Chapter 29

Deanna, Kassandra and Melissa sat around Moonie's hospital bed for the fifth day in a row. They had found her lying on the beach. Sunburned and passed out. Or so they thought. She was in a coma. Their hearts ached for their friend. She wasn't waking up and the doctors could find no cause for her being in it. The only injuries that she really had was the sunburn and for some strange reason. Rope burns on her wrists.

"This is all my fault," Melissa said as she cried. "I should've hauled her ass back to the hotel with me."

"Shut up," Kassandra said to her. "It's all our faults. None of us should've left her."

"Would you all shut up!" Deanna barked. She leaned closer and saw Moonie's eyelids flutter. "Get the damn doctor, I think she's waking up!"

Moonie saw the brightest light she'd ever seen and then her friends around her looking down at her obviously worried, she shot straight up, "Jack," she screamed, She was breathing hard but not in a panic. She put her hand to her head and looked at her hand, no ring. It had been nothing but a dream. She looked at her friends and laid back down in silent shock.

"Moonie?" Deanna said leaning closer to her. "What happened? We've been so worried."

"It's all our fault, we're so sorry," Melissa babbled on. "We shouldn't have left you on the beach. Drinking that blasted rum."

Kassandra rolled her eyes at the others. "Would you two just shut it. Can't you see she's in a state of shock!"

Moonie put her arm over her face and continued to cry, how could a dream make her heart ache so much? She tried to roll over but the IV in her hand made it to hard. "Where am I," she asked.

"You're in the hospital," Kassandra said. "We found you five days ago after our night of celebrating."

"You've been in a coma," Deanna added. "How do you feel?"

Moonie kept her arm over her eyes the light was blinding, "I've felt better," she said stoically. "I could use some water," she said.

Melissa jumped to her feet and got her a glass of water and helped her sit up.

"What we can't figure out is why you have rope burns on your wrists." Deanna said. "Do you remember at all?" she asked.

Moonie looked at her wrists, the rope burns were there, she closed her eyes, he was real. She forgot the water and forced herself onto her side and began to cry.

The girls looked at each other.

"Moonie, what is it?" Melissa asked. "What can we do to help?'"

Moonie's heart shattered, she had never felt more alone or empty in her life, "Nothing," she whimpered. "Nothing at all," she whispered and cried harder.

The girls looked at each other again, saddened by their friends tears. Kassandra and Deanna left to go speak to the doctor.

Melissa moved to Moonie's side and knelt at her side. "I'm sorry Moonie, for whatever happened." she said sadly. "The doctor said that once you're feeling better, you can leave in a few days and we can catch a flight home."

Moonie looked at Melissa, "I'm not leaving," she said. If Jack was going to find her the best thing she could do was stay put here in the Caribbean where he'd found her in the first place.

Melissa's eyes widened. "What do you mean you're not leaving?" she asked. "Moonie, you've been through something traumatic, what we don't know. But I think the best thing for you is to go home."

Moonie forced herself to sit up, "I can't give you my reasons but just know I cannot leave Jamaica," she said. "You guys wouldn't believe me if I told you," she sighed.

Melissa stood up and looked at her friend. "Does this have anything to do with your pirate fantasies?" she asked. "Do you really think that Jack Sparrow is going to waltz through your door and sweep you off of your feet? Moonie, he doesn't exist."

Moonie looked down at her wrists, "Right," she said softly. She looked up as the others returned with the doctor.

"Well, Miss Cluster, how do you feel?" The man in the white coat asked. "I'm Doctor Martin."

Moonie gave a half smiled, "Perfect,:" she said.

Dr. Martin smiled at her. "We'll just run a few more tests and then you should be able to go home in another day."

Melissa looked at her friend. "Moonie, are you sure this is what you want to do?"

Kassandra and Deanna looked at Melissa. "What is she going to do?" they asked, almost in unison.

"She plans on staying in Jamaica." Melissa said looking at Moonie.

"Are you crazy?" Kassandra asked.

Dr. Martin looked at Moonie and winked at her. "If you decide to stay, let me know, I know of some realtors." He nodded to the other women and left the room.

Moonie watched the doctor leave, "I'm opening a shop or tiki hut on the beach, start over," she said. She looked at Melissa then the others, "Think what you like about it but it's my life and my decision," she shrugged.

Melissa couldn't help but smile at Moonie. "Well, you've always been your own stubborn person," she said still smiling. Despite the protests that the others were speaking of. "Oh girls come on, think of it. We won't have to pay for a hotel room any more when we come to visit," she said with a laugh.

Moonie hugged her knees to her chest, "And who knows... I might finally find my Captain Jack," she said dreamily.

Melissa couldn't help but roll her eyes. She moved to Moonie and hugged her. "We'll let you get some rest," she said. She ushered the other two out of the room, but stopped to turn back. "Oh I don't know if you remember or not, but Johnny Depp is no longer involved with Vanessa," she said. "And rumor has it that he's moving to his island."

Moonie shrugged, "Don't care... he's not Jack," she said knowingly.

Melissa looked at her friend and sighed. She loved Moonie, but she sometimes wondered if she lived in a fantasy world.

Dr. Martin returned to her room a short time later. "I heard from your friends that you want to open a gift shop."

Moonie nodded, "I was thinking about it," she said.

He handed her an envelope. Encrusted with time and a wax seal. "I think this might be of some use to you," he said with a smile.