It's funny how you never realize you love someone until they're truly gone. Even now, September 15th, as I sat in Gordo's hospital room for what seemed like the hundredth time, I couldn't bring myself to accept the fact that he wasn't waking up. And, like every other hundredth time, I still tried to get through to him. I sat by the bed, painting my toenails and waiting for Gordo, hoping he'd wake.

"I heard a funny story yesterday," I began to speak, my mind entering autopilot, as it often did these days anymore. "Matt was telling me about how he had a biology test this morning. He was going to come ask you for help, but then he remembered you weren't there. So instead, he went and copied one of your assignments. Well, it turned out that our old biology teacher, Mr. Evans, was still there. He recognized it right away as being yours and gave Matt extra homework."

I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes I would wait for him to reply. Sometimes, the silence was so unbearable, I pretended he did anyway. This had been going on for nearly two months now. Every single day, I would wait in that room and I would talk to a ghost. I would will his blue eyes to open and tell me he was sorry for making me worry, but it was impossible. I wouldn't happen. And even now, my mom prepared me for the worst.

We still hadn't told Miranda.

I closed the bottle of nail polish and put it on the dresser beside the bed. It was where all my things had somehow made it, as if I was slowly moving into the room. My book was there, my nail polish, my car keys, all of it was there.

I couldn't bring myself to the reality of this specific situation. Gordo could really be gone. He could really never wake up. The gravity was so hard to fight, and I had nightmares about it, but I knew it was only a matter of time. In a year, if he wasn't awake, the chances of him waking were slim. The Gordon's had decided to give him until his twenty-first birthday. If there was no improvement by then, they would give up. Howard had already called and cancelled Gordo's first semester of college, though he didn't want to.

I stared at the tubes and wires and closed my eyes for a moment, making the thousandth wish that day that he'd wake up. "Gordo, please don't leave us. Too many of us count on you." Quietly, my gaze moved to the floor and I started counting tiles for the nineteenth time since I'd arrived there two months ago. "You know that, right?"

Shannon, the nurse, came in shortly after I spoke. She smiled feebly at me and looked at the comatose patient. "Liz, he'll wake up. I've never actually seen a coma patient die."

I smiled back and looked to the door. "Thanks, Shannon. I'll leave so you can give him a bath."

She nodded and looked back at the boy. "She really loves you, you know. She's the only person whom has been here every day since you arrived. It's really not fair to worry her like that."

Finally, someone was on my side.

Roberta sat at the kitchen table, hands wrapped around a mug of coffee. Jo and Sam both sat across from her, watching her hands twitch. Jo reached out and put her hand over Roberta's. "I know it's a hard subject to talk about."

"I'm so sorry, Jolene, it's just been so long since I've had to deal with a problem of this magnitude outside of work. And I had never in my life suspected it would be my own son. Admittedly, I always assumed it would have been Matt in this situation." She murmured, sipping the coffee gingerly.

"Matt would be a likely candidate," Sam mumbled. He slid the folder towards his end of the table and stared at the title. "Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

"Yes, it's the best thing I can do. We can't afford his medical costs, it's too expensive, and the insurance won't cover it either. This is the only other thing I can think of." Roberta stared at the folder, praying he wouldn't open it. "We have one hundred thousand tucked away, but that was strictly for college purposes. It took years to get that much for him."

"It's alright, Bobbie. I'll help you. You're not totally alone." Jo answered, switching sides so she was beside her friend of twenty odd years. "Don't shut yourself out from this, though. Your son will need you."

"I know, dear. I've been trying to bring myself to go visit him, but my feet just won't let me. Every time I walk in there, it seems so real. It makes me realize that I may be planning his funeral sooner than his wedding."

"Lizzie is at the hospital with him right now. I'm not sure if she's helping or not, but she insists on being there every single day. She tells him how her life is going, she cuts his hair, she talks to him and reads him stories. They say it helps, because coma patients can hear, they just have no control over their body to tell you." Sam commented, opening the folder and staring at the photographs inside. "I think it's a pretty noble thing she's doing. She's a lot stronger than any of us, that's for sure."

"Do we have a case, Mr. McGuire?"

Sam was a lawyer, he had been for ten years or so. He just never really made it known to the kids what he did, to avoid the stigma at school. He paged through the photographs of the wreckage and put them back on the table, face down, so Gordo's mother wouldn't have to see that again. "I think we have a pretty solid case. You've talked to the Los Angeles police, right? Have they found the guy who did it yet?"

Roberta feebly shook her head. "No, they haven't. Howard suspects that the person who did it is terrified of being brought to court."

"I imagine that's likely so, but how can you hit someone head on, do that much damage, and walk away from it?" Sam asked, staring at the pictures again. "It just doesn't make sense. Are you sure David didn't hit a guard rail or something?"

"No. Look here, Sam, there's paint streaks across the front." Jo pointed out casually. "That's from another car."

Jo the artist, of course she would notice that. "It does seem awfully suspicious," Sam commented, tucking the photographs carefully back into the folder. "I'll definitely look into it. I have a little pull with the police department, perhaps they can help. What company towed the car?"

Roberta handed him a slip of paper with a number scribbled on it. "The ambulance called for a tow truck, the company is called Connor's. Ask for Douglass."

"I'll start there. I suspect both cars were towed to the same location. That much damage would make it damn near impossible to drive." Sam murmured as he grabbed his phone and keys off the table. He kissed Jo and smiled. "We'll figure this out, Roberta. I wouldn't let you down."

As Sam left, Jo sat with her friend and frowned. "Do you want a refill on your coffee, Bobbie?"

Roberta shook her head. "No, thank you. I do need to discuss something about Lizzie."

Jo tensed slightly and looked at her reflection on the table. "Is this about her being the cause of the accident?"

Roberta shook her head. "No, this isn't about her being the cause. I'm afraid she knows. I'm terrified that she's detached herself from reality for the sake of protecting him. Jolene, she talks to him…she even continues as if he answered. She's sick. It's the symptoms of a guilty conscience."

Jo's hands tensed slightly. "I know. I've noticed it, too." She looked up at Roberta. "You're the doctor, what can I do to help her?"

"She needs a familiar environment. Someone she recognizes that's a lot closer to her than any of us." Roberta smiled a little and handed Jo the bracelette that spelled out Miranda's name. "It might help her to have a friend to talk to."

Jo nodded. "I've been meaning to call her, but Lizzie keeps saying she wants to be the one to tell Miranda." Shaking her head she took the bracelet and stared at the intricate beading. Lizzie had made it for her best friend on the first day of middle school. Just before the party she wanted so badly to go to. "I remember this," She smiled and poked one of the beads. "She wished on every single one of these beads. I wonder if any of them came true."

Roberta's brown eyes watched Jo carefully, studying her movement. "I know Elizabeth is trying to help, but she's starting to become a hermit. It isn't good. She needs social interaction."

Jo nodded. "I'll call Miranda tonight. It's been put off long enough. She was David's friend, too."

Larry answered on the second ring, recognizing the number almost immediately. When Jo's voice came over the line, shock crossed his mind. Lizzie's family hadn't bothered with her sicne she left for school. "Hi, this is Jo McGuire, is Miranda Sanchez in?"

Larry turned to Miranda and gingerly handed her the phone. "Miranda, it's Lizzie's mom."

Miranda touched the phone, her hand shaking slightly. Maybe she just wanted to check in and see if she needed anything? "Hi, Mrs. McGuire," She answered with her usual perky tone, trying to hide her fear. "How is Lizzie doing? She hasn't talked to me since I left."

"Miranda, you need to sit down for this." Jo answered, cutting her off.

Miranda fell back into a chair and waited, fear clutching her heart. Was it Lizzie? "Is it Lizzie? Is she okay?" Larry reached over and took her hand, holding tight.

"Miranda, Gordo's been in an accident. He's in a coma. It happened after you left for the airport." Jo took a deep breath, definitely not approaching this how she was instructed to. "I need you to come home, Lizzie needs you. She's detached herself from reality, she's starting to sink into a fantasy world where nothing is wrong. I'm worried about her."

Miranda began to cry, her voice cracking when she tried to speak. "He's going to die, isn't he?" She asked, tears falling freely. "He can't die, she loves him. Tell me he's not going to die, Mrs. McGuire, promise me."

"I wish I could promise, Miranda. I really do. But I can't make a promise I can't keep. He hasn't responded to any stimuli. He's in such a deep coma, they're not even sure if he can wake up. Miranda, please come back for your friends." Jo pleaded.

"Why didn't Lizzie tell me?" Miranda croaked.

"She was afraid of what would happen. Please don't say anything about it, she's in a really sensitive mindset right now, she can't deal with the trauma right now. Just be here for her." Jo stammered. "I'll pick you up at the airport, I'll even buy your ticket."

Miranda was gone, Larry picked up the phone in her stead. "I'll go with her, if that's alright. I think she'll need my support." He stared at his girlfriend as she threw clothes hastily into a bag. Placing the phone between his ear and shoulder, he folded the clothes carefully and put them in the bag.

"Tudgmen, stop!" She sat on the bed and began to cry again. "I don't want to lose any of my friends, what if he dies?"

Larry paused. "Mrs. McGuire, I'll call you back. I'll pay for my ticket and Miranda's, just meet us at the airport in four hours." It was then that Larry was glad the company he worked for could charter him a plane. Though he had guessed he'd never actually use the service, now he was sure he would thank them. Cradling Miranda in his arms, he brushed a hand through her hair whispering softly. "Shh, Miranda, it will be okay. Coma's are just putting the body into hibernation so it can heal properly." He lied.

Miranda spent the entire plane ride focused on staring out the window. She couldn't even bring herself to speak to Larry, the man she loved. She couldn't imagine her life without her two best friends. If Gordo died, it was no secret that Lizzie would probably go with. "Did she tell you what happened?" Miranda asked, her voice merely above a whisper.

"Not completely. She said that he was heading to the airport, fixing to leave for New York early. She said something about him being distracted and having a head on accident. Miranda, I'm sure he'll be fine." Larry commented, taking her hand. "Trust me, I've never been wrong about something like this."

Miranda smiled softly and lay her head against his shoulder, calming her breathing. "I need to be completely calm to deal with this. I can't just go in there half cocked and start shooting things up. She needs me fully focused." Primping her hair as the plane came into the runway, she turned to Larry. "You'll be with me the whole time, right?"

"Of course." He kissed her lips softly. "I love you, mi Corazón."

When the plane landed, Miranda hurried to get off. When she found Jo, waiting in the lobby, her heart stopped. It all seemed so real now. The situation became harder to face. "Miranda, it's so good to see you again," Jo whispered, enveloping the girl into a hug and holding her close. "I'm so terribly sorry to call you on such short notice."

"No," Miranda whispered as well. "It's fine, I need to be here for both of them." She closed her eyes and sat in a chair outside of the terminal. "Can you tell me what happened?"

"Sam is investigating it, but it's hard to tell so far." Jo commented, waving to Larry so he'd know where they are. He sat beside Miranda and looked to Mrs. McGuire. "From what we understand, he went to the airport to find Lizzie after she dropped you off. When he didn't find her, he came home and left a package for her. Mrs. Gordon said he exchanged some not-so-kind words with some boxes and left to go to New York early. On his way to New York, he'd gotten a text at a stop sign. When he went to read it, another car came into his lane and hit him."

"Sounds a little suspicious," Larry whispered. "Are you sure that's what happened?"

"Even if Gordo was texting and driving, it wouldn't matter. The person that hit him drove away…or at least ran without exchanging information. We can't find them." Jo commented. "So it's technically a hit-and-run offense."

Larry brushed back Miranda's hair and frowned. "What hospital is she at? And would you mind if we stay with you?"

"It's fine if you stay with us. It would be like old times." For the first time since the accident, Jo managed a smile, but it quickly faded when reality hit. "Gordo is at the Los Angeles Medical Center. Lizzie has been there every single day since he was admitted."

"I'll try to remind her that things aren't so bad," Miranda murmured. "But promises are hard to keep, Mrs. McGuire. If he dies, I can't promise I can stop her from killing herself."

Jo nodded. "I know. Mrs. Gordon is already helping me to avoid that. She thinks having you here will help a great deal. And for now…let's pray he doesn't die."

I folded my arms over my chest and lay my head against Gordo's pillow, crying again for the first time in a week. My emotions had been a rollercoaster, and I couldn't think of what to do. I was running out of options and ideas. What could I do to get through to him? Finally, reality dawned on me. Mom had raised me to be a Disney princess, who hadn't heard of Sleeping Beauty? I brushed my hair back and leaned over, kissing him gingerly on the lips.

What was I expecting to happen if he did wake up?

This chapter is dedicated to Tomboy22 and theDJK because they requested more Miranda. Read and review. If you guys have any other ideas, feel free to message me and I'll try to work them in. The next chapter is from an unexpected point of view. =)