ISLA’S POV.
“I’m coming with you.” I said as I quickly entered Mary’s car and shut the door.
“Mother, you should stay back.” Mary tried persuading but I was done being persuaded.
I quickly put on the seat belt, strapping myself in. “He is my son, ever since he got admitted. I have only visited him once.” I reminded her. “Does that even make any sense? I know you’re worried about me but I’m also worried about him. Nothing will stop me today.”
Seeing my mind was made up, Mary started the car’s ignition.
Soon we got to the hospital, the antiseptic and sterile smell hit my nose as Mary signed us in. We entered Alex’s ward and my heart broke at the sight of him.
I staggered but Mary was quick to hold me. Alex looked so gaunt in his still position. I walked towards him and cupped his face gently. “Your mother is here, Alex.” My face became teary. “You’ve been lying here for too long, is it that you intend passing away before me?”
“Mother, you’re causing a scene, you should have stayed back at home.” Mary said but I ignored her at first.
Brushing Alex’s matted hair gently with my hand.
“How could I stay home when my son is like this?” I whispered, my voice trembling. “He is my child, Mary, no matter how old he gets. You’re a mother yourself.”
Mary sighed but said nothing. She stood beside me, her arms crossed, trying to mask her own pain.
I leaned closer to Alex, my tears dripping onto the sheet. “You’ve always been stubborn, Alex, but this… this is too much. Don’t you dare leave us like this.” My voice cracked as I spoke. “Do you hear me? Your mother is here, and I’m not leaving until you wake up.”
Mary placed a hand on my shoulder. “Mother, the doctors said recovery will take time.”
I turned to her, anger and grief flashing in my eyes. “Time? How much time do they think he has? Look at him!” My voice rose, and a nurse peeked in through the door.
Mary squeezed my shoulder gently. “Let’s not cause a scene.”
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions, but the weight of regret was crushing. I had let pride and misunderstandings keep me away from him for so long, and now here he was, a mere shadow of himself.
I sat down beside his bed and took his hand in mine. “Alex, you have to fight. Do you hear me? For Saraya, for Mary, for me, for Evan. We’re all waiting for you.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “Don’t leave us like this.”
For a moment, I thought I saw his fingers twitch, but it was so faint I couldn’t be so sure.
“Alex, can you hear me?” I asked, hoping he would move his hand again. “Can you move your hand again if you can hear me?” I said desperately but nothing came.
Mary quickly joined me on the bed. “Did you see him move his hand?” She asked.
I didn’t want to raise her hopes high so I shook my head slowly. “I must have been hallucinating.”
Mary shoulders dropped. The room was heavy with the sound of machines beeping in rhythm, reminding me of how fragile Alex’s life was at that moment. I refused to let go of his hand, my grip tightening even though I knew he was from feeling it.
“He is going to wake up,” I muttered under my breath, more to myself than anyone else. “He has to.”
Mary glanced at me, her eyes softening. “Mother, you’re exhausted. Maybe I should call a ride for you so you could rest. It’s been a long day.”
“I just got here.”
“Alex wouldn’t want to see you like you this, mom.”
I didn’t respond. I was too caught up in the silent prayer I was sending up, begging for my son to wake.
“If you fall sick from getting worked up, then I will have to reduce the time I spend with Alex caring for him to care for you too. You don’t want that, do you?”
This time she got my attention. I turned to Mary, her words cutting through my thoughts. The concern in her voice made me pause, and I felt a pang of guilt gnaw at me. She was right, of course. If I broke down, if I let my emotions get the better of me, I wouldn’t be able to help Alex, or anyone else for that matter. I would only end up being a burden to her.
I let out a shaky breath, wiping my tears away with the back of my hand. “I don’t want to make things harder for you, Mary. I just… want to spend some more time with him. I’m not doing anything at home to start with.”
Mary’s eyes softened, “then you should smile more around him. Can you do that?”
I nodded slowly, trying to steady myself. “I’ll try. I promise, I’ll try.”
Mary gave a small smile, her hand gently rubbing my back. “Good. I know it’s hard, but you’re not alone, Mother.”
I swallowed back the lump in my throat. “Thank you, Mary. I just… hope I don’t lose him.”
Mary gave a soft sigh, her gaze moving from Alex to me. “Neither do I.”
For a moment, we both sat there in silence, the steady beeping of the machines the only sound in the room.
“I’ll go get some water,” Mary said quietly, standing up. “I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time.” I told her s she headed to the door.
**
MARY’S POV.
I couldn’t shake off the image of Isla’s face off my mind when she thought she saw Alex move. The hope in her eyes had been too real, too fragile for me to ignore.
The moment I entered the elevator, I bite my hand nervously. “Mother said she saw his hand move, does that mean he will wake up soon?”
I shook my head. “She must’ve seen wrong.” I told myself as I made my way down the sterile hospital corridor to the fridge.
But I knew better than to let myself believe in such a fleeting thing. I had a responsibility now, something bigger than the fleeting hope of a mother. My hands tightened around the bottle of water as I struggled to push the anxiety I feel aside.
“What if he wakes up?” the thought crept back into my mind, unwelcome and persistent. “What if it’s true?”
But then came the cold, hard reminder of why I couldn’t let myself get carried away by such a thought. “If Alex wakes up, would he remember everything I’ve said … and would that mean everything would go back to how it was. I can’t risk that. I can’t go back.
I gritted my teeth, tightening my fist. There was no turning back. I had power now, a fragile hold on everything I had worked for, and the last thing I wanted was for Alex to wake up and undo it all. It would be just like before-chaos, confusion, loss. I couldn’t let that happen.
“Focus, Mary. You need to focus.” I reminded myself. I head back to Alex’s ward. Just before I walked in, I kept a small smile on my face to mask my nervousness.
I pushed the door open and stepped back inside, careful to mask the turmoil inside. Isla was still by Alex’s side, her hand clasped around his hand.
I stretched the bottle of water towards her. “Here you go, mom.”
She took it from me without letting go of Alex’s hand. “Thank you Mary.”
I sat behind her before rolling my eyes. “What a bond, unfortunately, it’s too late for the both of you.” I said to myself with a smirk on my lips.