“All of this is because you imagined it. You created it. You fell asleep, and you dreamed a dream so wonderful, you didn't want to wake up.”
The cabin was trembling and shaking under the awesome power of the storm, but Adele didn't feel anything. She stared at Jones, trying to wrap her brain around his statement.
He can't be a dream. I could never have imagined something as perfect as him.
“So if this is a dream, then if I wake up, it'll all go away?”
“Of course.”
“So you'll go away.”
Jones stood up then. It only took him four strides to reach her. She wanted to shrink away. To keep some distance between them. He was a figment of her imagination, wasn't he? It wasn't right.
Nothing is right, or has been right, or ever will be right again.
“Yes. But ... I don't know how to explain it. When you need me again, you'll find me,” he assured her, gripping her arms. She stared up at him.
“What, like in my dreams?”
“No, Adele.”
Her eyes grew wide.
“When I'm awake?”
“Yes.”
“When? How?”
“You'll know how.”
“Goddamn circles!” she hissed, then she tried to jerk free from him. Jones wasn't having it, though. He was much bigger than her, and he was able to pull her closer, wrapping her in a tight hug.
“I'm sorry. I don't know how to explain it. I can't tell you something you don't already know. Just trust me, and find me again.”
Adele had started out struggling against his hold, but wound up hugging him back. She even gripped his shirt in her hands and clung to him. It felt like the cabin was being lifted off its foundation. Pots and pans and dishes were flying out of the kitchen. The whole building was being flung from the earth, it seemed.
Yet still they clung to each other.
“I'm scared,” Adele whispered.
“Don't be scared. If you stay, we'll lose each other forever. If you go, maybe we'll find each other again.”
“What if I can't find you?”
“Have faith.”
He kissed her then. She wondered if it was wrong, kissing a dream. Something her mind had just made up.
He didn't feel imaginary, though. Everything in that place – in that world she'd created – had always felt a little off to her. A little unreal. But not Jones. Never Jones. Even when she'd thought she was a ghost, just some restless spirit wandering around purgatory, she'd always felt like he was real. His presence had weight, it settled around her soul and kept her tethered to earth.
Because his soul resonates with mine, and that's something even a dream can't do.
Adele kissed him back, and another impressive lightning bolt ripped across the sky, the clap of thunder shattering the windows all together. A howling wind ripped through the cabin, swirling around them, and she was now positive they weren't on the ground anymore.
There is no ground. There is no storm. The only thing real here is you, and this man.
“I believe in you,” she said. “And I'll find you.”
“I believe in you, too,” Jones replied.
The cabin was gently spinning, caught up in the tornado from the Wizard of Oz – the movie had always been a favorite of hers. As had many Disney films. And trips to beaches, and fields full of flowers, and the house she'd grown up in.
All my favorite memories, and I didn't recognize any of them. How will I recognize him?
“You will,” Jones said, startling her for a moment. But then she remembered this was all a dream, so of course he could read her mind. He was a part of her mind.
No, he's your soulmate – that makes him a part of your soul.
“And how will you recognize me?” she asked, pressing her face against his chest. He laughed, and the sound reverberated through his chest and into her head, traveling the length of her spine and warming her body.
“I might not,” he said, then she felt his mouth brush the top of her head. “But my soul will, and that's what's important.”
“I'm going to remember this,” she said, then lost her breath as the wind lifted them off the floor. They were floating in the middle of the room, the cabin spinning around them. “I'm going to remember this place. Your place. Your memory. I'll remember you.”
“Always,” he whispered. “Always remember me, always.”
“Always,” she agreed.
“Adele.”
“Please ...”
“It's time to say goodbye.”
“I can't,” she cried.
“You can,” he assured her. “And you will. Now kiss me.”
She kissed him.
“And say goodbye to me.”
“Goodbye, Jones.”
“And close your eyes.”
She closed her eyes.
“And always, always, remember us.”
“I will. I always will.”
And she always would, she wanted to tell him. She wanted to say so many things to him. Wanted just a few more moments with him. They'd spent lifetimes together, eons, and it wasn't enough. It would never be enough. So she just needed a few more moments. Just one. One single moment.
But there were no more moments.
The storm raged on and the cabin ripped apart and the wind whipped around her and Adele held onto Jones as tightly as she could until ...
... until she realized she wasn't holding onto anything at all.
Just one more moment.
18
River, August, and Ocean Reins stood at the foot of their sister's hospital bed. Despite opening her eyes the week before, the doctors weren't very optimistic about her health.
She'd been in a coma for almost four months. The chances of her waking up at all were slim, and if she did, the chances were even smaller that she'd have normal brain function. They'd be lucky if she'd even remember who she was, let alone her family.
The time to make a permanent decision was upon them. A lengthy illness in the United States was not cheap, they were reminded of that fact constantly. Had Adele ever spoken of her last wishes? Had she ever expressed what she'd want in the event of a coma or vegetative state? Had she, per chance, filled out an Advanced Health Care Directive?
Their mother was a wreck. Their father even more so. They'd essentially moved to Los Angeles to be with their comatose daughter, draining a large chunk of their savings in the process.
August was gone more often than not – he had a contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and while they'd been more than understanding about his situation, he still had obligations to his team and the other players. He was flying back and forth all the time.
River had started a new job there in Los Angeles, which meant he got to live close to his sister, but he had less time to visit her.
Ocean was the only brother not working, but that could only last for so long.
We're all moving forward, and she's stuck in one place.
“I don't believe it,” he breathed.
“What?” River asked.
“That she won't wake up.”
“You heard the doctor,” August sighed. “And what we want, and what is reality, are two very different things. We need to start thinking about the fact that this could be forever.”
“Jesus, why don't you just go pull the plug?” Ocean snarled at his little brother.
“Calm down, I never said that – but she can't stay here. Mom and Dad can't deal with this, so it's going to be up to us. We need to start thinking about what's best for Adele, in this state.”
It was kind of shocking, their little brother being the voice of reason. Ocean looked over at him. August had his arms crossed in front of his broad chest, a backwards hat keeping his too-long hair out of his face. He looked very serious as he glared at the hospital bed, almost as if it were the reason for Adele's coma.
River was standing next to him. Ocean frowned as he looked over the “middle child”. River had always been kinda quiet, but it seemed like anymore, he didn't speak unless it was absolutely necessary, and he almost never smiled.
When did we get like this? So serious, withdrawn, and angry? Adele would hate us like this.
“I've been so caught up in my own head,” Ocean cleared his throat before he started speaking again. “I should've been thinking more about the family, and less about myself. She deserved better, you guys deserved better – hell, even Charlie deserved better. I'm sorry.”
“Shut up,” August snapped.
“Excuse me?”
“Shut up. Watching 'Mr. Perfect' turn into a nut job has been a godsend. It's why neither of us have had the mental breakdown we're just two steps away from – you're the perfect distraction. So stop feeling sorry for yourself,” August explained.
Ocean was a little shocked at first, then he burst out laughing. Even River managed a small smile.
“Nut job, huh?” Ocean snorted.
“Oh yeah. Big time. You and that Charlie drama, it's all been a very welcome distraction, honestly.”
“Charlie drama,” Ocean sighed, rubbing his hand down his face. “We never found out what the whole thing with Big Red Whatsherface was about.”
“I never found out anything – I was at work,” River interrupted, his voice coarse and scratchy. “You guys didn't even tell me she'd opened her eyes till that night. What all happened, exactly?”
“Oh, Ocean here thinks he caught good ol' Chuck slipping his tongue down that one redhead's throat,” August filled him in.
“What?”
“Yeah.”
“In Adele's room?” River sounded stunned.
“In the parking lot,” Ocean corrected. “And I don't think I caught him – I know I did. They had their arms around each other, they'd been kissing. I kept meaning to grill him about it later, but he's been tough to pin down ever since his physical therapy got moved to a different place.”