"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity." -Gilda Radner
CPOV
The small waves crashed into the shore, as the sun slowly descended casting oranges and purples across the sky. I couldn't help but admire the glistening ocean as the sun began to fade. This was home, there was no place like it.
"Hey you really should eat some more". Brax's voice pulled me from my thoughts. I quickly glanced at the picnic in front of me.
"I really couldn't, I'm stuffed". I pushed the final plate closer to him.
"That's only cause you got this little guy hitching a ride". He smiled rubbing my growing baby bump. I couldn't help but smile at his smile, I placed my hand over Brax's. I looked back towards the ocean, zoning out from what Brax was saying, the glistening seemed to be getting brighter making it hard to see. His last words caught my attention.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he said seriously.
"Tell you" I repeated confused. I suddenly felt moisture over my hand, I looked down to notice it was covered in blood. Everything started to fade away as the brightness was now blinding me, forcing me to close my eyes, until I was surrounded by nothing but darkness.
The darkness was over bearing, I tried desperately to open my eyes, it was as if they were glued shut. I could here a repetitive beeping sound as well as someone speaking, it wasn't clear just mumbling. After awhile it became difficult to breath it was like I was chocking on something.
"Charlotte I need you to breathe out for me so we can remove the tube". A masculine voice guided me, following the instructions I was soon able to breath again unrestricted. "Ok now I need you to try and open your eyes". My eyelids felt easier to lift, as I finally opened my eyes the darkness lifted. I took in the bleach white room that surrounded me, and the middle-aged man with crystal blue eyes standing next to me. "Ok please follow the light with your eyes" he instructed. I carefully followed the small torch light with my eyes. "excellent now charlotte…"
"its Charlie" I automatically corrected him, my voice sounded gruffly and my throat was extremely dry. A smile crept onto his face.
"Well that answers my next question, I'm Doctor Tress. Now I just need to run a few more tests, but you look like your making a good recovery". A small nurse standing behind doctor Tress handed me a cup of water, I quickly drank the water eager to relieve my sore throat.
"I don't understand… what I'm doing here?". I looked to the doctor for answers, I think it was safe to assume I was in a hospital.
"I know this may be difficult to hear but you were attacked, you were brought here in a very server condition with gunshot wounds, we were able to stabilize you. May I ask what is the last thing you remember?".
"I..I don't know, I was at home packing and getting ready for work" slowly the memories filtered through, I remembered getting ready for work and waiting for the timer to go off, the test…
I instinctively reached for my belly, by the size of it I was defiantly still pregnant. "Is the baby ok?"
"Yes the baby's fine we've had a neonatal specialist, monitor the pregnancy and baby's progress".
I couldn't help but stare at my belly, it was big, massive and yet it felt like only a few hours ago I was staring at the positive test. I tried so hard to remember being shot and yet nothing came back. "How long has have I been here for?"
"I know this is probably very confronting but due to complications as a result of your injuries, you were placed in a medical induced coma, unfortunately it was not clear when or if you would wake. As a result you have been comatose for nearly 7 months, it's really very lucky you're awake now."
"7 months… Where is Brax and my daughter, I would really like to see them". Doctor Tress handed the clipboard for to the nurse as she left the room. Immediately panic set in, what if something had happened to them, what if they where… I couldn't finish the thought it was too distressing. I built up my courage to ask the question I wasn't sure I wanted answered. "Are they ok?"
"There ok, but there is a lot that needs to be discussed, unfortunately I'm just here for the medical side of things, Inspector Joyce will be in later to answer your questions. As well as Doctor Roberts she's the neonatal specialist."
"Surely you must know something, I don't understand why this is so difficult" I took a deep breath as the anger started to consume me.
"You should try to stay relaxed Charlie, any extra stress may be detrimental to your recovery, ill call the inspector straight away, in the mean time is there anything else I can help you with?"
"Yes could you please get the nurse to bring me something to eat, IV nutrients aren't very filling"
"Of course ill have her bring you something straight away, just be careful with how much you eat as your body wont be use to solid food" he smiled before leaving the room.
I let my hand wonder over where my child was growing, it was surreal, and I felt like I had missed so much of my child's growth. I felt the baby kick for the first time where my hand was placed, I couldn't help the tears that spilled. I had to wonder what else I had missed.
Thanks for reading... let me know what you think :D RR