26. Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Miguel
I come in and out several times, not able to stay awake long enough to talk or to even know where I am. I occasionally hear voices, but everything comes out like static and anything happening around me is too far out of my reach to grasp onto.
Someone touches my arm and the warmth of their hand on my skin is comforting and lessens the ache of my bones. "Come back to me," someone says from close by. My eyes remain shut, the heaviness weighing them down. I don't have the strength to fight against it.
"Please, I need you."
The soft, soothing voice calms my fast beating heart.
I know that voice.
The more it speaks, the more relaxed I become and am able to fall into an easy slumber, knowing I'm safe. "Shh, I'm right here, mi amor. I got you."
My eyes blink open and the room is bright, making it hard for me to adjust to. After feeling like I've spent forever in the dark, the brightness is overwhelming. The voice from before speaks again as if somehow knowing how much I need him to. Fingers stroke through my hair, familiar and gentle. "I think he's waking up, his eyes blinked," the man nearby says.
We aren't alone and someone else speaks from the other side of me. "Give him some time. Maybe after some more rest he'll be strong enough to fully come to," the other person says.
A nose nudges into my neck and the comforting voice from before starts humming a familiar tune. Bringing back a memory so strong I'm almost sure if I reach out far enough I could touch it.
"Dance with me?" Marcus smiles, spinning around in the grass.
I smile, shaking my head. "How about I stand here and watch you instead?"
"That's not as fun. Come here, take my hand, and move with me."
"There's no music."
He huffs. "I can be your music." He starts humming and singing "Volver Volver." His voice and moves are magnetic, before I know it we are locked together spinning underneath the trees. He kisses me, the noise of nature taking over his singing.
The memory slowly distances itself from my mind, but never fully goes away as long as " Volver, Volver," continues being sung above me.
"Go back, go back," he says over and over.
I'm trying. I won't stop until I make it back to him, until I can take Marcus in my arms, and we can dance under the stars again.
He's the only thing keeping me half conscious. I get closer to waking up the more the rush of memories hit me. Marcus holding me in the lake water, him sneaking me kisses behind the old church building and everything before, in between and after.
"Go back, go back."
My eyes flash open and Marcus is leaning over me with tears filling his eyes. "Miguel," he whispers and kisses my forehead. "Papi." His lips peck my cheeks and nose. "I almost lost you."
I smile lazily, my eyes growing wet. "I'm right here." My voice comes out strained and quiet. My throat is so dry and sore, the words come out rougher than they sounded in my head.
He presses his fingers to my lips, tears rolling down his cheeks, his eyes beaming. "Don't speak too soon, mi amor. You're still recovering. I don't want you to overdo it."
He grabs something from behind him and lifts my head up, bringing a straw to my lips. "Drink. It'll help your throat feel better."
He's right. I sip on the cool water, and it slips over my tongue, wetting my mouth and soothing my aching throat. My lips part when he pulls the straw away and he clicks his tongue. "Someone's being as stubborn sick as he is when well. Must be a good sign."
I'm only refusing to listen, because these words have to be said. They can't wait anymore. What if something happens again and he never knows how I feel for him?
"Marcus."
His eyes blink and he leans in closer, lightly resting his hand on my shoulder. "What is it, mi amor?"
"Te amo."
His eyes grow heavy and he laughs in between sobs. He kisses my lips softly, lightly rubbing our noses together. "Yo también te amo."
I release a drawn out sigh, aching the more my chest moves, and I close my eyes again, falling back into a deep sleep, hoping the exchange was real and not a dream or my imagination.