Chapter 33 The Envelope

(John’s POV)

Willa and I both gasped in amazement when Charlie suddenly opened his eyes. She cried into my chest, clearly overjoyed. I still didn’t understand why she had been in his room in the first place, or why she had insisted on going back to see him after Sybil and Mark left. Now wasn’t the time to ask her, though.

I didn’t think that it was a good idea for Sybil and Willa to be in the same room again, after the earlier incident. Willa was visibly shaken, and I could tell that she felt the same way. She had had more than enough trauma for one day. After the nurse had called Mark and removed Charlie’s ventilator, I asked her if she could take Willa back to her room.

After that, Charlie and I were alone. I knew that I was probably the last person that he wanted to talk to, so I turned to leave his room. Before I could move, however, I could feel him tugging on my sleeve. He beckoned for me to come closer.

“John,” he rasped, “I have something to give you. Just reach under my pillo