Wide Awake

Wide Awake Read Online Free PDF

Book: Wide Awake Read Online Free PDF
Author: Shelly Crane
hadn't seen anyone that morning. Mason had not been by, nor my parents, which was a first for me to be left to my own devices all day. But I did find a book left beside my bed. It was a worn and beaten book that had seen better days. I spent all morning pouring over it, not even knowing who'd left it there. It was a book of useless facts; things that were true, but you would never actually have an opportunity where you would benefit from knowing it. I loved it immediately. Completely useless information that couldn't be turned against you. You weren't tested on it, and it didn't make you look smarter for knowing it or not knowing it. And they were funny. I didn't know if I liked to read or not, but I was in deep with this book.
    I had reluctantly set it aside, only a couple of pages in, when Adeline, the mental health therapist, paid me a visit as she promised. She started her session, overbearingly standing at the bedside. She never stopped moving her pen, and her eyes never really focused on me, and now she was coaching me on the importance of balance.
    "I want balance," I insisted. "I just don't know how to do that, I guess."
    "Well, I think you should whole-heartedly embrace the old you."
    I jolted. "What?"
    That had been the last thing I would have expected.
    "Yes," she said shrilly. "Embrace it! Your parents, your friends, your bedroom, all of it. Even if it feels strange, you should just go with it. I think this is the best course of action to see about getting some of your memories back."
    "Even my boyfriend?"
She smiled. "Especially him. See, he's going to be an emotional connection that's not like anyone else's. Lots of times, the ones that we love are the ones who can bring us back, so to speak."
    "But what if I didn't love him?" I couldn't imagine it.
    "Just try," she said wryly. "Just try to be the girl that everyone wants you to be."
    I gulped at the advice. That was the absolute last thing I wanted to do, but I still found myself nodding. She said she was finished for the day and that she'd see me in a few days for another session.
    I lifted the book from the table and turned to the page I had stuck a napkin in to mark my place. A dragonfly beats its wings at thirty beats per second. I glanced up to look at my white dragonflies.
    Unfathomable.

Useless Fact Number Four
    Only one third of the people that can twitch their ears
    can do it one at a time.

    "Either that book is evil or the ceiling is." I turned to look at Mason at the door. He was in grey sweatpants and a long-sleeve t-shirt today.
    "No, just…nothing. You didn't come by this morning," I heard myself say. I held in my blush by some miracle. My mouth just seemed to say these things. Why was he obligated to come and see me? Because his eyes were hazel enough to make me forget that I was a freak show, and he never made me feel like the girl who woke up from the coma?
    He looked a little taken aback. Great. Add insult to injury. "Uh…I didn't think you'd even notice. Sorry, I had a couple of other patients this morning."
    "No, it's fine." I stuttered on. "I…don't know why I said that. I've just seen you every day….so..."
    The smile that he fought was an elated one. Why did he seem so happy about that? I bit my lip hard so as not to smile back. "Well…I'll remember that. Let's get started. Today I want to do some exercises with you."
    "Is that why you're in sweats?"
    He laughed and motioned to his pants. "You don’t like my sweats?"
"They're fine," I said softly. I was having a hard time looking him in the eye today. I felt strange after the talk with Adeline. She wanted me to be the girl I used to be, the one with a boyfriend. I licked my lips nervously. I didn't even know how to act anymore. When I looked up, he was watching me curiously and silently. "So how many tattoos do you have?"
    He smiled wryly at the subject change. "More than I should to keep this job. I, uh…do some tattooing on the side."
    I felt my eyebrows rise. "You're a
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