"Ms. Paulsen, Donna, can you hear us, do you know where you are?"
Donna's eyes flickered open and when she looked at me, it took my breath away. She nodded and although I could barely hear it, I could see her lips mouth "Harvey". Once again, I knew that there were tears in my eyes and I didn't bother to hide them or try to wipe them away. I wanted her to see. I wanted her to know what she means to me.
Through the tears and the crack in my voice I spoke. "Welcome back beautiful."
"Your vitals look good Donna. I'm going to go call your doctor and let him know that you are awake. You are a lucky woman Ms. Paulsen. Very lucky."
Donna just smiled at her and when she turned to me the tears in her eyes and the look on her face left me breathless. "She's right. I am lucky."
"Are you okay. Can I get you anything?"
"No, I'm okay. What happened?"
I explained about the car accident. I told her Thomas was okay, but that he had gone home last night. I let her know that her mom and Louis would be there soon. That I had talked with Mike and Rachel and that they were ready to jump on a plane on a moment's notice but that I had told them to wait and see how things progressed. They are supposed to be flying in a couple of weeks for Christmas anyway and we would see them then.
"Harvey?"
"Yeah."
"Are you okay?"
"You're asking me. Of course I'm okay. I'm not the one lying in the hospital bed."
"You just….you seem different. I don't know. The way you're talking. The look in your eyes. I don't know."
It was sink or swim time. I knew I was limited on time anyway. Soon her mother and Louis, and probably even Thomas would be there. I have to tell her and I have to do it now.
"I need to tell you something. Something I should have told you a long time ago." I look into her eyes, her beautiful, deep, green eyes, that have always seen right through me, and I jump. "I love you. I'm in love with you."
"Harvey."
"I know it's not fair Donna. i know that. I've waited way too long. You are with Thomas. You've moved on with your life. You don't feel that way about me anymore, but I needed to say it and I needed you to know."
"Harvey."
"Yeah."
"How long have you been here?"
"Since the nurse called me to tell me you were in the accident yesterday around 2:00. So almost twenty hours I guess."
"Have you left this room?"
"No. Why?"
"Where is my cell phone?"
"It's over there with the rest of your stuff that was brought in. Your handbag and everything."
"Can you get it for me?"
"Um sure." I stand up and grab her phone and bring it back to her. Luckily it was in her handbag so there was no damage to it. She takes the phone from my hand and looks through it for a moment before laying it down on the bed.
"Harvey."
"Yeah"
"You are always, have always been there for me no matter what. You've supported and defended me. You've laughed and cried with me. You've been my best friend from almost the moment that I met you. We've had our ups and we've most certainly had our downs. We've seen each other through some pretty tough times but we've also had a lot of great times together."
"Yeah, we have."
"Lila was right. I am a very lucky woman. I could have died. But I didn't. I don't remember everything about the accident, which I am sure is probably a good thing but these are the things that I do know. I know that from almost the moment that I arrived, you have been right by my side. I know that the person who probably should have been, hasn't. Which I could probably excuse due to his own injuries, but he also hasn't called. Which tells me that he heard me and understood when I told him just before the accident that I didn't think we should see each other anymore. And the reason that I told him that is because I realised that some things were never going to change. And the most important thing that is never going to change is that I have always, and will always, be in love with you Harvey. I love you too."
We were both crying by then. Her hand still clasped in mine. I lean down and kissed her forehead and then we stare into each other's eyes, for only a split second, but it was all the time needed for a million things to be said, without really saying a word. I gently press my lips to hers and for the first time since that night in her office I could taste her. She taste like coffee and scotch and strawberries with whipped cream and fifteen years of memories. She was giving me another chance, giving us another chance and I wasn't going to waste it.