I cleared my throat waiting for one of the nurses behind the front desk to notice me. I had just walked in from the parking lot, where I had been sitting in my car for a very long time, only to realize I can't hide from this every weekend. It was one of those situations, you don't want to remember it…but you can never forget it. The woman looked up from typing with her long, fake plastic nails and acknowledged my presence. "May I help you Miss?" I fiddled with the strap of my purse that was on the counter, and looked up to the woman. "Can you tell me the room of…uhm…Marissa Cooper?" The nurse nodded and rolled her chair to another part of the counter, running her finger carefully over a list of names. "She's in room 207, in the Coma Rehabilitation Wing." "Thank you." I said and slid my purse on my shoulder, walking down the hall, reading each sign.

I had remembered that the Coma Rehabilitation Wing was recently added due to all the donations toward Marissa's condition. Her Mother was a mess, disturbed that there wasn't a proper facility to care for Marissa's condition here in Newport Memorial. So in the end, many fundraisers later, the wing was built. I walked down another hallway and saw 207. At that moment…I wished I was still in my car, waiting for something else to occur. I did this every other weekend because I was scared, scared of every time I come, another week longer that she is in her sleep. One week from today…will be seven years.

I built up the courage to open the door and slipped inside before I could change my mind. There she was. My best friend since kindergarten…was pretty much in the same position as she was the last time. Her chest slowly rose with each special breath she took, and it was amazing to me how I will never take another one of my own breaths for granted. By her bed, there was a little table that had old get well cards and a vase with 2 roses in it, one fairly new and the other wilted. There was a plastic chair by her bed and I sat slowly, still taking in every detail that I saw. Something inside of me made me reach for her hand and I did, feeling her smooth skin in mine, just as before.

I remember the Doctors telling me that year, to talk to her because it helped. But if it helped anyone, it was me. It helped me cope that I had no best friend. Helped me cope with the fact that the Cohen's home was never going to be the same without her presence. And the worst of all, helping me cope with the sight of a very important blond, blue eyed man in her life, struggle with his own. He had to go to countless therapy sessions, and ended up digging himself with work to take his mind off anything. Seth and I tried to help him at his lowest points, but Ryan being stubborn never wanted to admit he had a serious issue.

She still had a beautiful face. If she was awake, I would give her "props" on how she's rocking the hospital gown look. I broke the silence, which seemed like me and my self, only she was there too. "We miss you so, so much Coop." I bit my lip and stared at her face. "I don't know how I do this without you. How I manage life has become so hard." I choked up a little, only hearing the beep of her machine every few seconds. At least I knew she could hear me in some weird off way, right? "And…and I think Seth and I are growing apart. We havn't been able to be ourselves since I've started my job. I also feel that Ryan is drifting farther from us too. One day, he may just disappear."

Fresh tears trickled down my cheeks, and I swallowed to gather up my courage. "You gotta wake up Coop-" I was interrupted by a nurse who opened the door, a clip board in hand. "I'm sorry Miss, but visiting hours are over." I nodded and looked back at Marissa one last time, stroking my thumb over her class ring. "We're all counting on you." I whispered. As I walked by the nurse, I couldn't help but ask. "Do you know who brings those flowers by?" She looked as though she was thinking deeply and nodded with a smile. "Yes, a very sweet young man does every few days." I nodded, because that's all I needed to hear.And I left, but not feeling empty like how I had walked in, but with a new found faith, that something's may happen for a reason, we just have to keep our chins up to see what exactly they are.