Part 27 (1/2)
”I'm not.” It was the first two words that felt right and solid on her tongue. ”I think it was the best thing you could have done for me. You woke me up.”
”But I'm back now.” He threw open his arms like he was the gift she'd been waiting for.
”No, you're not. We're not. Ever.”
”All right now, all right! Time to let the lady have her s.p.a.ce.” The nurse shooed everyone out, telling them she needed thirty minutes or so to run some tests. The room grew quiet and Hope didn't know what to say. But then the words started flowing.
”Who was that man here, with the really nice smile?”
”His name is Jake. He found you and has barely left your side for over a month.”
”He looks so familiar. I know about him, but how could I?”
”What do you know?”
”His wife left him. He was very sad about it.”
The nurse looked at me. ”Between you and me, I don't think he's told another soul except you the whole story.”
Hope nodded because somehow she knew that.
”I'm Bette.” Hope watched her take notes and push b.u.t.tons. ”The neuro doc is on his way to take a good look at you, but by all accounts, you're going to be just fine. Things might be fuzzy for a while, but you'll be okay.”
Hope looked out the window. She was drawn to the sunlight. The doctor arrived.
”I'm Dr. Ryan,” he said, grinning at her. ”You gave us quite a scare, you know that? We didn't think you'd wake up. And then we almost lost you. You're a fighter, I'll give that to you.”
Had she and this doctor met before? It was like this was a dream, and somewhere else was a reality.
He s.h.i.+ned a light in her eyes, asked the nurse to run some tests she'd never heard of.
”For any of your coma patients,” Hope asked, ”have they ever . . . have they ever told you they saw stuff in a coma, like people and faces, before they woke up?”
”Sure. I mean, just like in a dream, you see people you know, things that are familiar to you. Some of what you hear around you, in the room, can bleed into your dreams.”
”And what about people they hadn't met yet, in real life . . . but then they see them when they wake up?”
”That's not medically possible.”
”In what realm is it possible?”
The doctor smiled mildly at her and patted her shoulder, before turning to the nurse. ”Let's make sure her electrolytes are in balance, okay? Hope, I'll be back to check on you later.”
Bette continued to do her thing. Hope's attention was drawn to all the cards, all over the room.
”I don't know this many people.”
”Pardon?” the nurse asked.
”Where did all these cards come from?”
Bette smiled. She grabbed a handful and laid them carefully on the bed in front of Hope. ”I think you'll find one signature more than any others.”
Hope opened the first one. It was signed Jake.
17.
Your legs are strong. Your mind is right. You're on your way to your new life. A lot of people have been praying for miracles for you, sweet girl.”
”Thank you for everything, Bette,” Hope said, hugging her. Then she noticed the little bride and groom, still sitting on the bedside table. She walked to it. Once it seemed so big-it seemed it meant everything. Now it was just a small piece of plastic. She took it in her hand and tossed it in the trash.
Bette watched the symbolic moment, her hands clasped solemnly in front of her.
Hope felt lighter than ever. Just then a woman rounded the corner into the room, wearing pink scrubs and pus.h.i.+ng a wheelchair.
”Candy here will take you down to where your mother is waiting with the car,” Bette said.
Hope looked at Candy and laughed.
”What?” Bette asked. Hope shook her head, and Bette grinned. ”Another person from your coma world?”
”When will it end?”
”Maybe it won't,” Bette said with a knowing smile. ”And maybe that's a good thing.”
Candy grinned and rolled the wheelchair forward. ”I hear somebody's been released! Glad to see you looking so alive!”
Hope sat in the wheelchair, put her bag on her lap and looked up at Bette. ”I hope he understands I needed some time to think-to come to terms with my life-to realize I know a good thing when I see it.”
”Sounds like a greeting card,” Bette laughed.
”You think he will even talk to me?”
”I think it's worth the risk to try. Bring him a peace offering.”
”Tuna?”
”Something less potent, more romantic.”
”Got it.” Hope reached out for a hug. ”Thanks for everything, Bette.”
”You'll forgive me for poking your poor little feet?”
Hope laughed. ”I don't know what was worse-needles or tuna.”
Candy rolled her out. As they approached the elevator, Hope let out a laugh.