A new face after the race
Chapter 33
Lucky searched out the hospital to find the doctor that was taken care of Emily. He found him at his office, hunched over his desk. He knocked, announcing his presence, a little impatient, but kept it hidden.
The doctor looked up and gave his full attention to him. "Lucky, what brings you here?" He asked, not really surprised to see him. Lucky had been the constant at his patient's side.
Lucky decided to get into it. "Emily woke up." He said simply.
"She did? That's great. Did she show any signs of pain?" The doctor quizzed him and took out Emily's chart to write this down.
"It was hard to tell, she was still very weak, she could barely speak and open her eyes." Lucky reported and the doctor wrote down Lucky's observations.
"What did she say?" The doctor asked next.
"Not much, but she did say something that worries me." Lucky told the doctor.
"What was that?" The doctor asked, curious. He stopped writing, looked up at Lucky expectantly, and waited patiently for an answer.
Lucky took a seat, knowing this better be said sitting down. "She asked what happened. It was like she didn't remember the accident." Lucky explained, not hiding his concern in this matter.
The doctor frowned and took off his reading glasses. "Lucky, its not uncommon. Usually hit and run victims black out, permanently hiding the memory. However, it's also a possible sign of amnesia, I'm afraid." The doctor admitted, though he hoped not. From the hear of things she's had a hard life as it was.
Lucky gave a heartfelt sigh. Emily didn't need this, nor did he. He was at the end of his rope as it was. "Its only a sign?" He asked, hopefully.
"At the moment, yes, but we'll know for sure when she wakes up again. I can test her with simple questions, as when her birthday is, what is today, her age." The Doctor explained.
"We can't do anything now?" Lucky was obviously disappointed.
"I'm afraid so, why don't you go sit by her and wait until she wakes again. There's nothing you can do now." The doctor suggested and Lucky left without a word.
The doctor seriously hoped Emily didn't have amnesia. Lucky looked like he was about to collapse himself. This would just be the breaking point.
Back in Emily's room, Lucky was at her side. He should feel some relief, Emily awoke, and everything should be fine. But that question changed everything. Could he survive with Emily having amnesia?
He didn't know what to make of situation, though he knew one thing that gave him hope. Emily identified him without question, the only good sign he sees. He prayed to god that was a good sign of her being able to remember.
"Emily." He called out in the silent room, almost brokenly. "Tell me you don't have amnesia, I couldn't handle that too, above all things. You've put me through enough. I know you didn't mean too, I place total blame on god and that driver, but you did.
"I guess this is payback for all the crap I've done. I deserve it, but don't you think your stretching it a bit?
"Come on Emily, wake up, this one time, and I'll be the happiest person in the world if the worst hasn't happened."
No response. There was complete silence, and that led Lucky to do as he wanted to do for a week and more, cry. There was no one to see him, and he couldn't hold back the tears of sorrow anymore.
He cried his eyes out until they were dry and could produce no more salty water. He then wiped his eyes, and reluctantly left the hospital. He found he could stay there no more, not at the moment.
When Jason, Lulu, and Melissa came later that afternoon, Lucky had still not returned. Jason had expected Lucky to be there when they came in, but he wasn't.
He opened the door, prepared to ask Lucky if he could come in, but he wasn't there. He decided to not worry about it, perhaps he had went home to get some sleep, knowing Emily needed him strong.
He came back out and called Melissa and Lulu in. Lulu frowned when she didn't see her brother there; she was hoping to see him. She had seen so little of him lately. She knew the reason, but still wanted attention from her big brother. That was an extra reason to come here, only to find him gone.
Melissa stayed quiet, too sad to see her big sister in such a form. She was usually so strong and smart, always striving and achieving. She was busy, too busy for her sometimes, but always made time for her when it was requested. She thought Emily could do anything, but so see her so weak and helpless……….it was unlike her big sister.
Jason pushed the two young girls towards the bed. "Go ahead, speak up. Emily can hear you. Tell her what your thinking and how you feel." He persuaded them.
He had tried to get Elizabeth to come, but ever since she found out about Emily's past, she couldn't get near her. It was a shock and Jason didn't understand why Elizabeth was staying away just because Emily had a dark past. Emily wasn't the first, and certainly wouldn't be the last to have one.
Elizabeth couldn't explain it to Jason. She couldn't put her feelings into words. She knew she didn't care about Emily's past. It was who the person is that counts, but she knew if she saw Emily, she would imagine Emily's past. It would make her vulnerable and she would never be able to get it out of her mind. She would forever see a beaten child in her mind whenever she saw or spoke to Emily.
No, she needed to get through the shock first and would explain later. She needed to get past it, and she was trying to, but keeping it inside wasn't helping. She didn't know who to talk to about it.
Certainly not a psychologist, she wasn't that desperate. She couldn't talk about it with Sarah. They were civil to each other, the result of this tragedy. But she didn't know if Sarah knew of Emily's past. She couldn't talk to her grandmother. She was a good listener and would understand, but didn't think she would be comfortable with her. She was still looking for that person to talk to, and hasn't found them yet. It explained her distance from her best friend.
Lulu climbed up the chair and sat near Emily's unmoving form. "Emmy." Emmy was her nickname for Emily, and used it when she wanted something, so it was expected that she would say it now. "You have to wake up, Lucky's very sad. I don't like seeing him sad. I like him happy. I like everyone happy and no one is."
"You can make him happy though. You do, Lucky's much happier when your around. He acts the same with me, but I'm not you. You're different, like you're his lucky charm. His name will have no meaning without you there." Lulu said and everyone listened, and if this was under different circumstances, would have laughed at Lulu's theory. But it wasn't.
Melissa went up next, but didn't say a word. She was too sad to speak. She wanted her big sister back and couldn't do anything to make it that way again. At one time, she used her as proof that her mommy's and daddy's marriage was going well. It wasn't, but she knew Emily would always be there. She is that kind of person when conscious. When she disappeared for a few days, she lost that reassurance. She knew her perfect life was crumbling.
Her mommy is gone, her daddy is heartbroken, and her big sister wasn't here, in the physical world. She was for a while, but then left again. She didn't understand why, it was too complex for a six year old. Her daddy just said Emily had an accident and needed to recuperate. But she had been doing that for a week, Emily was usually a fast healer.
Jason didn't say anything, just grabbed her hand for assurance. There was really nothing to say. He could explain Elizabeth's absence, but that would be inappropriate and Elizabeth's job, when she's up to it at least.
The three of them silently left a few minutes later, but that didn't stop anymore visitors from coming in.
This time around it wasn't Lucky again, but a bashful, ashamed Sonny. He walked into the silent room and cautiously entered. Emily was fast asleep as she had been for seven and almost more days.
He had just been released, but he had to see Emily just once before he left. He would return, but he didn't know when. He had to do some stuff and figure out some things, and how to explain to his wife and children about Emily was one of those things. It wouldn't be pretty, but it had to be done.
He took a seat by Emily's side. He was silent at first, unable to speak because he didn't know what to say. He knew an apology was needed, but to just start it out with it would be weak.
He took that time and studied his sleeping, grown up daughter. She had grown so much, and grown into a beautiful woman at that. The guys must be clinging when Lucky wasn't around. Yeah, Emily was a prize to be treasured and he hadn't done that. He could blame it on him being young and stupid, but that would only be an excuse. He wasn't going to make excuses anymore, and face reality. He was a real jerk.
She saw so much of Paige in Emily, but could notice a little bit of himself too. Those ears of hers were definitely his mother's. The hair was a mix of Paige's and his. His was too dark, while Paige's was a light brown. It made contradictions to Emily's hair color. Some would say it was black, but others would argue auburn, which was close enough in his mind.
He couldn't see the eyes because the eyelids were close, but knew it was Paige's. Her eyes had been the only way to see how she was feeling. He only saw hatred and anger in them when it was on him, but when it was towards Emily, they would reflect happiness and hope. Emily was the apple of her mother's eye that was for sure.
He now found himself ready to speak. He spoke with obvious reluctantly, but somehow hid the guilt he felt. "You've grown up to be a beauty Emily. I wish I could say I was there to see you turn that way, but I can't. I wasn't there; I don't know who was really there to see you do that. Maybe your mother, I don't really know.
"But lets not speak of the past, it hurts too much and that's why it's called the past, it happened long ago. Present is a better time. I'm hoping we could forge some kind of relationship, I'm not going to make you, but I finally found you, I have to take the chance. I thought you were dead for so long and it tore at my heart, though I bet you are laughing at that comment.
"I don't have a heart in your mind. If I did, I wouldn't have treated you so badly. I would have recognized you and faced the consequences with my wife. I took the coward's way out I realize and boy am I feeling that now. I don't blame you, I was a complete jerk. I meant nothing to you. I was just your sire; the only thing we share is biology, an accident in your mind. I don't even deserve to be called dad or father.
"But here I am asking for another chance. Are you going to take the offer? Your probably won't, but I have some hope, and that is what is mainly keeping me here. I'm going to go away for a couple days, but I'll return and see if we can salvage something of a relationship." Sonny told her and stood up, not able to say anything more.
He took one last look that would keep his hope alive until he returned and left, closing the door behind him.
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