Minutes. Hours. Days. Time seemed to disappear in the small hospital room. Conrad couldn't be sure how long he sat in the uncomfortable chair, holding her hand as machines beeped all around.
It took some threats and some bribes but every hour or so nurses brought blankets fresh from the dryer for Victoria. She had such a low temperature upon arrival that he had refused to let them do anything else. Plus, he knew she had always enjoyed warm towels and blankets. If she enjoyed it now she didn't show it.
She didn't show anything.
The doctor had let Conrad know that he saved Victoria's life by rescuing her when he did. However, she had hit her head during the crash, hard. She had gotten a concussion. Had she slept any longer and she would have died. Now the question became whether she would wake up and recover fully or live out her days as a vegetable. He knew she had repeatedly made him promise to pull the plug but living out the scenario was different than discussing it. He knew she was a fighter. She'd wake up. She had to.
The kids had visited. People brought flowers. So many people sent flowers that it filled the conservatory. He hoped she'd wake up soon enough to be able to see them all in full bloom.
He spoke to her often. Reminding her of good memories and begging her to do this one thing for him. She just needed to wake up.
One day he found himself absentmindedly humming the tune of their wedding song when it happened. Victoria's index finger tapped his palm in tune with the song. He couldn't control the tears the fell as he belted out the words, watching her one finger following along. He made sure to record it on his phone to send to the kids. She may not have woken up, but Victoria was alive somewhere inside her body.
Days later, she still hadn't woken up. The doctor tried to warn Conrad that patients sometimes seem to improve only to deteriorate worse afterwards.
"Not my wife." He had growled before returning to her bedside.
A few days later, in the middle of a syndicated episode of Judge Judy it happened. He heard the moan and watched as her long eyelashes fluttered, slowly opening to reveal her brown eyes.
"Conrad?" She said, her voice hoarse and crackling. He handed her water, crying hysterically at something so trivial as her taking a drink.
"Why are you crying?"
"Oh, baby. You don't know how happy I am."
"Why? What's going on? Where am I?"
Before he could answer the doctor emerged.
"Mrs. Grayson, it's nice to finally meet you. You gave your family quite a fright."
"I did?"
"Don't you remember? You were driving some twisted backroad in a thunderstorm. You lost control and hit a tree. You've got quite a bump on your head." He watched as she ran her hand along her head, following along. He never understood why people always touched their injuries, but they did. It must have been human nature.
"I actually remember everything." She said, turning her gaze to Conrad. His heart sunk. He had told her over and over that she could be angry with him when she woke up, but it still hurt when it actually happened.
Once the doctor left, she glared his way.
"I remember what happened. The fight. You did this to me."
"Victoria, don't be like that. We had a fight, yes but I chased you outside. I had your coat in my hand. I called for you. I need wanted you to be out in the storm, you hate storms."
"You called me and called me. I had to swerve to avoid hitting a car because I was looking down at my phone."
"I thought you would have arrived by then. I didn't want any of this. I looked for you everywhere."
"I waited for you. I cried and pleaded for you to find me but you didn't. You left me there to die!" She cried, tears building in her eyes as the memories came flooding back. The car hitting the tree. Dropping her phone. Curling up in the back of the car, soaked. She knew deep down that he couldn't control what happened, but it felt good to have someone to blame.
A nurse came in with a warm blanket. She smiled as she changed the blanket for Victoria.
"Thank you, what a kind gesture." Victoria said weakly.
"Your husband demanded it. He yelled and screamed until they finally agreed. Every hour you'll get a fresh, warm blanket." She said, smiling at Victoria but giving Conrad a scowl. She didn't appreciate the yelling and screaming on his end.
"This doesn't change anything. You left me all alone out there!" She hissed when the nurse had left.
"No, baby. It just didn't happen like that." He said, trying to soothe her.
The doctor reappeared to explain the medications a nurse would come around to give.
"You're a lucky woman, Mrs. Grayson. Your husband saved your life."
"He did?"
"Absolutely. He was able to get your cell phone records before the cops could have and hired guys to check around the last cell tower. He found your car and broke in and grabbed you. He carried you to the highway and called the EMT's. Even so much as an hour later and you'd have either frozen to death or died as a result of that concussion. He hasn't left your side in 8 days. I hope my daughter finds a guy who loves her as much as your husband loves you."
The doctor left the two alone and after a while, she finally spoke.
"I'd like to go home. I want to get things back to normal."
"Victoria, it's too risky. Not yet. Soon. I promise."
"I hate these hospital beds and especially the pillows. It's hard to sleep like that."
"You've managed for eight days.." He griped. She gave him a look, but they both smiled.
He moved closer to the bed and she scooted over. He slipped his shoes off and climbed in. He gently pushed her closer, so her body was resting against him and her head was against his chest.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"Saving my life." She looked up at him and he kissed her forehead.
"One day you'll realize that there is nothing I wouldn't do for you, my dear." He ran his hands through her hair and she eventually let her head fall on his chest. Despite being asleep for so many days, by the end of the show she was fast asleep. Conrad wrapped his arm around her and finally let himself drift to sleep.