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My heart was beating erratically as my eyes raked over Noah ; his jet black hair was falling messily over his forehead. The breathing apparatus covered most of his face, but he was still the beautiful boy that I loved. And as I stared down at him, Noah did the most wonderful thing of all.
He opened his eyes. And he looked right at me.
Noah, can you hear me ? I asked, standing over the bed as his eyes fluttered open.
I could barely control myself and the happiness I felt was like nothing I had ever experienced before. Just seeing his beautiful blue eyes made everything okay again. It was something I had been praying for everyday. I couldn’t help but smile broadly as Noah looked up at me. Hey there, I smiled. I’ve missed you college boy.
The tears pooled in my eyes as I reached up and brushed the hair off his forehead, but his eyes had trouble following me. Suddenly, his hand shot up fast and he grabbed hold of his breathing tube frantically, a look of panic in his eyes. He started trying to pull it out and fear overtook me. I knew he couldn’t pull it out or he would cause some serious damage. Grabbing hold of his wrist, I tried my hardest to pull his hand away, but his grip was too strong.
Noah, please, I cried, trying desperately to stop him from pulling out the tube. You can’t pull it out. Noah !
His eyes darted around the room, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He was panicking, not sure of where he was or what was going on. I held on to his hand tightly and leant over him, placing my lips on his clammy forehead and kissing him lightly. I didn’t know what else to do. Despite being in a coma for over a week, his strength was surprising. But as I pressed my lips against his skin, he seemed to calm down and his grip on the breathing tube loosened. The erratic sounds that had been coming from the heart monitor quietened and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Taking a deep breath, I pulled back slightly and looked down at him, the tears beginning to fall. Hey there college boy, I whispered, wiping my eyes as a tear fell down on to his cheek. I was scared that you wouldn’t wake up. I was so scared that I’d lost you.
He seemed to have trouble focusing but after a brief moment of doubt, Noah’s eyes met mine and he blinked, his eyes gazing in to mine. They were even more beautiful than I remembered, deep blue with almost ice coloured flecks running through them. I made a silent promise to myself then and there, to always make sure I would look in to those eyes everyday. Even something so simple as looking in to the eyes of the one you love should never be taken for granted. I knew that now.
My hand was resting on the bed and I looked down as I felt the sheets move. My heart filled with what could have only been pure joy as Noah’s hand reached out to mine slowly. He stopped halfway, but his fingers were outstretched to me so I grabbed hold of his hand and entwined my fingers with his. He squeezed my hand gently and I just couldn’t control it anymore.
I let out a sob and I collapsed in to the chair beside his bed, the past weeks exhaustion and crippling fear that I had been feeling every moment of everyday finally catching up to me. The tears cascaded down my face but at the same time, it was like a weight had been lifted from my heart. I could finally breathe again.
Lifting my head up, I smiled when I felt Noah squeeze my hand again. It was all he could do, but it meant more than anything else. His head was turned towards me on the pillow and he was looking right at me. Even when Noah was hurting, he was the one who was still looking after me, just like he always does.
Suddenly, the doctor burst through the door looking sightly dishevelled, and very surprised. He gawked at noah for a brief second before breaking in to a smile and walking over. This is just… He murmured, glancing towards me. Barely ten minutes ago he didn’t even react to the light. This really is something special.
I know, I laughed, still wiping my eyes as the tears kept on flowing. But I didn’t even try to stop, after all, they weren’t sad tears.
I watched as the doctor stepped up to Noah’s bedside and smiled down at him. Hi Noah. I’m doctor Adams, I’ve been keeping an eye on you since you came in a week ago. He reached in to his pocket and pulled out the same refractor he had used earlier. Could you follow the light Noah ?
Standing up, I watched intently, a tiny speck of fear running through me that he woudn’t be able to follow it for some unknown reason. But I couldn’t help but cry out with a giddy laugh as his eyes followed the light in both directions when the doctor moved. He was following it, all on his own.
That’s very good, the doctor said, glancing at me with a huge smile. Now I’m going to take your hand. Would you be able to squeeze it for me ?
I stood on tiptoes and watched, another smile breaking out as he squeezed the doctor’s hand gently. He was still weak, but he was doing it. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. So, what’s the diagnosis ? I asked, trying to ingore the tiny bit of fear that was still lingering.
But I guess I didn’t have to fear anything. Doctor Adams smiled at me, letting go of Noah’s hand. Noah’s outlook seems very promising. Actually, he’s doing remarkable.
What do you mean ?
Well in most cases, patients who awaken from a coma have extremely limited muscle and sensory perception. My face must have looked completely confused because the doctor smiled as he looked over Noah’s chart. Most would be able to move like Noah, but they wouldn’t have any sense of awareness or direction in their movement. But Noah responded to both commands of squeezing my hand and following the light. That’s a very positive sign.
Thank you, I whispered, moving up to the top of the bed so I could be as close to Noah as possible. When will he be able to go home ?
Lets not get ahead of ourselves just yet. He’ll need to stay in the hospital for a few more days whilst I check his neurological and motor functions. His wound also needs a little more time until he’ll be able to move around properly. But
But then he’ll be able to go home, right ? I pleaded, my eyes wide.
If all goes well, which I think it will. Then yes, he’ll be able to go home, as long as there’ll be someone there to help him out whilst his wound heals.
I’ll be there, I smiled, stroking his hair softly. Looking down at him, I noticed that his eyes were closed, but it didn’t matter. I knew that he was going to be okay. That was all I wanted. I would have given everything. Glancing back up towards the door, I saw the doctor beginning to walk out of the room.
Hey doctor Adams. When will he be able to talk again ? I asked loudly, causing him to stop and spin around.
We’ll take out the endotracheal tube in a couple of hours, he smiled. He just needs to get used to being awake and hopefully you’ll be able to talk to him soon. In a sense he was very lucky. Some coma patients experience extreme brain trauma but Noah didn’t. It looks very postive.
Thank you, I said sincerely, the nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach finally disappearing. The excitement had overwhelmed me and I only just realised that Julie was nowhere to be seen. Didn’t Noah’s mother come and get you ? Where is she ?
She’ll be here in a minute, he grinned. The last time I saw her, she was sprinting towards the cafeteria, probably going to get everybody else. So take these last few seconds to be with your boyfriend, because soon everyone will be piling in to this room, no doubt.
I laughed as he nodded and disappeared from sight. Collapsing in to the chair, I took hold of Noah’s hand and breathed a huge sigh of relief. I didn’t know if it was just my imagination, but his hand felt warmer, and so did the room. It was like everything had changed, or had gotten better. The mechanical noises from the machines no longer seemed to penetrate the room, they just seemed to fade away. I hadn’t felt the warmth outside for so long, but as the sun streamed through the window I felt it for the first time. Things were going to be okay.
You know you scared me there for a while college boy, I whispered, thinking I was talking to myself. When you fell to the ground and you closed your eyes, I thought that was it. My eyes watered just thinking about it, but I just couldn’t seem to stop talking. You were covered in so much blood, I couldn’t even see the colour of your shirt. I was terrified. Really terrified.
I sniffed and wiped my eyes with the back of my hand, still stroking Noah’s palm with the pad of my thumb. There’s no way I could have handled it if you hadn’t woken up. I still have nightmares and the only place I feel safe, is with you. It’s the only place I ever feel safe. God, I love you so much Noah. I didn’t even realise how much until I almost lost you.
But as I looked up, I was surprised to see his head turned towards me, and his eyes wide open. He was looking right at me, and he squeezed my hand again. It was about the only thing he could do, but it meant everything to me.
And you’re still as handsome as ever, I laughed, getting up from the chair and looking down at him. There was colour in his cheeks, and there was just something different. I just wanted you to know. You really do mean everything to
Noah ! A voice cried suddenly from the doorway. I watched wide eyed as Noah’s entire family, and his friends all practically pushed and shoved to get in to the room.
His mother and father were at the bedside instantly, and JJ wasn’t far behind. There were tears in Julie’s eyes as she took hold of his hand and held on to it tightly. Pierce put his hand on Noah’s arm gently and I could see the tears pooling in his eyes too.
What did the doctor say ? Julie asked, not even glancing up at me.
Noah turned his head and looked towards his parents and that was all it took for them to break down, the past week’s tension finally melting away. Noah’s coming off the breathing tube tonight. And then the doctor said as long as everything looks okay with all of his different functions, he’ll be able to go home after a few night’s observations. He’s going to be okay.