Mike slowly comes awake to the sounds of beeping and people talking in hushed voices. He tries to speak but his mouth is so dry he can't. A woman, no, a nurse, approaches him and tells him he will be fine, just a few scrapes and bruises and a broken wrist. She tells him he was lucky to be behind the wheel of the parked car when it was hit by the SUV with the drunken driver.
Suddenly he remembers the accident. He and Matt had been talking about their relationship, about Claire, about their very lives. He recalls Matt being turned toward him, trying hard not to cry. He was just about to take him into his arms when he saw the lights beyond the window, coming at them hard and fast. Before he could scream or move, it was upon them. Matt spun his head around to look, just as the truck rammed directly into his side of the car, ramming into them, crushing Matt into Mike.
"Matt", he manages to croak, and the nurse looks away quickly. "Your girlfriend is here sweetie, would you like to see her? Of course you would, I'll just dash out and get her!" Mike is frustrated, he wants to know about Matt, why wouldn't the nurse tell him anything? Claire enters the room, smiling tentatively, like she is afraid he is about to die. She comes to the bedside and takes Mikes hand and starts to talk. Mike just croaks "Matt?" again. Claire begins to cry. "Honey, Matt was hurt pretty badly. He is going to live, but his life will probably never be the same again." Claire sees the color drain from Mike's face and offers him some water, which he is grateful to have. After drinking deeply, he can speak a little better and he asks Claire, "What happened to Matt?"
Claire wouldn't answer his question. He grew angry and demanded someone tell him what had happened to his best friend. Finally the doctor came in and explained Matt's injuries to Mike. "Matt was hit with the full force of the runaway SUV. He has some broken ribs, and a broken leg, all of which will heal. His body being pushed into yours actually prevented you from sustaining any serious injuries yourself. His worst injury though, was to his face. I don't really know how to tell you this, but your friend Matt's face was destroyed in the accident." Mike looks at the doctor, "Destroyed? Like his nose is broken and his skin is all cut up?" The doctor hangs his head and says "I mean the radiator of the SUV blew up right in your friend's face, causeing burns so severe that most of his face is literally just...well, gone."
Mike began to cry. He remembered holding that beautiful face in his hands just a few hours earlier. He remembered Matt wanting him to make a committment to them exploring becoming a couple. He suddenly knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he loved Matt. They were not just childhood friends, buddies, pals, they were the center of each other's universes, always had been. "I have to see him." Claire and the docotr looked at each other and she said "I don't think that is a good idea honey, he's really...."
In a voice that sounded like cold steel Mike said, "First, I am not your honey. Things have been bad between us for a long time Claire, so stop acting like this is killing your soul. Second, I WILL see Matt, I love him." Claire responds with, "Of course you do honey, he's your best friend and..." "And he's the man I am in love with", Mike interrupts, "I hate for you to find out like this, but it's true. Now please, take me to him!"
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