normal life of a kid. I almost thought I wouldn’t be able to have the full experience of a teen either. My last surgery and the new meds might just prove otherwise.

“Sure, and then you need to go get changed so we can meet your new teachers in three hours.”

Going back to school means seeing more people my age. I haven’t been since third grade when I first passed out performing in a school play. During the summer, I’d had two neighborhood friends I hung out with until dinner, but when the school year started up again I got lonely. I only saw my mom, and a tutor who came to the house twice a week. Hopefully I won’t have to go back to that again.

Not that I don’t enjoy either of their company, but neither are as enthused as I am when it comes to comic books, the latest video games, or anime shows. My best friend Mark is, though, and Stacey pretends to be. I think she secretly likes me. I haven’t had the courage to tell her that I like her back. I’m the only one who ever compliments her on her weird hairstyles and colorful skirt collection. She gets prettier every year too. Also something I can’t mention to her. Who’d want to date someone who gets sick all the time? It’s too soon to tell if I still will or not.

My dad listens to a few more areas on my back and chest before placing the ear tips in my ears again. “I’ll leave you to it. You know where it goes when you’re done.”

Nodding, I close my eyes and spend the next thirty minutes listening to my functioning heart. Going from slow and steady to fast when a knock comes to the living room window.

Stacey smiles at me, big and wide. She’s wearing four separate braids with different colored ribbons twisted in her hair. Waving, I stand up from my dad’s brown leather recliner and hold up a finger. I don’t have time to hang out long but I want to at least tell her the good news.

Moving too quickly, I almost trip over the floral area rug on the wooden floor. Catching my balance, I glance around and breathe a sigh of relief when Stacey is no longer at the window. I rush toward my dad’s office and put the stethoscope in a small case in the bottom drawer of his desk. As I’m straightening back up, cold hands cover my eyes. “Guess who?”

Twisting my lips, I tap my chin with my index finger, pretending to think long and hard about my answer. “Grandpa Gene.”

Stacey sputters a laugh. “No. Guess again.”

“Hmm . . . the old lady down the street who always yells at me for walking too close to her grass.”

“Her name is Mrs. Moore and she’s actually very sweet once you get to know her.”

“Is that so?” I say, pulling away to spin around and face the girl I want my heart to always work for.

“Yup. She makes the best peanut butter cookies too.” Her lips spread so wide dimples appear in the corners above her mouth.

“And you didn’t think once to invite me?”

She smirks. “You have to earn those invites from her, and that only happens when you don’t walk too close to her grass.”

I laugh. “Fine. I’ll walk in the street so the cars can honk at me instead.”

“Good idea.” She presses a palm to my chest. “Feels like mine today.”

“Let me see.” I place a shaky hand over her heart and she replaces her hand with my other one.

“See. The same.”

“Yeah.” Smiling brightly, I suck in a breath.

“The surgery was a success then?” Her head tilts.

Nodding, I keep both hands where they are, not wanting to move them anytime soon. I feel so linked to her in a way I never have been before. It’s almost like we’re in sync—my heart beating when hers does.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

“That’s good. Are we going to stay like this all day then?”

Pausing for a moment, I focus on the matching rhythms under my hands a little longer before responding. “No. It’s just nice knowing I’m working like everyone else.”

She places a hand on each of mine, her face beaming. “Well, feel free to come over or call me whenever you need more reassurance.”

As long as my heart keeps beating, I know I always will. I’m not sure anything can ever keep me from running in her direction. Not today, tomorrow, or ever.

Or so I thought.