"You're alive, and that's pretty amazing considering all you've been through."
She poured a glass of water, then offered it to me, straw first. I tried to lift my head, but it suddenly seemed heavier than a thousand bricks. She tilted the cup a little more, and managed to get some moisture down my throat.
I closed my eyes for a moment, then asked, "Where's everyone else?"
"Tao and I have been taking turns sitting by your side. He headed to the café about twenty minutes ago."
I frowned. Even that hurt. "How long have I been out?"
"Five days—longer than Rhoan, in fact."
Relief hit, so thick and fast tears stung my closed eyelids. "He's alive?"
It was an inane question—if he was awake he was obviously alive—but I still wanted her to say the words.
"Not only alive, but home. He got the all clear yesterday."
"Thank god."
"Yeah. Riley had Quinn stationed in here so she could get constant updates on your condition while she was beside Rhoan."
I glanced past her, for the first time seeing Uncle Quinn sitting in the corner. His warm smile crinkled the corners of his dark eyes. "Riley says to hurry up and get well, because she intends on knocking both your and Rhoan's thick heads together."
I laughed, which hurt, but at that particular moment I didn't really care. I was alive, Rhoan was alive, and Taylor was dead.
"Now that I have seen for myself that you are awake, I shall leave." He pushed to his feet. "I'm afraid I need to eat."
I half smiled. "I'm sure there would have been more than a couple of nurses willing to offer their services."