Twenty

Ace Huxley

It was silent. Too silent. And she was still. Too still. It had been a whole 24 hours, and neither a sound nor shuffle from her.

It was agony.

“Isla, please, open your eyes.” I had begged her a thousand times, but she kept ignoring me. She wouldn’t wake up.

A nurse popped her head in. “Excuse me, sir. There is someone here to see you.”

“Who is it?” I asked.

“He claims to be your father.”

‘Fuck.’

“Thank you, I’ll be right there.” I leaned over and gave Isla one more tender kiss before I left, telling her I would be back soon.

My father was in the waiting room, and he looked pissed, but I could care less. The most precious person ever was lying unconscious in the next room.

He could tear me apart for all I cared.

“What in the hell happened here? You were caught in a basement fire, are you stupid?” He didn’t even ask if I was okay, no look of concern at all.

“I’m fine, Dad. Thanks for asking.”

“Is this because of that new roommate of yours? I knew she was troubled when I saw