Her voice bursts through the phone, with an infectious happiness. “Nadine is finally out of her coma!” she exclaims, her enthusiasm making a smile tug at the corner of my lips.
“I’ll be right there,” I respond, already imagining the moment I’ll see Nadine.
I feel jealous and wish I could have been the first person she saw. I should have stayed by her side, not come home to freshen up. I push the thought aside, chiding myself for being selfish.
As I rise from the couch, my body aches from the impact of two weeks of hospital vigils. I hadn’t planned to sleep that long, but exhaustion got the better of me.
I shake off the fatigue, as my heart races with anticipation. I need to see Nadine, to hold her and know she’s okay. I hurry towards the door, to make my way to the hospital.
As I step out of my room, I notice Rosa coming from Shawn’s room, her gentle movements showing that she’s just put him to bed. I approach her, eager to share the news. “I’m off to the hospital, Nadine is awake from her coma,” and I can see the relief wash over Rosa’s face.
“Thank goodness,” she says with a smile. “Shawn has missed his mother. Her role in his life is so big that I doubt if I could have gone on without her.”
“Thanks, Rosa, you’ve done a great job,” making my way downstairs. I spot Kayla sitting in the living room, with an unreadable expression.
Since Nadine’s been away, Kayla’s responses to my questions have been monotone, without her usual spark. The only time she opens up is when Shawn is around, and I’ve noticed a deep affection between them.
I announce, “Kayla, kindly put things in order, Nadine is coming home,” a voice taunts me in my head, “How are you sure she’ll come home with you? Don’t put your hopes too high.” The doubts try to dampen my spirit, but I shake them off, focusing on the positive.
Kayla’s face lights up with excitement, “Yes, Logan, I’ll do just that!” she says with a mock salute, her enthusiasm is infectious. I smile, with her reaction, you can tell how much she cares for Nadine.
So I head to the hospital, choosing to drive myself this time. I’m not in the mood for a driver, despite him standing by, ready to assist.
As I drive, my mind wanders to Nadine, imagining the moment she’ll come home, and I’m grateful for her speedy recovery.
I’m uncertain about everything but I push it aside, focusing on the joy of seeing her again.
As I drive to the hospital, the cool air helps clear my head, but my mind starts racing with thoughts of Nadine.
How will she react when she sees me? Should I hug her tightly or observe her reaction first? These questions swirl in my head, frustrating me, and I find myself hitting the steering wheel in an attempt to calm my racing thoughts.
Luckily, I arrived at the hospital in one piece, despite my distracted driving. I greet the familiar nurses, they welcome me with warm smiles and fluttering their eyelashes. But my focus remains fixed on Nadine.
With long strides, I make my way to her floor, my heart racing with anticipation. After what feels like an eternity, I finally stand before her door, trying to gather my thoughts and calm my nerves.
What will I see when I open the door? Will she be sitting up, smiling, or still lying in bed, weak? My mind is a jumble of emotions as I take a sharp intake of breath, knock gently, push the door open, and step inside.
As I enter, my eyes immediately find Nadine, still lying in bed; her face turns towards the door at the sound of my arrival. Our eyes meet, and time seems to stand still. I’m frozen in the doorway, taking in the sight of her – my mind racing with emotions.
For a minute, we just stare at each other, my heart pounds in my chest, threatening to escape through my ears. My hands become sweaty, and I feel nervous. I mentally kick myself for not stopping by the supermarket to get a gift for her.
Just as I’m trying to compose myself, Nadine’s mom calls out, breaking the silence. “Logan, you’re back! Come right in, she’s out of her coma!” Her voice is warm and welcoming, but I’m still frozen in place.
My legs feel like lead, but I manage to take a few steps forward, my eyes not leaving hers.
As I gaze into Nadine’s eyes, I sense uncertainty in her eyes. Has she forgotten me?
Nadine’s eyelids slowly droop, and she closes her eyes, leaving me wondering if she’s recalling memories of our past.
I’m desperate to dive into her thoughts and uncover what’s on her mind. I quietly move a chair closer to her bed, the scraping sound against the floor making her turn towards me.
But instead of a smile, a lone tear escapes her eye, rolling down her cheek. My heart aches at the sight, and I feel an overwhelming urge to comfort her, to know what’s causing her pain. I remain still, unsure of what to do next, as the silence between us grows.
I gently reach out, my hand hovering over Nadine’s cheek before making contact. I softly wipe away the tears. “Don’t cry, please,” I whisper, relief washing over me. “Thank goodness you’re awake from your coma.”
Nadine tries to speak, her voice barely above a whisper. “W… where…” she croaks, her words trailing off. Her voice is hoarse.
“Hold on, let me get you water,” standing up to grab a bottle from the bedside table. I carefully lift her, supporting her head and shoulders, and bring the bottle to her lips. She gulps the water, her eyes never leaving mine.
“T… thank…” she starts to say, her voice still weak.
“Relax, babe, I’m glad you’re fine,” I interrupt. I continue to hold her, cradling her in my arms, as she sips the water.
Nadine’s eyes lock onto mine, it’s filled with unspoken emotion that I can’t quite put into words.
I smile and whisper, “You’re safe now. No one will ever hurt you again.” Despite my words, she continues to stare at me, with an unreadable expression.
I’m willing to wait for her, to stand by her side for as long as it takes for her to trust me again. Her gaze falters, and she whispers a single word: “Shawn.” I know she’s worried about our son.
I quickly reassured her, “He’s fine, and he misses you greatly.” I smile, hoping to coax her into responding, into saying my name, so I’ll know she remembers me.
As I gaze into Nadine’s eyes, I think back to our life before the accident, I wonder if she remembers any of it. I want to tell her everything, to remind her of our life together, but I’m scared of overwhelming her. I’m scared of pushing her away. So I wait patiently for her to come back to me. I wait for her to remember.
I turn to Nadine’s mom, who’s been quietly observing the scene, and ask, “Have you informed the doctor that she’s out of her coma?”
She shakes her head, “No, I haven’t called. Perhaps I should go do that now.” I stand up, ready to go call the doctor myself, but a gentle grip on my arm stops me.
I turn to see Nadine’s hand wrapped around my wrist, her eyes locked on mine. My heart skips a beat as she whispers, “Logan.” My name on her lips sends a shiver down my spine. I’m frozen, my breath caught in my throat, as I gaze into her eyes, happy that she recognizes memories of us.
At that moment, I’m whipped. I’m hers, completely and utterly. I sit back down, my eyes never leaving hers, as I whisper back, “I’m here, Nadine. I’m here.”