26
''Now, let's go see her, huh? She'll be happy to see us.''
But Jill knew something wasn't right as soon as she opened the door and found Sabrina sitting on the bed. Her eyes totally blank.
She tip-toed and crouched next to her. She looked her in the eyes. Sabrina seemed absent.
''Bri?''
She smiled reassuringly and took her hand in hers. Sabrina didn't move. Her eyes followed Jill's palm on hers and she slowly raised her gaze to look her again.
Kelly crouched next to her too and snapped her fingers.
''Bri? Psst, Bri, can you hear me?''
She moved her index in front of her face like an hypnotizing watch. Sabrina watched carefully her finger and followed it with her gaze.
Kelly took her hand and scratched her head. Sabrina leaned her head on the side and kept her eyes on her. Jill couldn't help but think she looked a little like an owl.
''Martinez?'' she tapped her finger on her forehead. ''Is anybody home?''
Kelly pulled her back. ''Be nice. She's probably shocked.''
''Well, it isn't a nice surprise to find yourself in a coffin indeed but this...''
''Should we call your mom? She'll be home with Kris now, just to tell her it's okay.''
Sabrina's eyes opened wide at the mention of Kris. Jill turned at her.
''Sabrina?''
She fell back to her detachment.
''That's right Bri! Kris! Can you hear me? You saved her life, remember?''
Nothing. No response. She snapped her fingers again but Sabrina just followed her hand and showed no surprise at the sound.
The door opened and a young doctor came in. He gazed at them. He couldn't be more than twenty.
''What are you two doing here?''
Kelly took a step back to allow him examine Sabrina's eyes. ''To see her.''
''Well, you can see her as long as you like but I don't think she sees you.''
''What do you mean?''
''Haven't you noticed? The girl's a veggie. Her brain's mashed potatoes.''
''But...''
''I suggest you go. There's nothing interesting to see here.''
''I think we and you have different opinions, sir.'' she snapped, not being able to bear someone talking like this.
''How can you say that?'' said Jill bluntly as he turned his back and left.
''Oh, just wait a little, spend a little time with her and you'll see what you will say blondy.'' his voice echoed in the corridor.
Jill's hands trembled and formed two fists. Kelly put a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.''He's just an idiot. She's gonna be okay.''
Jill smiled at Sabrina. ''Do you remember me? Heh Bri? It's me Jill. Say it Bri. Jill. Can you say it?''
Kelly shook her head. ''Jill let her rest.''
Much to her surprise Sabrina's lips moved a little.
Jill held her breath. ''C'mon Bri, try it.''
Her lips trembled and cracked open. ''Jill...''
A small spark crossed her eyes and faded almost immediately. Her voice didn't seem like someone who repeated but like someone who cried for help. Maybe she was.
She lost contact again. Jill sighed and hugged her.
''You did it Bri. I knew you could.'' she whispered. ''Don't go away again... don't be like this...''
Kelly took her distance. It was of no use right now. She took Jill and nodded at the door.
''She needs rest. Lets go. I'm beat.''
''But-''
''No Jill. Rest.''
''Okay.''
She pushed Sabrina gently behind and pulled the covers to her chest.
''Close you eyes now and sleep. I'll come back tomorrow. Close your eyes.''
Obediently Sabrina closed them and Jill turned off the light.
Kelly closed the door and pulled her into a hug allowing her to bury her face in her shoulder.
''It's gonna be okay... shhh...''
Mary opened the door later that night and let them in. Jill headed for her sister's room without a word. She raised her arm to hold her but Kelly stopped her.
''What happened?'' she asked flatly.
''She's alive.''
''But.. Jill..''
''She has absolutely no communication with the world.''
''You mean she's in comma?''
''I mean she's a vegetable.''
''Oh my god...''
Kelly set her lips in a firm line and turned to go.
''Where are you going?''
''I just brought Jill home.''
''Don't you want to stay overnight?''
''No. I don't.
As soon as she left Mary grabbed her own coat. No one noticed her leave. Half an hour later she was at Sabrina's hospital room. The girl looked at her passively while she took a seat next to her bed.
''Will you believe I'm sorry?'' she said quietly. ''I really... really didn't want all of this to happen.. I just... believed that... I was right. I really did... forgive me... You see... I had to protect them... I wanted to protect them but in the end I ended hurting them more... and I ended the only person who didn't help at all... I failed to protect my own daughter from all of this... Kris told told me you two almost got burned alive trying to get her out and... and now you've got the police on you because of me... I'll fix this, I promise. You'll never need to hide again. I wish... I wish I could fix that too. But I can't... Will you ever be able to forgive me?''
She got up and fixed her eyes on hers. ''I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...''
In the dim light she was able to recognize some feeling beneath the shadow that covered the brown eyes. It could be a flicker of light.
She left wiping the tears off her eyes.
It was well after dawn.
Jill picked the spoon from the untouched plate next to her. She brought it in front of Sabrina's face and smiled.
''This is a spoon. Now, say it, this is a spoon.''
''Spoon.'' she replied with a metallic tone.
''Good!''
She picked the napkin and demonstrated it grinning madly.
''Now, this is a napkin. Can you say it? Napkin.''
''Spoon.'' came the robotic answer.
Kelly rolled her eyes.
''Jill, stop this...''
''Oh, come on Kell! She's already doing better!'' she grabbed Kelly and pulled her closer. ''This is idiot Kelly, can you say this?''
''Idiot Kelly.''
''See? She got it right away!''
Kelly shook her head and laughed. ''I was sure she was going to get this right away.''
''Hmph... you're just being mean.''
Kelly sighed and took a chair.
''Now, Bri, remember?'' she pointed a finger at her friends chest. ''You.'' she pointed the finger at herself. ''I.''
Sabrina blinked and pointed the finger at herself. ''You.'' she pointed Jill. ''I.''
Jill scratched her head and looked at the ceiling. ''Okay, this might be a little more difficult than I thought.'' She started the pointing thing again. ''Jill.'' ''Sabrina.''
Kelly sighed again. This was something that repeated itself all morning. ''God...''
Jill turned her back at Sabrina and put her hand on her hip. ''Why are you like this? I'm just trying to help!''
''Yeah, but you're making her more confused.''
''Oh, now it's my fault!''
Sabrina looked a them uninterested. She glanced at her food and decided she wanted to eat something. The spoon was still in Jill's hand. She turned her attention at the shiny object. She reached to take it but Jill raised her hand and pointed at Kelly.
''I didn't cause any of this!''
''And you say I did?''
Jill withdrew her hand and Sabrina tried again but failed as Jill took a step forward.
''I'm not saying it's your fault! But you're not helping!''
Sabrina regained her balance and placed her arms on her chest. Damn. She wasn't going to eat anytime soon with these two...
''Hey, I-''
''Just help me Kell! Shut up and don't comment at least!''
''Spoon...?'' came the voice from behind them ending the argument.
Jill smiled and gave it to her. ''I'm sorry.''
Sabrina returned the smile and glanced at her spoon. And now what she wanted to do with it? She opened her eyes confused and eyed her reflection at the mirror like object. She turned it around again and again as Jill and Kelly were whispering intensely. Yeah right... it was shiny. Really shiny. But what was she supposed to do with it now? She sighed. She tapped it on her forehead. No, really, that couldn't be it's use. After all it hurt. Why make something that hurt? Nope. She left it on the tray with her food and sat stubbornly on the bed.
Jill and Kelly exited.
Suddenly Sabrina had a flash. She looked at the spoon and the food. Yeah! That should be it!
Kelly sat on the chair in the cafeteria.
''I'm sorry.'' she said looking at the table.
''Hey, it's okay...'' said Jill.
''It's just that... I'm freaked out Jill... Where do you find this optimism?''
''I just believe in her. Can you imagine Sabrina like this forever? I can't. She's gonna get up and kick some butt soon. We just have to take care of her until she does.''
''You're right. Lets get some coffee and get back to her.
When they entered the room again they found the plate empty and Sabrina sleeping. Jill glanced at the tray on the small table. ''Well, she remembered how to eat.''
''If we don't find the food in your socks.''
Instinctively Jill lowered her gaze to her shoes but she pushed Kelly playfully. ''You're stupid.''
She pulled the covers up and pulled the curtains.
''Lets go. Leave her sleep.''