From a Distant Star Read Online Free PDF Page B

in around his sides. I went into the kitchen and got a plastic cup out of the cabinet, then filled it partway with cold, filtered water. I went to the drawer that had the box of bendy straws. Before the coma, getting Lucas food and water had been something I did on a regular basis. I’d thought I was being helpful. I didn’t know I had just been in the way.
    I brought the cup back and Mrs. Walker took it out of my hand and set it on the side table. “Stay right here and watch him,” she said, pointing to a spot on the floor. “I have to get Eric and Steve.” She scurried off excitedly, her slippers flapping through the house. I heard her on the landing, calling, “Steve! Eric! Come quick!”When they didn’t come right away, she ran up the steps to rouse them in person.
    Meanwhile, Lucas was becoming more alert. His eyes were still open, but moved around less. They’d settled on me, something I took as a good sign. I left my assigned spot and went to touch his face. “Hi, baby.” I waited for recognition to light up his eyes, but he was so dazed, it never came. His lips moved, but nothing came out and that’s when I noticed how chapped his lips were. “I’m going to give you some water, okay?”
    I held the cup below his chin and angled it to put the straw between his lips. “Go ahead,” I urged. “It’s just water.” No reaction. Maybe he was too weak to drink. I put my finger on the end of the straw and held it, then released the water into his slightly opened mouth. Overhead, I heard the scrabbling of Eric and his dad getting out of bed. Soon the whole family would be here and I’d be shoved off to the side. A thin stream of water dribbled out of the side of Lucas’s mouth and down his chin, but he swallowed the rest, his Adam’s apple moving as it went down his throat. “More water?” I asked, holding the cup out.
    He stared at the cup and then repeated, “Water.” He broke the word into two distinct syllables like he was saying it for the first time.
    I put the straw back in the cup and again put it up to his mouth. This time his lips clamped around it and he drew in, sucking water like his life depended on it. I heard the family coming down the stairs, their bare feet pounding against the carpeted treads. I took the cup away from Lucas and put it back on the table where Mrs. Walker had set it. I couldn’t imagine she’d be mad that I gave him water, but who knew with her?
    When the family came into the room, I respectfully stepped back, but my eyes never left Lucas. Already his color was better. Even in the few minutes since his mother had gone upstairs, he seemed calmer. More himself.
    Mr. Walker came through the doorway first and went right to Lucas’s side, leaning over to talk to him. Mrs. Walker and Eric came around to the other side, and again I had to move to get out of the way. “Lucas,” said Mr. Walker. “It’s me, Dad.” He paused and then continued. “We’re all here. Me and Mom and Eric.” He glanced up and smiled at me. “And Emma too. We love you.” He cleared his throat. I could tell he was getting choked up. “Eric?” he said, looking across the bed. “Do you have something to say to your brother?”
    Eric had a scared look in his eyes, and I had a sudden realization that his continuous avoidance of Lucas had come down to this—he didn’t want to lose his brother. They weren’t super close, but they got along okay, considering they were three and a half years apart. When Lucas had been healthy, they’d stood up for each other, both at school and at home with their parents. That was no small thing in that house, believe me. Whenever Mr. and Mrs. Walker starting telling Eric how he should apply himself and get a 4.0 grade point average like his brother, Lucas would jump in and defend him. He’d point out all of Eric’s strengths—the detailed architectural plans he drew for fun, the way he could fix anything—the dishwasher, farm equipment, the toaster,