I stood there, staring at the box. Kevin had said it wasn't what I thought it was. So, I was thinking an engagement ring, but that was crazy. Earrings. It must be a pair of earrings with my birthstone. I was debating on whether I wanted to open it or not when Kevin came out of the room.

"Kevin, what the hell is this?" I held the box up.

He shrugged. "I told you, it's an anniversary present."

"But what is it. You said it's not what I think, and my minds automatically thinking engagement ring."

"Do you really want me to tell you, or do you want to wait for Kendall?"

I thought for a minute. "We don't know when he's going to wake up. Please, just tell me."

"You were half right. It is a ring, but it's not an engagement ring. It's a promise ring."

Hearing that brought tears to my eyes. A promise ring? I couldn't believe I meant that much to him. "Listen, don't tell him I told you. Or if you do, don't tell him I showed you. He was really excited about getting it for you and said he couldn't wait to see the look on your face when you opened it." I nodded in agreement and clutched the ring box to my chest. "Another thing, Soph. The doctor said that he can probably hear us, so it's okay to talk to him but you have to try and stay positive. He said that sometimes the voice of a loved one is what causes people to wake up."

Kevin gave me a quick hug and headed back to the cafeteria to meet up with his parents. I took a deep breath, and opened the door. I hadn't seen Kendall since this morning when we had done breakfast. The first thing I noticed were the cuts and bruises on his face. Those would heal, but it hurt me to see them. His wrist was nicely wrapped to keep the swelling down from the sprain. I walked over to sit on his right side so that I could hold his hand. "Hey, you." He didn't budge. It was so hard to see him like this, but I had to stay positive. I intertwined our fingers, and I prayed that he'd at least squeeze my hand, but he didn't. I brushed his hair off to the side and tried to think of something to say.

"So your mom tells me that Kenneth is coming to town. If it were under different circumstances I'd be thrilled that I finally get to meet him." I tried to keep my voice from shaking, but it didn't do any good. "I'm not going to lie to you, Kendall. I have no idea what to say to you. Everyone keeps telling me that I need to be strong and just believe that you are going to be okay. But I'm not that strong, and we both know that." I had been fighting back tears, and I finally let them fall. "I can't do this without you. I don't want to have to think of my life without you for even one second."

I placed the ring box in his hand. "Then there's this. What am I supposed to think of this, Kendall? If you actually can hear me, don't be mad at Kevin. They gave him everything from the accident, and he said you had this in your pocket. He said you wanted to see the look on my face when I saw it for the first time. I haven't looked at it yet, and I'm not going to." I set it on the table next to his bed. "So as soon as you wake up, I'm going to open it, and you will see how much I love it, and how much I love you." I kissed his forehead and sat down in the recliner in his room. Visiting hours were over, so Sadie hadn't been able to bring me any of my stuff. I told her it was fine and I could just come home and pick it up tomorrow. The slow rhythm of Kendall's heart monitor lulled me to sleep.

I didn't sleep very well that night. Every time I closed my eyes, I watched the car accident happen. I would chase down whoever hit Kendall, and when I finally caught up to them, I was staring myself in the face. Every day I'd talk to him and beg him to wake up, or even move. But nothing changed. Three days had passed since the accident, and there were no signs that Kendall was going to wake up. I never left the hospital. I wanted to be here in case he woke up. I didn't care how gross I looked, all I needed was him. I wanted to be the first person to see him.

I was able to meet Kendall's oldest brother while he was still in the hospital. Kenneth had flown in from Chicago when Kendall had gotten in the accident. We talked about the trip to Bali, and whether or not Kendall would be able to go.

"He needs a break from everything, Kenneth. I still want him to go." We were sitting in the cafeteria, and I was trying to eat something. Without knowing if Kendall was okay, it was hard for me to eat.

"If you really think that's a good idea."

"I do. On one condition. You have to take care of him while he's gone. I don't want anything else to happen to him."

Kenneth gave me a reassuring hug. "I promise I will. But I have a crazy suggestion. Why don't you just come with?"

It didn't take long for me to respond. "I don't want to impose. This is a trip for you and your brother and your friends. You don't have to invite me because of Kendall's accident."

He shook his head. "I'm not. Kendall told me that your entire relationship has been long distance, and he felt awful about leaving. We actually discussed it a few nights before the accident. He was going to ask you to go. He told me about the ring, and I agreed. He wants you to go, Sophie. So do I."

I spent all of my time with Kendall's family. I felt like we were the only thing keeping each other sane. It was hard for me when they all left. Kenneth had flown back to Chicago, and Kevin was off working on some big project. Kent had to go back to work, so most days it was just me and Kathy at the hospital. She would head home every night when visiting hours ended and arrive every morning when they began.

"Honey, you really should go home and get some rest."

I shook my head. "I'm not leaving him."

She placed her arm around my shoulder. "You know if anything were to change, we'd call."

"It doesn't matter. I have to stay by his side. I don't want him to wake up when I'm not here. He needs to know I'm here."

Kathy kissed my forehead. "Oh, Sophie, he knows you're here, I can promise you that. And he'd be telling you the same thing I'm telling you right now. You need to rest."

"I'm fine here." I knew she wasn't going to budge, but I wasn't either. "I'm not leaving his side… I can't. I love him too much to leave." I was crying nearly every day, and today was no different. "I'm scared that if I leave, so will he."

Truth be told, I was growing more worried every day that he wasn't going to wake up. It was hard to stay positive when there were no signs of improvement. By the end of the fourth day, I was ready to lose it. It was times like these that was hardest. All of his friends and family had gone home for the day, so it was just us.

"I need you to wake up, Kendall." I was talking to him, again. I wasn't sure if he could hear me or not, but it made me feel better to think that he could. "I need you, and I miss you, so much. I miss your voice; I miss the way you sing to me every night. I miss hearing your ridiculous laugh and watching you scrunch your nose when you smile. I miss looking into those beautiful green eyes that love me and look at me the way no one else ever has. I miss hearing you tell me that you love me." I laid my head down on his chest. "I miss having you." I tried to fight it, but I couldn't stop myself from falling asleep.

That night was the first that I was actually able to sleep. I didn't have nightmares. Instead, I had a pleasant dream about being with Kendall. He was alive, and we were on the beach. We spent the entire day together, just us. We had a picnic and went swimming, then he sang to me. Only, it didn't sound like it was a dream. It sounded just like it does before I fall asleep every night.

For a moment, I forgot where I was. I didn't care where I was laying or what was going on around me, all that mattered was Kendall's voice as he sang to me. It wasn't as strong as usual but I wasn't going to let that stop me from enjoying it.

But the truth is
That she has no idea, no idea
That I'm even here, that I'm even here
She has no idea, no idea
I'm standing here, I'm standing here

Realization hit me and I shot up. I looked straight at him, making sure that I wasn't dreaming. "Oh my gosh."

He smiled weakly at me as he finished singing. "Hey there, pretty girl."