“And dirt.”
“One more. You’re doing great, Rae.”
“And… and sweat.”
“Okay. Give me four things you hear.”
I trained my ears out onto the world, locking on to the sounds.
“I hear your car engine.”
Michael snickered. “All right. Good one. Three more.”
“I hear your classical music turned down. And your tires on the road.”
“One more. You can do it.”
I drew in my first steady breath as the sound hit my ears.
“I still hear the sirens behind us.”
Michael paused. “Three things you taste.”
“Taste?”
“Yep. Taste. Go. Now.”
I drew in a deep lungful of air. “I taste dirt. Saliva. And…”
Michael squeezed my hand as he waited for my final answer.
“And metal.”
“Okay, Rae. Open your eyes and tell me two things you see.”
I slowly slid my eyes open and the world didn’t tilt. It wasn’t curling in on itself or spiraling outward. It was still, and the ambulance with its silent, flashing lights was still in front of us.
“I see the ambulance, and its flashing lights.”
“Good. You need to do one more?”
I shook my head. “Nope. I think I’m grounded enough.”
“You did good back there, Rae. You need to know that. Clint’s alive because of you right now. And he’s in capable hands.”
“And to think you didn’t want me down there.”
Michael chuckled. “There’s the Rae I know and love.”
I turned my head toward him. “Love?”
He squeezed my hand again. “You know you’re one of my best friends. Sometimes I hate you for things—but I’m never going to stop being your friend.”
“Really?”
“Really, really.”
I felt tears crest my eyes before another thought hit me.