Chapter 31
My eyes slowly open. All I see is white. Is this what people mean when they say you see a bright light when you die?
Suddenly, my throat feels rough like sandpaper. I cough as my eyes adjust to my surroundings.
“Noah?” A voice says. I turn to it, trying to figure out who it was. Teddy places his hand into mine.
“Teddy?” I ask, not knowing if it’s really him or just a figment of my imagination. He smiles and leans over the bed I’m in. He surrounds me in a hug, and the warmth makes me feel safe.
“Where am I? Is this… a hospital?” I ask, my mind racing.
“Yep, this is a hospital, luckily for you,” I hear Cat say on the other side of me. I can’t help but smile. I guess this means I’m still alive?
“How are you feeling?” Daisy asks, and as I go to answer, a cough escapes me.
“Like shit to be honest,” I laugh, trying to hold back another cough. My head feels like it was hit by a brick a hundred times. Then, a thought jumps into my head, one that makes my blood run cold.
“Wait, what happened? The bookshop and the fire…”
“Everyone’s okay,” Teddy tells me, making me relax slightly.
“The bookshop, on the other hand, not so much,” Daisy adds with a sigh. I look at Teddy, a frown forms on his face that makes my blood boil.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do. The insurance will pay out some money, but I have no idea if it’s going to be enough to rebuild,” he sighs. My bottom lip trembles. I remember what Mr Bronze said to me, and I can’t help but feel like he’s right.
“This is all my fault. If I had just stayed away, none of this would have happened,” I tell them, guilt seeping into my heart.
“Don’t say that, Noah,” Cat says, putting a hand on mine. “If you stayed away, then you would never have met any of us. Sometimes, for good things to happen, you have to get through the bad,” she explains. I smile at her, I squeeze her and Teddy’s hands.
“Thanks, guys, I love you all so much,” I tell them, my emotions running high. I’m so happy to be alive, and that’s an extraordinary feeling.
“What happened after I passed out?” I ask.
“Well, the bronze family all got arrested, finally. And the fire service got you and Ted out of the building and took care of the fire. They said if you weren’t so close to the door, you wouldn’t have survived,” Daisy explains, putting an arm over Cat.
“Yeah… how did we get to the front of the shop?” Teddy asks, his eyebrows furrowed.
“I might have used your knife to cut us free… and then I dragged you to the door,” I say slowly, knowing exactly what he’s going to say next.
“Oh, okay, so that knife you gave me shit for saved our lives? I told you!”
“Actually I think you’ll find it was me who did the saving, not to brag or anything,” I say with a grin. Teddy leans over and gives me a kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you for saving me,” he says, but all I can think about is the fact that he actually saved me.
Before I can reply, I hear the tapping of crutches from the door as Elijah walks in.
“Guess who decided to return to the land of the living,” he says before Kai walks in behind him.
“Oh my god, Kai!” I shout as he smiles widely.
“Miss me?” He asks as he walks up to the bed. He reaches in for a hug, and I can’t help but hug him tightly, even if my shoulder hurts.
“You have no idea.”
“I leave you alone for five minutes, and all hell breaks loose?” He laughs as we part ways. Everyone’s faces are bright and full of love.
“Again, you have no idea,” I tell him.
“Well, you have to tell me everything,” he says, pulling a chair up next to Teddy. Elijah pulls up a chair as well.
“By the way, I have a bone to pick with you,” Elijah says to Kai. He turns to him with a puzzled frown.
“What?”
“You still owe me a date,” he says, with a smile. Kai’s expression softens as a smile appears on his face.
“I’m sorry for ghosting you, I was kinda busy trying not to succumb to the cold embrace of death,” he laughs before Elijah leans in and kisses him. It’s quick, and as they pull back, Kai’s face drops.
“What? But…” he says before leaning in for another one. Teddy looks at me and smiles before leaning in for one.
“Oh, don’t you two start now, the PDA in here is making me sick,” Cat gags. We all laugh together until the sides of my face hurt.
“Guess I’m not getting a kiss then?” Daisy asks, making Cat blush. They lean in and kiss, too.
“Yeah, I think the PDA in here is gonna make me sick too,” I say as we all laugh together.
“I’m guessing you missed me then?” Kai asks Elijah as they recover from the laughter.
“Definitely… still mad at you for missing our date though,” he laughs.
I look around the room and smile at my friends. I’ve found the people I want to spend the rest of my life with. The thought of forever causes my heart to beat wildly in my chest.
Teddy is asleep on a chair next to the bed. I can’t help but look at him. I’m so glad everything turned out okay.
It’s over. We’re free.
I unlock my phone and start scrolling through my pictures. I’m made so many memories with my new family, and I can’t wait to make new ones. A smile forms on my face.
A notification comes through.
Remember this from two years ago?
I tap the notification, a video pops up.
I’m recording behind a door. I twist the door knob slowly, making sure not to make too much noise.
It’s then I hear a familiar song. It’s I Believe In Magic by Halsey - My mother’s favourite song.
Then my eyes begin to well up at the sight of my mum.
She’s washing dishes at the sink while singing along to the song softly.
She catches me recording her, but instead of stopping, she decides to sing a line, about loving her boy, louder for me to hear.
I can hear myself chuckle behind the camera.
“I love you too, Mum,” I hear my past self say.
I think I’ll take this as a sign from the universe. She sees me. She knows I’m okay. She knows I’m happy. I smile softly at my phone screen. A single tear slides down my cheek.
“I love you so much,” I tell the universe, hoping she can hear me.