-=*=- Prelude to Austria -=*=-
Chapter IX
Neil kept his constant vigil at Christy's side for days--and days without knowing whether or not she would ever awaken, but hoping and praying she would. There had been no response from her, but he would not give up hope that there would be some response soon.
Dr. Wagner had, at first, not believed what the nurse had told him about Christy and Neil, so they did a test to see if it would happen again--and it did! Dr. Wagner used the same word as the nurse to describe what he had witnessed, that of--"amazing".
Neil only left for necessities and for Neil MacNeill, eating was not considered a necessity! So each meal time, George brought in a tray for Neil so he wouldn't make himself sick as well. Neil didn't eat much of what George brought to him, but between the Huddleston's and the nurses they encouraged him to eat at least some of it.
They all tried, to no avail, to get Neil to lie down on a cot and get a descent night's sleep. The Huddleston's had all offered to sit with Christy and explain to her why Neil couldn't be with her at the moment. But Neil obstinately refused to leave her side until she was awake and talking. Which everyone, but Neil, was beginning to fear might never happen.
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Neil had laid his head down on the side of the bed and fell sound asleep, holding tightly to Christy's hand as he had for the past four days.
He was awakened a few hours later as the hand in his began to move ever so slightly. He lifted his head and looked at the hand in his. "Christy, Sweetheart, do that again! Please!" He almost yelled.
**'I could hardly believe I was finally getting through to him! I had been trying for the longest time to make a response that Neil would actually notice!'**
"Christy, I felt that! Please try again Sweetheart! I know you can do it!!" Neil pleaded, almost begged.
**'Concentrating all of my efforts on the hand Neil was holding in his, I focused my attention on squeezing his hand. I kept telling myself I had gotten through before, I could do it again! Squeeze! I commanded my hand! Squeeze!"**
"That's it Sweetheart!! That's it! You're squeezing my hand Love! Keep trying! You can do it! Try to talk to me Christy! I *need* to hear your voice!! Say my name Christy--say *anything*! I don't care what it is, just try to speak to me!"
**'Oh boy! He was asking a lot now!! Once again I concentrated my efforts on the task set before me. I pursed my lips, or at least hoped that's what I was doing, and my mouth was so dry!'** "N…N…" I tried, but wasn't sure I was getting anything out. "Nee…Neil…"
"That's right Love!!" Neil exclaimed loudly. "Neil! You said Neil!!!"
"Dry." I said quietly.
"Are you thirsty?" Neil asked. I formed the word 'yes' with my mouth, but couldn't get any sound to come out. Neil reached for a cloth and held it to my mouth. I got some water from it, but I had a feeling it would be sometime before I had enough!
"Oh Sweetheart! I knew you'd come back to us--to me!! I just knew it! I wasn't going to give up on you!! I love you Christy!!"
"I love you." I managed hoarsely.
"You might not be able to open your eyes immediately Christy. So don't be disappointed if you can't, alright?"
"Yes." I tried again. "Dry, Neil." Once again Neil held the cloth to my lips and I got some water. 'It felt wonderful to be able to communicate with Neil once again! Even if it was only monosyllabic at the moment.'
"I have to call the nurse, Christy! Don't be worried that I'm not here. I'll not go far! I'll be back as soon as I can! They'll want to know that you're awake! They can tell your parent's and George you're awake as well!! They'll all be thrilled for you, Christy, as I am!!" Neil let go of my hand and I could hear him walk out the door. I felt so alone for the first time since I got here, or at least since the last time they tried to make Neil leave the room.
Mother and Father were ecstatic as they entered my room. George was excited as well, but in a more subdued manner then Mother and Father were.
Dr. Wagner was thrilled as well. "I have to tell you Dr. MacNeill, I was getting to the point where I was about to give up on this young ladies recovery! But you didn't lose faith did you Doctor?"
"I knew I couldn't. If I gave up on Christy then she would give up on herself. I couldn't stand the thought of that happening. I couldn't go on without her."
"Well, faith works miracle's Dr. MacNeill. Your fiancée is one of them."
"Now, Miss Huddleston. I don't want you to try to rush anything. You are to rest! I don't even want you to sit up until I tell you to. You may feel better, but you have to remember that you had extensive surgery on your brain, as well as a traumatic wound. You have to be careful for quite a while yet."
"When will I be able to open my eyes again?" I asked.
"That's difficult to say. It could take a while yet. Like I told you before, don't try to rush anything. You need to be careful for a while." Dr. Wagner warned quietly. "I'll be removing the bandages tomorrow." Dr. Wagner turned to leave the room. "I'll be back in the morning. Please try to limit your visiting time, but I don't think you need to keep it down to only ten minutes at a time anymore. Miss Huddleston, if you feel tired, please tell your family, you *need* your rest! I can't emphasize that enough to you."
"I will Doctor. I promise." I said.
"We'll leave you alone for awhile." Father said. "You look tired. Rest and we can talk again later."
"I'll be back later also." Neil said as he kissed my hand. "You need your rest."
"Neil, don't leave me." I pleaded. "It's so dark in here and I'm afraid of the dark!" I hated to admit that, but it was something I had to make clear to him.
"I'll not leave you alone if you're frightened. Don't be afraid, I'll be right here with you." Neil said reassuringly.
As the days went by and the swelling in Christy's face subsided, Neil tried to ignore the fact that her eyes were open and she still could not see him. William and Julia questioned it as did George. All in private of course. But the inevitable was ever before them…Christy had lost her eyesight.
Neil worried whether or not Christy would still accept him as her husband…his answer came the very next day as I was sitting up in my bed for the first time, Neil entered my room.
Neil had a broad smile on his face as he entered the room this morning, but the look he saw on his beloved's face could have melted a stone. "Good morning, Christy. Don't you look wonderful, sitting up in bed." He said quietly. "What's the matter Love?" He took hold of my hand.
"You already know Neil, I'm sure--I've got my eyes open fully now. I can feel it!! But I still can't see!!" I paused as I jerked my hand away from his. "I'm blind, aren't I Neil? How long have you known?"
"I only realized it recently, Sweetheart! I promise! I was going to say something, but I was afraid you wouldn't…you wouldn't…" His voice caught in his throat and he couldn't finish his sentence.
"Wouldn't *WHAT*!?!" I spat at him.
Fighting back the emotions that he felt, Neil struggled to say, "I was afraid you wouldn't want to become my wife any longer…" His voice trailed off.
"How can I do that!?!" I cried. "I can't take care of a home! I can't cook! I can't do laundry or even make soap! I can't tend a garden or even light the stove!!" I exclaimed.
"I already have a woman who comes in and cleans for me!! We'll just keep her on!!" Neil declared. "I can help you with things also, Christy! I've taken care of myself for years, I can take care of both of us!"
"How can *you* help when you're hardly ever home!?!"
Neil stood at the window looking out. She was right again. He couldn't help when he wasn't home. There wasn't anyone on the mountain who would be capable of helping…
"I'm sorry, Christy." Neil said sadly. "Being married to me would be an arduous task under the best of circumstances. When I make an average of One hundred seventy-four night calls a year and those often, or usually, turn into "night-into-day-" calls. I have my rounds to make which can take weeks at a time. Besides there is so much more for you in Asheville then in the Cove. At your parents home there will always be someone to care for you. I'm sorry I ever expected you to live under those conditions--I love you Christy--I love you too much to expect you to live the kind of life I can provide for you. Please forgive me for ever asking you!" Neil walked over to the bed and removed his ring from my finger. "Good-bye Christy. I'll be praying everything works out for the best for you! May you find the happiness you deserve!" Then he turned and left my room.
I called after him, but he ignored me or didn't hear me. I didn't mean for him to leave like this! I didn't even get a chance to tell him thank-you for all that he'd done for me while I was unable to respond. I owed him so much! How could I ever repay him for it all? I prayed for the answer…
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End of Chapter 9
Chapter 10 Coming Soon!