When She Wakes

I swallowed hard.

“What if she wakes up?”

His expression softened.

“She won’t wake up and find nobody here.”

“What if she asks for me?”

“I’ll call you.”

“What if she’s scared?”

His face fell.

“I’ll hold her hand until you get back.”

I slowly shook my head.

“It won’t be the same.”

He was quiet.

I kept staring at Aria’s room.

“When she’s scared…” I whispered, “…she reaches for me.”

A l