Nathaniel's  POV:

     I remained unconscious for two weeks. I had no idea I was even out for that long.

    I  recalled a strange sense of someone keeping watch over me. I  felt someone's hand touch mine and could hear someone speaking to me. It sounded like Chole.  Was it her, and what was she trying to tell me? Why did  I feel out of her reach?

    I tried to respond but found I could not move my lips. What was wrong with me?

  Something must have happened, I knew that much from the tears. I could hear them.

  The tears were close and consistent enough that someone was worried about me. I thought it was nice for a change. I had never gotten that from my mother since I never knew her and father he was always passed out on the couch. 

   I felt like I was stuck in some strange place. Where was it? Why could I find my way to her?

    The thought scared me that I might lose her. I had to fight to keep her.

      What about Sarah? Where had she gone? Was she okay? How was she handling all this?

      All these thoughts and more coursed through my mind as I remained asleep.

      I could not let them down. The mayor and the others depended on me. Where was I?

    Why did my chest hurt so much? 

     I felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted off me. 

     I tried to speak again, but my lips were still stuck. My words appeared to be trapped deep inside me. I was stuck somewhere where I could not move, talk, or let anyone know I was still alive.

   What was I to do?  I thought I overheard someone slam a door. I also was sure someone spoke to someone else and told them the prognosis was not good.  What did that mean? What did they know that I did not?

        Help, I thought. Someone help pull me out of this tunnel, the tunnel that seems to go on and on.

            I struggled to move but found I could not even move my arms and legs twitch my foot, or open my eyes.  Agh!  Was I dead?   Was that it? Is this what death felt like?

             If so why did I feel this sense of urgency overcome me?  

             I felt thirsty and wanted food. I couldn't move, I could not do anything.

           What was happening to me?  Why did I desire to fight whatever it was?

           I heard someone sob and I could feel her presence.  She spoke to me and it sounded like she pleaded with me. What was it she was saying?

           I wished I knew. I wished I could discover the truth about it all.

          I  tried to make myself do anything to assure her I was okay.  I couldn't.

           I saw this funny-looking light. What?

           The light was white, then yellow, red, and orange. 

            I  do not recall seeing anything quite like it.

         "Flashback..."

         I was at school and I had arrived late for lunch. The others were already seated at their usual tables. I was about to sit at my usual spot when she walked toward me. "Come, on, Nath, come sit with me." She said. I looked up surprised, but I joined her.

        It was nice to have someone to sit with for a change. Every day after that I sat with her during lunchtime. I also saw her during the orchestra practice. She played the cello and was good at it. I was impressed. I played the tuba but felt I wasn't as good as her.

          The teacher assured me I was doing better, but I wasn't so sure.

         The girl, Chole, had introduced herself on the first day of school. That was three years ago when we were in sixth grade. Now, we were in the ninth grade.

          I liked her but never told her. How was I too? She was gorgeous, the mayor's daughter and I was only an artist kid whose father did not even love him. I was not that grand.

           I decided I would be a good man so if I had a daughter one day she would know I loved her and her mother. I would see to it. I made this decision ever since I met her. 

            I sighed at something she said. I was not paying attention. I was too busy enjoying looking at her.

               "Oh, what was that?" I asked.

              "Nath, you are funny," Chole said. I smiled at her.

        Time skip!  

          A few years later I found myself more in love with her than before. Yes, love. I pushed the thought back to my mind. 

         I did not tell her because, at the time, she seemed interested in a boy named Adrien Agreste. 

       After high school, she lost interest in Adrien. I was glad. Maybe, I could finally tell her.

         The trouble was I never could bring myself to say it. 

            Then, she went away to camp when she was 22 and came back with Jeff, and I thought there I go not being able to say it, again.

             Wait, Jeff, why does his name ring a bell?   I felt my blood boil at the memory of him. I knew it, he was the cause of all my troubles. I could tell. 

          I was sure of it because of how broken Chole was while they were together and because he had tried to kill her. He tried to kill Sarah too. He tried twice to get the child. He attacked me twice too come to think of it. The first time he barely grazed my knee, but I recovered fast.

         The second time, he stabbed me in the chest. Ouch, so that what was the pain was coming from my chest area. I had found the courage between the first time and the second to tell her how I felt, but she had not said how she felt.

         I  needed to snap out of it. I had to find my way back to Chole.

       How? When?

"End of Flashback..."

      I  groaned and moaned from the pain. I heard her say, "Nath, wake up! Wake up for me, please!  Wake up, don't leave you hear me..."

      I could hear her reach for me in the subconscious void.

      I  struggled hard and then one day, I did it. I finally woke up. I moved my legs and arms, squeezed her hand, and opened my eyes.

      "Chole, how long has it been?" I asked.

      "Nath, you are awake," Chole said. I saw her smile. I could tell she was happy to see me.

        "Yes, sure appears to be that way. Now, how long was out?" I asked.

           "Two weeks," Chole answered.

      "Two weeks, wow, that was way longer than I thought. I don't know how, but I heard you calling out to me when I was unconscious. It took my brain a while to wrap around all that had happened. I remember now.  It was that snake in the grass, he hurt Sarah, and he tried to kill me. " I said.

      "I know, but I am glad he did not succeed, if anything it is over now," She said.

     "Over, what do you mean?" I asked.  "You don't know?" She asked. "No, what?" I inquired. "He is dead, the snake is dead, Nath." She said. I was stunned, "How?" "You killed him, but I promise you it was self-defense," Chole said.  Then, she whispered, "You are the better man. He was wrong for me. You are amazing, kind, and handsome, you are always there for me, and to me, you are the world." Chole said.  

    I was surprised. "The world to you? What?" I was flabbergasted. I thought for sure that was part of my dream. "Yes, you are. What I mean is, Nathaniel Kurtzberg, I love you," Chole said.

   I smirked. I knew then, what I did not know before, I had won. I won the girl of my dreams.

    "Good, because I love you too, Bee," I said. I  kissed her hand.

    Chole blushed. "I got to tell Dad, and Sarah," She said.

   "Tell them, what, love?" I asked. "Tell them, you are awake." She said.

           Chole called her dad and told him the good news. I could hear him hollering in the background that he was overjoyed and I heard Sarah say told you Dad was going to be just fine.

          The story continues in Chapter 36

        Until then,

    bye-bye,

   little owlets!

Summer out!