With all my emotions at bay and not knowing how to react to these sudden turns of events, it’s been months, and Dad’s been in a coma for a long time, but now he is awake. I don’t even know how to express my feelings in front of him.
As per doctors, Dad had shown signs of recovery for quite a long time, and every day I wish to see him like before, smiling, walking on his legs, and talking to me. I want him to confront me like he used to do in the past.
Finally, my long-lost wish of mine will come true, but then why am I so nervous? Maybe I’m afraid to be happy after so much sadness in the past.
“Are you okay?” I looked up as a comforting arm wrapped around my shoulder.
I nodded my head, acting fine, but inside I was all messed up. My mouth was too dry to form any words, and my heart was pumping rapidly in my ribs. I don’t even know how to react when I am with my father.
And Jason, how is he feeling inside being here with you? So see the well-being of the person who was once the reason for his sadness.
But I don’t know what I would have done if Jason wasn’t here with me now. In just a few months. And it was on that night that he shared every bit of a secret about his life and his past. He slowly became an integral part of my life. And without even me realizing when or how, slowly, our relationship turned into something so special. Our relationship once started with hate, but slowly he became someone special to me.
However, sometimes I feel sad thinking about how Jason has always been so honest with me and never once hides anything from me, but on the other hand, he doesn’t know a bit about me or my past. Jason only knows what everyone else does. And after that incident, I became so secretive that only my dad and I knew about that part of my life. No one else.
And somehow, with my messed thoughts and mind, both Jason and I have reached the hospital and are making our way towards my dad’s room. Standing outside the door of the room, I stopped staring blankly at the door. Many thoughts are running through my mind right now, and one of them is what I was going to say to him when I met him for the first time after the accident. The last time I talked to my dad, and during that conversation, we both had a little fight. And when I learned about his accident, I was so heartbroken and regretted fighting with him.
I don’t know, but at that time I thought I would never see my father again, and the last time we talked on the phone, there was a fight between us.
I can’t describe how happy I am to know about his recovery. But then why am I so scared to run inside the room and hug my father, see the smile on his face, hear his voice talk to him like before the accident?
His hands pressed on my shoulder, reminding me of his presence. “Kiera, everything is fine.”
I nodded my head at his words. I know everything is fine, but I’m not fine.
“Go in. Your dad is waiting for you,” Jason said. I nodded my head again. However, my leg doesn’t allow me to move from the place I’m standing.
“Go,” Jason said, holding the door open for me.
“You’re not coming.” Words finally reached my mouth as I looked at Jason’s smile as he shook his head.
“He is waiting for you, not me.” Jason left my hand, opened the door, and pushed me inside the room. “Just Go…,”
I don’t want to leave Jason, not when my mind is all messed up. I grabbed his hand again, pulling him inside with me. “Don’t leave me,” I whispered.
“Do you want me to stay with you?” Jason questioned, and I nodded my head at the words. “Then I’ll never leave you.”
Jason’s words brought peace to my mind, and with our hands joined, we walked towards Dad’s bed, only to see him lying on his back with his eyes closed. There were still some machines attached to him, but at least he was not in a coma and was in a sane stage.
“Dad,” I said, grasping Jason’s tightly, my voice filled with a mix of relief and concern.
Upon hearing my voice, Dad opened his eyes. Tears started glistening in my eyes, seeing him react to my voice after so many months. Things are finally starting to get normal, I guess.
I turned my head towards Jason, smiling at him. I’m so happy. As I made my way to sit on the chair beside Dad’s bed, holding his hand, the one without the IV, I noticed one thing: Jason was uncomfortable in the room as he tried to look anywhere but at me or my dad, and dad was also giving Jason a cold eye, following his every moment with the moment of his eyes.
I tried to lighten up the environment in the room, trying to start a conversation. “So… how are you?” I asked my father, hoping to break the tension in the room.
Dad moved his hand, trying to remove the oxygen mask, but I stopped him. “Don’t… just blink your eyes if your answer is yes.”
Dad nodded his head, blinking his eyes, following my instructions.
“I missed you,” I said, with my voice shaking and the tears that I was trying so hard to control finally starting to fall from my eyes. “I thought… I’ll never see you again.” I wiped my eyes. Why the heck am I crying when my dad is in front of me?
A pair of firm hands placed on my shoulder provided me with warmth and comfort as Jason came standing beside me with hands wrapped around my head and my head leaning on his waist, and tears started to flow freely from my eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I said as the emotion came to control a bit.
Jason passed me tissues, helping me wipe my tears with a genuine smile on his face. I smiled back. I turned my attention to my father, who was both giving weird looks. I don’t blame them. A few months before his accident, Jason and I both hated each other so much and now seeing Jason provide me with comfort might look weird from his point of view.
Maybe we both should have an alone father-and-daughter conversation to clear up everything between us, but maybe not today. But I need to tell Dad everything, including his connection with Jason and Jason’s dad’s accident. I need answers that only my dad can give.