Immediately the three exit the bathroom and return to the desk at the ICU.
The lady offers her wrinkled smile once again as they approach.
Jon speaks up first. "Umm, hi again. We jusht wanted to ask if you could tell ush how she's doing."
"The girl you were asking for... Montanna right?"Jon smiled and nodded, while Karen and Sarah fidgeted behind her.
"Sorry, I just don't have that information on my computer." They nodded in understanding. "Here, let me see if I can find her for you."
The pair glance at one another. Sarah is the one to speak out. "She's not here?"
"Nope." She smiles "Whoever told you that is mistaken. I'd have her file if she were here in ICU." The lady continues to rap on her keyboard as the three release their collectively held breath. "Here we are." The lady begins. "She's in acute inpatient care. If you just take the elevator to the third floor..."
The elder lady gives them directions, which they barely hear her finish before they're on their way.
Anticipation built up in all of their hearts with every step, and when they round the corner to the appropriate hall, they see Mr. Whitmore standing by a door, massaging his neck. He smiles when he spies them, and ushers them over.
"You know." He begins. "You didn't have to leave so early." He chuckled softly, but the bags under his eyes betray his own fatigue. Sarah scrambles up before the rest and releases a barrage of whispered questions at the poor man. He simply holds up his hands and shakes his head. "She's going to be ok. She's stable. She's awake." He sighs. "She actually fared pretty well all things considered," yet his eyes still seem distant. "But she has a badly herniated disc. So go easy on her. She'll be alright. They can fix it, but it's going to take surgery..." The more he speaks, the more the three realize he's telling himself that just as much as he's telling them. "Sorry Sarah." His eyes return the them. "She'll not be able to cheer until baseball season at least." He takes another deep breath, "But here, go on in. Her mom will be back in a few with breakfast. I think she'll have enough for all of us. But like I said, Go. Easy."
The three nod, enter the room, and push past the curtain obstructing the door. It's a strange sensation to cross that threshold. One moment is filled with wild anxiety amidst the bright lights and clinical decor of the hall, yet on the other side of the curtain, the world seems to be still and silent. Suddenly their eagerness to see her was curbed, and the anxiety that drove them so quickly down the hall now roots them in place as they worry about the fragility of their friend. At last they cross the threshold and see Montana's face. Her eyes are closed and one of them is shining purple. A black eye from the airbag. Her posture is rigid, as a tight brace wraps around her torso.
Sarah clasps her hands to her lips and whimpers. Montanna's eyes open and immediately she smiles. She seems to bear none of the anxiety the other three have. "Sarah! Marie! Karen!" She holds her hands out for a hug. "I'm so glad you could make it." Her voice is lethargic with fatigue, but carries all of the familiar friendliness and levity they're used. Sarah rushes into her friends embrace, and gingerly wraps her arms. She begins to cry openly as she mutters apology after apology. It was Sarah rather than Montanna who needed the embrace, and it was Montanna not Sarah offering the comfort.
"Shush!" Montanna interrupt's her friend and points directly at her nose. "Don't be silly. You couldn't have done anything, besides... I'm just glad you're all here." Her eyes turn to the TV. "There's only so much Flapjack I can bear before I'm ready to pull my hair out." She mocks a scream, and tugs at her messy locks. In turn, Jon and Karen hug her and offer their comfort.
Montanna settles back down as Karen speaks out and asks her how she's doing. The ice was broken, and as the moments tick by, the three in turn find seats, settle down, and begin to enjoy their more usual banter. Sarah's voice was weak, rarely above a peep, and her eyes were glossy with tears the entire time. The kindness and optimism of her friend condemned her even as it comforted her, and after Ms. Whitmore showed up with food, they ate, watched a few more cartoons, then Sarah urged Jon and Karen to come with her.
The two nodded, and smiled to Montanna as they parted, Jon lingered by the curtain, her eyebrows stitched tightly together as she offered one more smile to her friend...
As she stood their, a question began to dominate her mind. It grew as an abstract consideration. A question she'd never thought to ask, but with every ticking moment, she realized more and more that it was an imminent reality now... When they fixed the wishes, would she still be known by this girl who's friendship she suddenly, and dearly valued? When she was a he, they had never talked. More than that Montanna seemed quieter, sadder, maybe even a bit meaner in the other reality. Without Marie, would she be the same girl? And would that be fair to her? She was frozen in place. Only Karen tugging at her sleeve was able to finally usher her from the room...
