A Fleeting Memory

Author's Notes: Hi again :D I've just finished writing this second chapter, and I'm already working on a third! I know the chapters are a little short as far as these kinds of stories go. But I promise they will get longer once we reach the point where the infection hits! I got a big plotline lined up and I can't wait to share it with you guys!

Chapter 2: Better Days

Louis Anderson

Fairfield, Pennsylvania

One week before first infection

"Today's the day" Louis said to himself whistling cheerfully as he sauntered down the street toward his aging white sedan. Dressed in black dress pants and a white buttoned shirt, the african american entered the driver's seat. After quickly re-adjusting his maroon tie, Louis turned the ignition key and felt his car rumble to life. As he drove toward the city center his mind drifted to memories of better days.

He remembered her beautiful smile, the magical spark in her eyes… almost instantly he felt a twang in his heart he shook his head. He had visited Carol everyday since her accident, sometimes he brought her favorite flowers, or read stories to her. Sometimes he just sat beside her in silence, holding her hand and wishing for everything to get better. Unfortunately, Carol would just lay there motionless aside from the small motions in her chest, still trapped in a comatose slumber. The doctors had told Louis not to get his hopes up, they said that it could be years before she awakened. They even said that she might never wake at all…

A loud honk drew Louis out of his daydream, as he swerved his vehicle around narrowly missing a collision with a red pickup truck. Louis chuckled sheepishly as he heard the driver roll down his window and shout crude profanities.

"Sorry about that!" Louis called out apologetically before hastily driving off toward his destination; Mercy Hospital. Having driven visited so many times, the middle aged IT technician found himself easily navigating through the maze of streets which made up downtown Fairfield, still veiled in shadows as the sun barely peaked beyond the horizon. It wasn't long before he found himself driving into the underground parking of the Pennsylvanian medical facility.

Despite being early in the day, there were a huge array of vehicles located in the parking lot. Louis supposed that doctors and other medical staff worked through the night and into the morning. After a few minutes of driving around the lot, Louis managed to find a vacant parking spot. Patiently, he backed his rumbling sedan between the neighbouring cars and shut the engine off. Exiting his car, Louis headed toward the parking elevators with an excited bounce in his step. As he stepped into the elevator, his memories brought him to the first time he had stepped into the hospital...

It had been two years ago since that train accident, when Carrol's locomotive had derailed in transit. She had been visiting her brother in Georgia at the time, and on the train home there had been some mechanical malfunction with the wheels causing the train to fly off the rails. When he heard the news, Louis remembered how shocked he felt. How he worried for his wife, and prayed to god that she was alright. The broadcast covering the accident had reported that 18 people were dead, with many more injured. It had also said that the authorities were still digging people out of the wreckage. Somehow, Louis had kept positive through it all. He had a subconscious feeling telling him that his wife was still breathing, and it was those very same thoughts that kept his mind from falling into panic. He got a call from the hospital a few hours later, they had found his wife and had brought her into the emergency ward at Mercy. He remembered rushing out the door and stumbling into his car, rushing to get to his beloved.

Even during a crisis, Louis knew that he had to stay positive. He told himself everyday that Carrol would wake soon. In his mind, she was injured and was just taking a long rest and that as her devoted husband, Louis would do everything that he could to make sure that he'd be there for her when she awoke. Everything was going to be just fine, he had a good feeling about it.

The elevator doors opened, and Louis was greeted with the now familiar smell of antiseptic. He could see the commotion of people milling about the front lobby. Young mothers with their crying infants, old wrinkled men clutching their walking aids pacing impatiently and busy medical staff dressed in teal hospital scrubs hurriedly moving from one task to the next. Louis exchanged a quick smile with the hospital receptionist who greeted him with a friendly wave.

"Morning Louis!" the receptionist called, "I'll let them know you're here"

Louis thanked the receptionist before heading toward the red double doors of Mercy's intensive care unit. As he marched down the hallway, he exchanged some nods with some of the hospital staff. Finally reaching the end of the hall, he entered his wife's room.

"Good morning Mr. Anderson. You're here early." a curt voice called out to him. It was Buck, the nurse in charge of overseeing Carrol's well being.

"Morning Buck, I got an early meeting today, figured i'd drop by sooner rather than later. How is she?" Louis called positively.

"Well she's still out cold. Exactly the same way as she was yesterday, and exactly the way she's going to be tomorrow." The male nurse replied.

"Don't say that Buck. She's gonna wake up soon just you watch, I got a good feeling about this." Louis said confidently.

"Well, I hope that she does too." Buck mused "You know Louis? There's really something special about you. Most of the comatose patients i work with? Well their families and friends visit every day for the first month or so… then it becomes every week… then every other week. Sooner or later it becomes a once a year sort of event. But it's been two years Mr Anderson, and you're still finding time to drop by everyday. You got some real dedication there" pointing to Louis' chest. "And I can respect that."

Taken aback from the unexpected compliment, Louis beamed at the nurse. "I...Thanks Buck". He said.

"I'm just about done her morning checkup. Heart rate and breathing are all normal" Buck reported "I'm going to leave you two alone, take all the time you need" nodding solemnly as he headed for the door.

Louis could only grin as the medical worker left the room, leaving him alone with his precious Carrol. Quickly checking his watch, he calculated that he had about 40 minutes before he'd need to leave for work. His gaze shifted toward his partner, lying motionless on the hospital bed. As he reached out and grasped her hand, Louis could swear that he saw the corners of Carrol's lips rise ever so slightly.

"Hey honey, how you been doing?" Louis smiled happily enjoying the next 40 minutes in the company of his one and only. He had a feeling that his frequent visits were helping Carrol's recovery, dreaming of the day that she would finally come back to him. Closing his eyes, Louis felt his mind drift away, lost in the prospect of the happier days to come.