Okay, I can't help it. All of this free time I'm getting!

Riley's Point Of View

When I came out of surgery, I was scared, and confused. Even when the amnesia wore off. I felt like my mind was away from my body, you know? As much as I wanted to wake up, my body just wouldn't listen to me. I couldn't do it. I wasn't strong enough.

But I was aware of everything around me, of my mother squeezing my hand, and my father talking to me, stroking my hair.

"Hey... Riles," he said to me. "The doctors... they've done everything they can for you, sweetie." Here his voice- and my heart- cracked. "I-it's up to you to do the rest. A-and if you decide that it's... that it's too hard to fight, don't, okay?"

"It's okay to let go," my mom added, grief evident in her voice. "Just know that your father and I... we love you. Very, very much."

I felt teardrops fall onto my cheeks, and they weren't mine. Then, a moment not unlike a fairytale movie occurred. A sudden strength flowed through me. My lips cracked into a smile as I was able to blink open my eyes.

"Let go?" I asked, surprised at how low and raspy my voice sounded. "Now why would I go and do that?"

"Riley!" Mom and Dad cried in unison. In the blink of an eye, I was pulled into a very tight hug. But a sudden, suffocating feeling washed over me. I yelped in pain and pulled back.

"Mom!" I wailed. clutching my ribs. I looked down at my body. Bandages upon bandages covered my arms and legs. My cheeks were covered, too. I gasped for breath, unsure what to do.

"Help!" I managed to wheeze.

Mom jumped up. "Cory, get a doctor!" she yelled. Dad scrambled up and out of the room.

"I'm scared," I whispered. Okay, 'scared' was an understatement. I was terrified. What if I couldn't fight? What if I died, right when in looked like I had a chance to survive?

"I know, honey," Mom soothed, stroking my hair calmly. Who was she fooling? I knew she was just as terrified as I was. Okay, maybe not as terrified, considering she wasn't the one who couldn't breathe, but you know what I mean.

A swarm of doctors rushed in, ushering my mother out of the way, much to my dismay. They hooked me up to some sort of a machine, and now I was able to calm down, as it took over the job of breathing for me.

"We were sure she could handle breathing on her own," a doctor scratched his head. "Maybe her lungs haven't done as well a we thought..."

"My lungs?" I asked, but either he ignored me or didn't hear me, because he turned to my parents instead.

"Is she going to be okay?" Mom asked. My heart raced and I started to panic.

"She might have to be put under more surgery," the doctor said. "But if we do, she might not be able to handle it."

"But if you don't she'll absolutely one-hundred percent die?" Dad asked.

"We've already had to revive her," another doctor put in. My heart stopped.

"Revive me?" I asked softly. "I died?"

Mom wiped a tear from her cheeks. "You couldn't handle the first surgery."

"So I'm going to die?" I gulped.

"No, ma'am, not if we can control it," a doctor reassured me. "You don't need surgery. You need rest. Recovery doesn't happen just like that-he snapped his fingers-"You know. We'll know whether we need to give you more pain medication or not by tomorrow." he turned to my parents. Mom was clutching Dad's shoulder, her eyes wide. "You need to be more gentle with her," the doctor told them. "I understand that you were glad your daughter is safe. But you could have hurt her even more. Understand?"

"We understand," Mom nodded.

I yawned, suddenly very tired. All eyes turned to me, and I felt my face grow hot.

"I guess I'm kinda tired," I admitted sheepishly.

"Then go to sleep honey," Dad said softly. "We'll be here when you wake up. "

I nodded and closed my eyes, and soon I faded into sleep.

...

My sleep was filled with terrifying nightmares. The smell of smoke was overwhelming-I think I stared to cough in my sleep.

In the dreams, I was back in the burning apartment building. I basically relived the whole fire only it was worse, because I knew that it was only in my head. But somehow it seemed more real.

Either way, the dream ended with me calling out for Maya before I lost consciousness. So naturally, my first thought when I woke up was Maya.

I fluttered open my eyes, expecting to see my parents. But the room was empty. A note had been left on my bedside table, along with a tray of unappealing hospital food. My stomach lurched at the very thought of eating, so I ignored the pain that shot through me and leaned over to pick up the note.

Riley,

Gone to see how bad the fire was. Will be back around ten. Mom is with Maya. Just relax and take it easy for a while.

Love you!

Dad

I signed and place the note back on the table. For the first time, I noticed the remote and turned on the TV. My heart caught in my throat as I saw what flashed onto the screen.

A building that just barely resembled my home. I let out a gasp. It was is total ruins! It had completely collapsed. As much as I fought them, tears flooded my eyes. My home, everything I'd ever known, was now gone.

"Authorities still do not know what started the fire," a reporter was saying. I turned off the TV, mad.

But then the door creaked open, and a nurse peeked in.

"Miss Matthews?" she asked.

"Yes?" I asked. My voice was somewhat less raspy than it was earlier.

"You have visitors!" she chirped. "Two young boys by the names of Lucas and Farkle.

I brightened up. "Let them in! "

The nurse laughed and stepped back. And in her place stood Lucas. I had to strain my neck to see Farkle, though I knew he was there.

"Lucas, " I whispered, a smile slowly creeping onto my face.

"Riley, " Lucas said, an even wider smile on his. He stepped over to my bed, Farkle not far behind.

"Riley, we're really glad you're okay, " Farkle said, grinning from ear to ear.

"I'm glad I'm okay, too, " I rasped. "I thought I was a goner! "

Lucas didn't say a word. He leaned down over me, gently picking up my head and cupping my cheeks in his hands. My breath caught in my throat as he closed his eyes. I didn't resist, closing my own eyes, too. He presses his lips against mine.

Sparks flew everywhere. We were the only two people in the world.

Okay, not really. But it felt like it.

When our lilittle moment was over, Lucas was the first one to pull away, although it might have had something to do with the fact that I wawasn't physically able to pull away. He bent down next to my ear and whispered "I never want to lose you again. "

My heart fluttered as we locked eyes. His green eyes sparkled with so many emotions, I couldn't read his face at all. All I knew was that I never wanted this moment to end.

But it did.

"Ahem, lovebirds, " Farkle piped up. "I'm still here, you know."

Oops, Farkle. I'd almost forgotten he was there.

I looked up, expecting him to look mad. But that was a mistake, because Farkle never gets mad.

He was smiling, a big cheesy grin. He didn't say a word, but it didn't matter. His face said everything. He was happy for me. For us. And that's all that mattered.