Chapter Six: Awakening

Later that evening Alvin's brothers brought him some dinner. "Thanks, guys, but I'm not hungry."

"Well," Theodore said. "It's here if you need it."

They both left. Alvin was left alone with his thoughts. Brittany was sill unconscious, and that hurt him more than anything. He vowed he would make up for everything he did in the past. The nurse came in several times that night.

"Mister Seville, you're still here," she said.

She seemed like a sympathetic soul, but Alvin really wasn't paying much attention to anything or anyone, except for Brittany . Late into the night he finally drifted off into sleep. In that dream state he thought he had seen Brittany. She had looked the same as she did at their junior prom. She was wearing a beautiful pink prom dress, her eyes were sparkling. She looked so perfect, so beautiful. He called to her.

"Brittany," but she didn't seem to hear him. She seemed to be looking around for something. "Brittany!" he called again.

"Alvin?!" she called. "Where are you? Please, come and find you. I can't get back. Help me, please!"

"I'm right here, Brittany," he said. "Just follow my voice!" A strange thick mist formed and she disappeared. "Brittany!" he shouted, but there was only silence.

Suddenly, he was jostled awake. He was back in Brittany's hospital room, and she still lay unconscious. "Damn. What a dream." He looked upon her face. She looked so pale and weak. He wished that it was him in that bed and not her, but then he thought that she would be going through the same hell as him.

"Hey, baby, when are you going to stop torturing me and wake up. You got everybody so worried, but then that's just like you. You have to be the drama queen. Well, that's enough of this nonsense. Now, just wake up. Okay."

Tears were forming in his eyes. "I got something to tell you, Brittany. I love you. I always loved you."

He laid his head down on her bed, never letting go of her hand. He fell asleep again from pure exhaustion.

A few hours later Alvin was still asleep at Brittany's beside. The room was dark and haunting, but something was happening. Brittany began to stir. Her eyes began to flutter open. She turned her head to see her surroundings, but everything was so dark. Panic ran through her. There was a chill on her body, all except her left hand. It was strangely warm. She turned her head, and her eyes looked down to her left side. Then she realized that she was not alone. She mustered up the strength to free her hand from the grasp at this stranger next to her. Then she realized he wasn't a stranger at all. It was Alvin, her Alvin.

She put her hand on his hand. He was sleeping, but he began to stir at her touch. He moved his head and she noticed his eyes were opened. They shimmered in this dark place she found herself trapped in. He looked up to meet her eyes that barely had enough strength to stay open.

"Brittany," she heard him say her name. He was leaning over her and kissed her forehead. Tears were in his eyes, but why was he crying. She tried with all her strength to find her voice, but it was useless. She could barely keep her eyes open, but she could hear his voice.

"Oh, baby, you're awake." She could barely see him, but she could feel him and hear him.

She opened her mouth but only managed to get a simple word out. "Alvin," she said in little than a whisper.

"That's right," he said through his tears. "You know me?"

She nodded. "Where... are... we?" her speech was cracked, and she seemed confused.

"You're in the hospital," he said. "There was a accident."

She shook her head. "No," she said, becoming upset. "I... don't... remember."

"Brittany, calm down," Alvin said, trying to smooth her. She seemed to settle down at his touch. "It's okay."

She became quiet. She just raised her right hand which was ice cold to his cheek. He took that hand and quickly warmed it.

"I'm so sorry," he said. "But I promise I'll make it up to you."

"Not... your... fault," she said., struggling to get the words out. He kissed both of her hands. He released her right hand, and she touched his face. She tried to lift herself up, but she was to weak. She glided her forefinger across his lips. "What? Do you want me to kiss you."

She half smiled and nodded her head. He leaned down gently touching her lips to his. He didn't realize until now how much he missed kissing her.

"Does this mean you forgive me?" She nodded. She held out her arms and he bent down and embraced her. It felt so good to hold her again.

He looked into her eyes and stroked her hair. "Hey, make me a promise?"

"What?" she asked.

"Don't ever scare me like that again." He kissed her hand as a smile came to her face.

At that moment the nurse came in and found that she was awake. "Oh, dear, how long has she been awake?" The nurse asked Alvin.

"Not long," he said.

"Okay, I'm paging the doctor on duty," she said. "He'll need to examine her right away."

"Alright," Alvin said.

"Young man, I need to ask you to leave."

"No," Brittany said. "I want him to stay." She managed to get the words out, but barely.

"Baby, it's okay," he said, stroking his cheek. She grabbed hold of his arm. "I'll be right outside. I promise I won't leave you."

"Okay," she said and let go of him.

The nurse led Alvin out of the room, while she paged the doctor. He hated leaving her alone in there, especially with her being so confused. The doctor soon came. He went in promptly not even acknowledging Alvin's presence. Alvin went down the hall and used his cell phone to call the Millers and his own family. He called the Millers first. Miss Miller was the one that answered.

"Hello," she said.

"Miss Miller, it's Alvin," he said.

"Alvin, what is it? What's happened?"

"I called to tell you that Brittany's awake."

"Oh, my baby. How is she? What did the doctor say?"

"I don't know. He's with her now. Sorry to call so late or so early, but I thought you would want to know."

"Oh, yes, sweetie, thank you. We're coming down to the hospital right away."

"Okay, see you soon." Alvin hung up the phone, realizing he hadn't told her about Brittany not remembering the accident. He then dialed home.

Meanwhile the doctor was in Brittany's room conducting her examination. Physically she would recover. That much was clear, but he started to ask her questions.

"Do you know your name?" he asked her.

"Brittany Miller," she said.

"And your family. Do you remember them?"

"Yes. My mom and my two sisters. Where are they?" she asked. She tried to lift herself up again but found that was still too weak.

"You need to stay still. You have some broken ribs. It will take time to heal. Now, do you remember the accident?"

"No," she said. "The last thing I remember was calling Alvin. I was at a gas station, and I called him to tell him I was coming home."

"And who's Alvin?" the doctor asked.

"My boyfriend," she said with a smile.

"Oh, the young man waiting outside," he said. "Do you remember anything else after that?"

"No, not until I woke up here."

"Alright. Now you get some rest. Your regular doctor, that would be Doctor Standley, he'll be in to see you later on today."

"Is Alvin still here?" she asked. "I want to see him."

"I'll send him in," the doctor said and left the room.

The doctor left the room only to be greeted by Alvin, who was waiting just outside. "How is she?"

"She's recovering nicely," the doctor said. "She's asking for you."

"Thank you," he said. He walked back to see Brittany smiling at him. He came back to sit by her bedside. "So, how are you feeling?"

"Okay, I think. I'm just a little tired."

"Do you feel like closing you're eyes going o sleep?"

"I think I've slept long enough, besides I thought we could talk. I wanted to apologize."

"For what?" he asked, taking her hand.

"For leaving like I did. I should have stayed. I feel like a coward."

"No, you're not. I don't blame you for leaving. If I treated you better from the start..."

She put her hand over his mouth. She smiled at him. "It doesn't matter now." She lifted herself as much as she could. He leaned down to meet her half way. As their lips touch he felt time melt away. It felt so good to taste her again. To feel her warmth and hold her in his arms again. He never wanted to let her go, and he wouldn't, not ever again.

This has been my favorite chapter to write. It's been fun writing this, and I hope you all enjoyed it. Remember to review.