Chapter 2

People entered Elisa's room all day. They all were hoping Elisa would wake up soon. The nurses came in to check her vitals. The doctors ran more tests on her but nothing else stood out. There was still a little swelling in the brain. They hoped by the end of the week, she would wake up.

Diane had come to the hospital alone. She watched her daughter resting peacefully. She smiled as she thought about the first time she was pregnant. She was thrilled but scared. She had no idea what to do with a baby. Sure, she had her own mother for guidance but it was still nerve-wracking.

She remembered when she first laid eyes on Elisa. She was the perfect baby. Diane smiled as she remembered her first steps, words, and her first day of school. Diane always imagined a good life for her. She never thought this would happen to her baby. Now, she needed her.

"I'm here Elisa. Take my strength if you need to. I need to see those beautiful eyes of yours. Can you open your eyes for mommy?"

Diane waited for a response but got nothing. She wanted to scream out of frustration but that wouldn't help Elisa. She let the tears come. She didn't hear the knock on the door. The knock got louder. Diane turned to see Jason standing there.

Diane quickly wiped her eyes. "Jason, what are you doing back here?"

He gave a weak smile. "I wanted to see if there was any progress. I take it nothing has changed."

Diane shook her head in defeat. "No. We're all just waiting."

Jason looked at Diane. He could only imagine the toll this had on her. "Do you need to take a break? I can watch her. It's no problem."

"Are you sure?" asked Diane.

"I am," Jason replied. Diane got her belongings and started to walk out. She placed a hand on Jason's arm and smiled. She left the room and walked down the hallway.

Jason sat in the chair Diane was sitting in. "Hey, it's Jason. I came to see you earlier. I was hoping I would come back to see you smiling and laughing. Your family needs you. You have so much to live for. You're getting married you know. You can't keep the groom waiting. There was a time when I thought we would be the ones marrying each other. A pipe dream really. You chose well. I at least have you as a friend. You've been with me through my spinal regeneration surgery and therapy. I really appreciated you looking out for me. Just know that I'm here if you need me. Please come back to me."

Diane had heard what he said. She knew he would always carry a torch for her daughter. She even wished Elisa had chosen Jason at times. Nevertheless, they remained friends. She was thankful for that.

Diane made her presence known and Jason got out of the chair. "Thanks for watching her. You need to rest yourself. I'll let you know if anything happens."

"I'm here for you too," said Jason.

"I know. I appreciate the concern. Now go," said Diane.

Jason nodded his head. He turned to Elisa once more and kissed her forehead. "See you later Elisa." He hugged Diane before leaving the room.

Diane sat down and moved some hair out Elisa's face. She sighed and leaned back in the chair and drifted off to sleep.

Hours later…

Diane felt a hand on her shoulder. She jumped slightly before looking up. Peter was standing there smiling. "Hi sweetheart."

Diane stood up and stretched. "Hi honey. When did you get here?"

"A few minutes ago. I decided to wake you up before the room gets crowded," Peter answered.

Diane nodded her head. "I'll go freshen up." She went to the bathroom.

Peter stood by his daughter's bedside. "Hey baby girl. It's dad. Your parents are here. Can you please open your eyes or squeeze my hand?"

Peter waited for what felt like forever. Nothing happened. Diane walked out of the bathroom and smiled sadly at her husband. This was taking a toll on him even though he tried to remain strong for her.

She walked up to him. "It's okay to let go and cry. You don't have to remain strong all the time."

Peter sighed and hunched his shoulders. "We can't lose her. She has so much to live for."

"We won't. She's a fighter. It's in her DNA," said Diane. "Do you remember when I told you I was pregnant?"

Peter laughed. "I couldn't think straight for a while. I don't think it really it me that I was going to be a father until you went into labor. I completely freaked out. Then I saw the strength you had in delivering our little miracle, all I wanted to do was comfort you."

"You did. Apparently fatherhood suited you because you knocked me up two more times," Diane joked.

"What can I say? I wanted a huge family but you said no," said Peter.

"Three was enough," Diane said. "We do have some great kids. Even if things didn't work out the way we wanted, we couldn't have been more blessed."

Derek and Maggie came through the window. They stood by Elisa's bed. "Any change?" asked Derek.

Diane shook her head no.

Derek leaned down toward his sister. "Hey sis, it's me. Looks like you're still playing sleeping beauty."

"How are you two doing?" asked Maggie.

"We're fine," said Peter. "Thanks for asking."

"Is there anything you need?" asked Maggie.

"Just our little girl waking up," said Diane.

Maggie smiled weakly. "She'll wake up soon," said Maggie.

No one noticed the twitch in Elisa's fingers. Elisa could hear distant voices in the background. She couldn't make anything out though.

She slowly opened her eyes. She saw blurry faces. The light was too bright at first and she closed her eyes for a moment.

Elisa opened them again. She let out a whimper because she suddenly felt her body ache. Everybody in the room whipped their heads around at the noise.

Their eyes widened as Elisa's eyes adjusted to her surroundings. Diane squealed and hugged her daughter tightly.

Elisa tensed. She didn't know who was hugging her. Diane felt it and looked at her daughter bewildered. "Elisa?"

"Who are you?" asked Elisa.

Diane looked at Peter and then to Elisa again. "It's me. It's your mom."

"I don't know you." She looked at Peter and then she noticed Derek and Maggie and her eyes went wild. She shrieked and sat up. "What are you? Who are you?"

Derek started to approach. "It's okay. I'm your brother. This woman beside me is my wife." Elisa looked between the two several times.

"This can't be. I don't know who any of these people are."

"I don't know any of you. I don't even know where I am," Elisa said panicking.

Peter walked to Elisa's bedside. "You're okay. You're in a hospital. You had an accident."

"I what? When?" asked Elisa.

"Two days ago," said Peter. Elisa laid back down. She tried to remember but nothing came to her.

"I don't remember getting into an accident," she whispered.

Peter looked up at the window to see the clan about to come. He groaned. This wasn't going to be pretty.

Elisa looked at the man before. She observed his expression. She was about to question what was wrong when she heard the window slide open. She turned her head to see the clan come in.

Goliath quickly went to her side. Elisa backed away and if she could have run, she would've.

Goliath smiled not noticing her movement. He was too focused on her being awake. "Elisa, my love. You're awake."

Elisa tried not to panic. She glanced at the other figures before her. "What am I looking at?"

Goliath noted her silence. "Elisa, what's-

Elisa cut him off. "Who are you?"

Goliath creased his eyebrows. "It's Goliath. I'm-I'm your mate."

Peter winced at Goliath's words fearing what reaction Elisa might give him. "Goliath, now isn't the time. You all need to know something." He was about to continue but Elisa interrupted.

"Mate?" asked Elisa.

"Yes. We're engaged to be married," said Goliath.

She turned to Peter for an answer. "Is it true? Are we really engaged to be-to be married?" Peter nodded yes.

It was getting to be too much for Elisa. She wanted out of this room. She didn't want to be surrounded by all these people.

She sat up and turned to Goliath. "Look, I don't know you. I need you all to go. Everyone just go except for…" She pointed to Diane and Peter. "Except them."

"Elisa, you must remember me," pleaded Goliath. He didn't understand her actions at first but he now understood the gravity of the situation and it bothered him tremendously.

"I don't. Leave. I can't do this right now," said Elisa feeling overwhelmed.

Goliath started to protest.

"Please. Do what she ask," said Peter.

He turned to leave and the others did as well. After they all left, Elisa turned to Peter and Diane.

"I can't believe any of this. What's wrong with me?" asked Elisa.

"Baby, nothing is totally wrong. We're going to get the doctor."

Peter and Diane walked out praying their daughter would remember.