I listen to him and wait until my eyes are adjusted. For a few minutes, it’s like looking out of a window that hasn't been cleaned in years. While waiting for them to clear, I take an assessment of myself. I feel the IV in my left hand, something is stuffed down my throat and I have a breathing tube in my nose.
The tube down my throat is painful, so I lift my hand to remove it. Quicker than I can think, I feel Derek shift and grab my hand.
"No, no. You can't do that."
My eyes adjust just as he says the second ‘no’ and I can see the smile as he says it. He does have the most beautiful smile. It makes me not want to leave him or go home to 2013. It’s a heart stopping, toe curling smile.
I decide that, just for the moment, I won't think about how I have to leave to find my husband and bab
