Chasing His Kickass Luna Back novel Chapter 267

Karl

“Talk to him. It’s good for him to hear some language—keeps the brain active.”

The doctor’s words still linger in the back of my mind as I stand in my brother’s bedroom, looking down at him. He’s laying in his bed, still unconscious.

I hate seeing him like this. The tubes, the IV, the sound of the machines… It’s all in such stark contrast to the warm mahogany wood and plush blankets. Someone brought fresh flowers, which are in a vase next to the bed. I’m not sure who brought them, or even why; it’s not like he can see them.

But I guess I’m just being pessimistic. The flowers are a nice touch.

I fumble with the edge of Ethan’s blanket, lost in thought. The silence in the room is oppressive, and I find myself yearning for any sign of improvement.

“Ethan,” I start, my voice cracking slightly. It feels awkward, speaking to someone who might as well be a world away. But the doctor’s words still prod at the back of my mind, urging me on.

“Ethan, it’s Karl. I…” I trail off, unsure how to continue. Does he even know I’m here? Does he recognize my voice? I clear my throat, as if that will help somehow. “You know, they say it’s good for you to hear voices. Keeps the gears turning up there.” I tap my temple with a forced smile, as if he can see the gesture.

The room remains silent aside from the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor. I sigh and walk around to the side of the bed where an armchair is sitting. I sit down in it, resting my elbows on my knees. “You’ve missed a lot while you’ve been out, Ethan. The pack is doing okay, considering…”

My words falter, the mention of the pack reminding me of Abby, her laugh echoing in my mind.

I glance around, half expecting a nurse to walk in and catch me pouring my heart out to my unconscious brother. But we’re alone, just Ethan and me.

“You remember Abby, right? My ex-wife?” I ask quietly, as if I’m bringing the topic up to a friend over a casual dinner.

I pause, searching Ethan’s face for any flicker of recognition. Nothing. A deep breath in, then out, and I continue, the floodgates finally opening.

“It’s… It’s a mess, Ethan. I want her back. We got close, very close, and I thought everything would work out. But she pushed me away. It’s like... it’s like she’s scared of anything real, you know?” My voice wavers, and I press my lips together, surprised at my own honesty.

The thought that he will never hear this, that I can say anything, is freeing in a way I didn’t expect. Maybe that’s why I continue.

“She’s just so frustrating. She has this wall up all the time, and just when I think we’re getting somewhere, she shuts down. It’s like she doesn’t trust me. But, shit, how could she? I divorced her. I divorced her over nothing.”

I rub the back of my neck, letting out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “I haven’t heard from her since that night. I don’t even know if she wants to talk. Maybe she’s moved on, just like how she moved on so quickly after our divorce.” I pause and chuckle, but there’s no humor in it. “I’m just being bitter.”

The silence that follows my words is punctuated only by the beeping of the heart monitor. Ethan’s chest rises and falls with a steady rhythm that is somehow both comforting and maddening. I wish he would just say something. Anything.