They looked at each other for a moment, and then headed toward the elevators and the fourth floor desk.
Chapter 12
Up on the fourth floor, Nurse Hamlin directed the five very anxious people to yet another waiting room. There they sat, worried but still bored, watching the newscaster on the television drone on. At last, all five drifted into sleep, despite their uncomfortable chairs.
When they awakened a short while later, they found a Post-It Note from Nurse Hamlin, informing them that they could have a short visit with Lucas whenever they were ready. One at a time.
He was not yet awake.
It was a given that Karen should get to visit Lucas first. He was, after all, her son.
When Karen entered room 469, she was necessarily unprepared for the sight that awaited her. That is to say, she had expected much worse. Of course, there were IV tubes and monitors and the ventilator, but Lucas looked so peaceful, lying there. She was almost afraid to speak, for fear she would wake him. Then she remembered.
"Lucas," Karen said, "it's me, Mom. You know that I love you very much, and I just want you to wake up." She took a deep breath, and began to sing softly. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away." Remembering the last time she'd sung that song to her son, Karen began to cry. Rather than risk Lucas hear her get upset, Karen leaned forward and kissed his forehead, then stood and backed slowly out of the room.
Karen headed back to the waiting room, where she was met with a strong embrace from Haley, who had found a reservoir of strength somewhere deep inside. When she headed toward Lucas's room for the next visit, no one protested.
Haley had not seen Lucas unconscious in the hospital after his car accident. But she had seen him breathe what she believed to be his last breath. And she had seen him survive. For that reason, she felt more hope than sadness as she entered room 469. But as she approached the bed where her best friend lay, that hope began to quickly diminish. The fact that Lucas was lying there completely motionless was disconcerting enough. But it was the ventilator that really got to Haley. Watching the machine force her best friend to breath...it was too much for her. Haley broke down, unable to speak at all.
After a few moments of crying, she had gathered her thoughts. "Lucas," she said softly, "you are my best friend in the whole world. Please...don't go away." And that was all she could manage. She stood and turned, heading back toward the waiting room.