Chapter 12-
As Amy sat in the car surrounded by the people she loved, and the people who loved her, she couldn't help but feel that someone was missing. She was overwhelmed by everything they were telling her about Colin. Everything she had missed…over those long, six months, and in that one second when he had woken up. He had woken up and everyone had been there except for the one person who had cared so much.
"Now remember Amy, Colin may not remember everything. He's only in recovery and it will take time," Dr. Abbott said as they entered Denver.
"I know Dad, I've only heard this a thousand times. Look! There's the 'Welcome to Denver' sign!" she said excitingly.
"Aims…it's so awesome! You're gonna fall in love with him all over again!" Bright said encouragingly.
"I hope so," Amy said as she sighed.
"It's gonna be just like old times, the three musketeers" Bright said.
"His memory's okay, right Dad? I mean…he will remember me, right?"
"He was doing wonderfully when we saw him. He was energetic and observant and he remembered all three of us," Dr. Abbott said.
"I wish I could have been there too," Amy said as her mother wrapped her arm around her daughter and gave her a hug.
As they pulled into the parking lot, Amy hopped out of her seat and opened the door as the car was still pulling into a parking space.
"Amy!" her mother yelled, "Amy! Come back here!"
They sat and watched as Amy ran until she got to the hospital entrance where she stopped, turned around, and waved their car.
"Bright, go get your sister and show her where Colin's room is, would you?" Rose said politely.
"Sure" Bright said as he ran to meet up with Amy.
As Amy watched Bright run up to meet her she ran to him and grabbed his arm, pulling him into the hospital.
"Come on Bright! Don't be such a slow-poke!" she said poking fun at her older brother.
As Amy started to aimlessly walk down the hall, looking for
someone to direct her, she felt an arm pulling her in the other direction.
"It's up this way", Bright said pointing down the hall.
Amy stopped at a door. The door was big and the sunshine was shining through the door crack on the bottom. There was a big sign placed neatly on the door that said "THIS ROOM BELONGS TO COLIN HART." Under that were two cards. One said: Colin, we're so glad you're back and can't wait for you to be back up on your feet! Love, Rose, Harold, and Bright. The other card said: We love you very much and will cherish the new memories we will create together again, as one family. Love, Mom, Dad, and Laynie.
Amy turned around to look at Bright, "You didn't put my name on your card"
"You weren't here Amy" Bright said.
"That doesn't mean I don't care"
"I know. Amy, just let it go. He's back, he'll be fine, go enjoy him while you have him"
And with that, Amy pushed on the door and walked in, Bright following her.
She entered Colin's room to find a young man lying on a hospital bed. He was wearing Colin's face, like a mask on Halloween, but it wasn't Colin. His face was white, his lips bright red. As Amy sat down in a chair next to his bed, she placed her hand on his cold skin. It was cold as ice, almost dead.
"He's sleeping, right?" Amy said as she looked up at her older brother for reassurance.
"I'm sure he's just taking a break," Bright said, squeezing Amy's shoulder. Amy sat and watched Colin. She watched his chest move up and down as he breathed. She watched his body twitch in his sleep. She was in fact so entranced by his tranquility and calmness that she didn't notice Bright leave the room, or reenter. He came back and handed Amy a plain piece of paper and a red marker.
"What's this?" Amy said, looking at what Bright was holding out for her.
"You should make him a card for the door. One of your own"
"Thanks" Amy whispered.
Dear Colin,
I love you with all my heart. No feeling could possibly be better than the one that will fill me when you open your eyes and look at me. Did I ever tell you how much I loved your eyes? This friend of mine recently reminded me that I believed that you could tell if a person was lying or not by looking into their eyes. Whenever I looked at yours, my entire world was restored. You always brought me truth and honesty. These six months without you have been horrible. Every waking moment has been spent thinking about you, trying to convince a doctor to operate on you, waiting for you. The once in a lifetime second when you wake up, and I miss it. I feel like I was left out of this incredibly miraculous moment, one that, truth be told, I wasn't even expecting to ever happen. But now that it has, I can show you everything that you missed. We can experience everything together. We can relive all of our old memories and we can create new ones together. I just hope that you realize you are truly special, not only to me, but to others, and that I love you and will love you forever and ever.
Love,
Amy (AKA Grover)
"Woah!" Bright said, peeking over Amy's shoulder, "Looks like a little more than a card"
"Well, it seems I had a little more to say than I thought I did" Amy said, looking down at her accomplishment.
Bright took Amy's card from the table and was getting some tape ready to stick it up on the door.
"Bright", Amy whispered, "What are you doing with my card?"
"I was gonna put it up on the door with all the others, what'd you think I was doing?"
"I don't want it up there for all the world to see! I want Colin to read it when he wakes up!"
"Okay" Bright said as he placed it back in Amy's hands.
"Look Amy! He's opening his eyes!" Bright said as he took a seat next to Amy.
Amy sat, watching Colin open his eyes and a smile spread across his face. A smile quickly appeared on Amy's face as well.
"Hey Bright!" Colin said, "Why didn't you tell me you got a girlfriend?" he said looking at Amy. Colin extended his arm to shake Amy's hand, but she quickly bolted out the door.