Chapter 4
They all took turns when it came to visiting her. Daniel would reserve the main visiting hours for her family and usually got in in the evenings. Everything seemed calm then. The nurses wouldn't come in every thirty minutes to check on her. It would be only them and her heart monitor - beeping steady.
She wasn't waking up. She really took her time. It was the fourth evening since the accident. The doctors said that her body probably decided that it would be to much and that's why she wasn't responding to anything or waking up. They said it was still to early to talk about coma. But it sucked. He would give everything, to see her warm brown eyes again. That brilliant smile of hers lighting up every room. Even this draft hospital room. But there was no time for sulking.
'You are the biggest drama queen I know. Only you would think it's better to take an expensive cab instead of being five minutes late. See where it brought you? Where it brought us? Now, I won't be able to get any work done. And by the way I'm craving sushi now for days. I never got my lunch', he chuckles softly. Looking from his fidgeting hands up into her face. 'But seriously, Betty. If I could trade places with you right now, I would. God, I keep saying that, don't I? It's pathetic. I don't know what to say. Let's face it, your the talker in our relationship'
Her heartbeat increases a little. He looks up at the monitor, confused.
'Ok, if this is, I don't know a thing to tell me that somethings not right, please give me another sign. You know I'm a bad communicator.', her heartbeat slowly goes back to a normal rate. Like nothing ever happened.
Taking her left hand in his, he let out a deep sigh. 'I wish you could be here, you know. Give me one of your amazing pep talks. I love peppy Betty.'
Her heartbeat picks up again. Maybe she can hear him. Maybe this is a sign that she is starting to wake up? Maybe she will come out of this. Hope. There is always hope.
'Don't take this the wrong way Betty, but when I struggled to come visit you, Bobby said that you didn't look as bad from up close as you did through the window. I'm sorry to tell you this, but - I think he lied. You look like crap. You look like a purple Umpa Lumpa', her heartbeat was picking up again. And that's it.
'Okay my little fireball, I know you can hear me. So for once in your life listen to me. You have to wake up. We're all dying here. You lay here unconscious for days now, Betty. All we want is, to look in your beautiful warm brown eyes. See your luscious full lips curl up into this million dollar smile and light up our world again. You have no idea how much I look forward to see you everyday. You absolutely make my day, Betty. Sometimes I feel like I can't breath when your not around. And then even when your there I feel like you take my breath away. You are so beautiful. These days I can't notice anyone but you, Betty. I think..., I really think I'm falling in love with you. No, I know I'm falling for you. And yes, I know I'm making a fool out of myself. I will never be good enough for you. And you probably won't be able to remember any of what I just told you right now. But it feels good to get it of my chest. Ever since Hilda's wedding I have this burden. Knowing that you are more than just a good friend - the best friend really.', her heartbeat steadily increases, almost exhilarates. He holds her hand up, turns it around and softly places a kiss on her palm. Cupping his cheek with her hand for a few seconds. Relishing the warm touch of her skin against his. His eyes firmly closed. He could imagine she is next to him. Conscious, vibrant colours, giddy. His sweet exuberant Betty.
Her heartbeat picks up further. The beeping loud and fast in the room. He opens his eyes, kisses her palm one last time before looking up into her face. And is he imagining things? As pale as she is right now, he could swear she is blushing.
'Are you blushing, Betty? I can't believe it, even in your unconscious state you don't fail to amaze me.', he chuckles softly. 'Oh, have I ever told you that I love it when you blush? Your skin looks so delectable.' Her hand squeezes his. Faint and weak. But she did it. She squeezed his hand. He doesn't just imagine this.
'Huh? Do that again. I think I'm imagining things, Betty', Daniel says excited. She squeezes his hand again, still weak, but it was a few seconds longer before she let go of him again. 'God, Betty, please wake up. You're so close. If you can squeeze my hand and hear me talk, than you have to be so close. Come on, I know you can do it. I believe in you. Show them all what kind of fighter you are. Show them how strong you are. Let them see the strength and courage I admire so much about you.', he holds in for a few seconds, examines her face closely. Sees her eyes flutter. So close to open them.
'I know, the pain meds are strong. But you are stronger. What was it you said - You can take the girl out of Queens, but you can't take Queens out of the girl.', he tries to spur her on. And her eyes open for a fleeting second. He can see the chocolate brown orbs for a glorious second.
'That's it, Betty. You have so much to wake up for. Your whole family. My mom. Everyone at MODE is rooting for you. So many people who love you, Betty. I love you, Betty. Please, just wake up. I told you before. It's a goddamn order. You have to wake up one way or another. I'm not going to let you lay here', he squeezes her hand, is standing next to the bed. Leaning over her face now. The better to stay close to her. To see her beautiful eyes. And there they are. The chocolate brown orbs are looking straight back at him. His left hand immediately strokes over her right cheek. Tears brimming in his eyes. But he couldn't care less. The last couple days were hell. 'Hey'
'Hey', her voice hoarse, breaks away immediately. She must have an uncomfortable feeling in her throat. The way she crunches up her sweet button nose.
'Dry throat, huh? Let me call the nurse and let them know that you finally woke up and then I'll get you something to drink', he reaches over the bed and her body to press the button for the nurse. When he looks down at her again, he can see wonder in her eyes. And it dawns on him.
'Let me guess, you do remember what I just told you, don't you?', he sighed defeatedly. Squeezing his hand again, she could only nod.
Chapter 3
Despite the throbbing pain in her right shoulder she can't feel anything else. It has a numbing effect on all her other senses. She can smell the sterile odour of disinfectant. She must be in a hospital. She remembers the accident. Remembers the last few seconds, before the big Truck crashed into her passenger door. The way she was slammed sideways against the other door. How the car swirled around before they hit the car next to them. It all went so fast. And then everything turned black. And it's still black, but there is this soothing presence. She can feel it. Right next to her. A warmth that seems so familiar. It pulls her out of the darkness. Lets her forget the pain for a second. She wants to know who it is. What he or she has to say.
She can hear something scratching along the floor. And then a soft thud. Whoever that was probably just sat down. She can hear the breaths, deep but shallow, as if they have difficulties to breath. And then this gorgeous scent hit her. She loves this Parfum. Reminds her of - home. A warm feeling spreads through her chest. She knows exactly who this is.
And there the familiar melody. He is talking to her. She tries to concentrate as best as she can, but the pain in her shoulder is distracting her again. She tries to pushes it down. Only listening to the melody. It's so beautiful. She is certain whatever he's trying to tell her must be something good. A wonderful message through all this pain. She pushes herself further.
This scent, the warmth, the melody. She knows this by heart. Better than she knows herself. Pushing the darkness further away, she gets more and more excited. She can hear the voice more clear now. Can make out words here and there. And when he takes her hand in his, she feels warmth, familiarity and something very knew but exciting. His message. He has a message for her. His voice sounds urgent. So she pushes again. Feels the dark veil falling away from her further. And there he is. In all his warm, familiar glory. His voice smooth like honey. And as clear as the fishbowl glass that separates them.
'Okay my little fireball, I know you can hear me. So for once in your life listen to me. You have to wake up. We're all dying here. You lay here unconscious for days, Betty. All we want is, to look in your beautiful warm brown eyes. See your luscious full lips curl up into this million dollar smile and light up our world again. You have no idea how much I look forward to see you everyday. You absolutely make my day, Betty. Sometimes I feel like I can't breath when your not around. And then even when your there I feel like you take my breath away. You are so beautiful. These days I can't notice anyone but you, Betty. I think I'm falling in love with you. No, I know I'm falling for you. And yes, I know I'm making a fool out of myself. I will never be good enough for you. And you probably won't be able to remember any of what I just told you right now. But it feels good to get it of my chest. Ever since Hilda's wedding I have this burden. Knowing that you are more than just a good friend - the best friend really.', I can feel my heart beating like crazy. He holds my hand up, turns it around and softly places a kiss on my palm. The feeling of his soft lips against my skin. The touch so small, but combined with his words - so full of meaning. It's delicious. I can feel a shiver running down my spine. I can feel his cheek under my palm. His hand cupping mine. And I relish in the warm touch of his skin against mine.
I want to wake up. I want to tell him that I feel the same. That he is more than just good enough for me. But this damn veil lays itself over my head again. And his voice still the most beautiful thing I ever heard. But it's like I'm under water again. I try to make him understand.
I try to scream at him. I'm here. Don't go. I'm right here. Why can't you hear me. I'm falling for you too. Your not foolish. I feel the same way. Please don't go. I want to hear your voice again. No, I need to hear your voice again. Don't go. And I muster all the strength in me and squeeze his hand. Desperately trying to give him a sign.
'Huh? Do that again. I think I'm imagining things, Betty', Daniel says excited. Yes, I knew he would get it. I squeeze his hand again, still weak, but it was a few seconds longer before I had to let go of his hand again. 'God, Betty, please wake up. You're so close. If you can squeeze my hand and hear me talk, than you have to be so close. Come on, I know you can do it. I believe in you. Show them all what kind of fighter you are. Show them how strong you are. Let them see the strength and courage I admire so much about you.', I don't need to see him to know that his whole body is tense. He waits for a reaction. And I try. I really try, but this godawful veil is so hard to shake off. It must weigh so much and numbs my whole body. My eyelids are so heavy. They feel like they are glued together.
'I know, the pain meds are strong. But you are stronger. What was it you said - You can take the girl out of Queens, but you can't take Queens out of the girl.', he tries to spur me on. My cheerleader. He always was and probably always will. His pure trust in me is deliberating. And I can feel my eyes open for a fleeting second. See the cold white walls of the hospital room before my eyelids gave out again.
'That's it, Betty. You have so much to wake up for. Your whole family. My mom. Everyone at MODE is rooting for you. So many people who love you, Betty. I love you, Betty. Please, just wake up. I told you before. It's a goddamn order. You have to wake up one way or another. I'm not going to let you lay here', he squeezes my hand, I can feel his breath on my face. And he's so right. I have so much to fight for in my life. Not only my family, but this very new thing between Daniel and I. If he really feels that way, which I believe. I can hear it in his voice. I can feel it in my heart. And I know I have to wake up now. It was long enough. The pain gets worse with every step I take closer to consciousness, but it's worth it - he is worth it. And there they are. The most beautiful cerulean blue eyes are looking straight back at me. I was right. He was right there. His left hand immediately strokes over my right cheek. Tears brimming in his eyes. And my heart breaks for him. How hard it must've been for him. Being back here. 'Hey', his voice is raspy, full of emotion. The same emotions I can see in his eyes.
'Hey', I try to say, but my throat chokes up. It's so dry, I scrunch my face up. How long haven't I been drinking?
'Dry throat, huh? Let me call the nurse and let them know that you finally woke up and then I'll get you something to drink', he reaches over the bed and my body to press the button for the nurse. Brings us even closer for a second and I can feel my heart beating faster by his proximity. Which the monitor confirmed. His scent so intoxicating. Thinking about what he just told my unconscious self. What would I give to hug him right now. But the pain almost to much to take. Overwhelming my senses. When he looks down at me again, he can probably see all that in my eyes. Cause all of a sudden his head drops down.
'Let me guess, you do remember what I just told you, don't you?', he sighed defeatedly. And I can just nod and squeeze his hand again.