Short Story: Fragility Part 6

This is the final part of a serial, find the previous parts here.

“Chris.” Someone was gently shaking his shoulder from behind. The voice felt so familiar to him. He shook his head one last time at Dr. Stevens as if one more denial would convince her that she had the wrong man; then he turned to the person beckoning him from behind.

Pat cupped his face between her hands. “Are you okay, Chris?”

He looked pleadingly into her eyes and then turned back to Dr. Stevens, but all that was behind him was the living room of their apartment. “I–”

“I know,” Pat said reassuringly. “It’s okay.”

Chris’s shoulders sagged as he leaned into Pat, “I’m so scared. I don’t know what’s going on.”

“Everything’s fine. I’m here now.” Pat gently ran her fingers through his hair, lifted his chin, and met his gaze. “You can stay here with me.” She smoothed his hospital-issued, faded blue t-shirt. She covered his ears as he laid his head to rest on her shoulder, blocking out the woman with her imaginary bird, the man ranting across the room, and the pendulum of a man still rocking on the floor repeating Chris’s last exclamation. Lifting her hand slightly she placed her lips close to his ear. “I’ll never leave you again.”

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