Coma (Paranormal Romance)

by Lilly Mance

  “I’m sorry,” Sophie jumped in, “But what has any of that to do with coma?”

  To our surprise, George exclaimed with a smile, “Everything!” He stared at us for a few seconds, but our dumbfounded expressions killed his elated mood. “I’m getting there. Be patient.”

  “George’s research is highly based on coma patients,” Alexandra added, still resting her back against the wall.

  “Quantum physics gives a theoretical framework that makes time travel possible,” George stated.

  “We know that from the movies,” Sophie snickered.

  “Yes,” George sighed, not at all amused by her remark. “Future time travel is understandable, but what caused a lot of disagreement is time travel to the past.”

  “The grandfather paradox,” Zack chuckled.

  “Sir,” I called out, “Zack says something about a grandfather and a paradox?”

  The old man chuckled, folding arms over his round belly. “That would be it. Need me to explain?”

  “Hell, yeah,” Sophie retorted. “I don’t get any of it.”

  “If a man from the future would travel back to past where his grandfather was very young, and if that man would then kill his own grandfather, it would create a paradox. That man would cancel out his own existence, making it impossible to be in the future in the first place, let alone travel back to kill anyone.”

  “Oh, I get it,” I said, Zack’s mention of intelligent design came to mind. “But just because we don’t know what would happen, doesn’t mean it’s not possible. I mean, Zack’s the proof,” I chuckled.

  “It’s not that easy. To solve this paradox, some have hypothesized that the man would come back to an alternative universe, kill his grandfather in a timeline in which he didn’t exist,” George explained. I looked at Zack, but he shrugged.

  “Now, I’m confused,” I said, “Are you saying Zack’s from an alternative universe?”

  “Oh, no dear. I’m just setting a theoretical background so you can get a better understanding.”

  I sighed, “Okay, please, continue.”

  “Now,” George swiped his forehead, “Studying coma patients, I came to a conclusion that they were experiencing alternative realities, not alternative universes.”

  “Like seeing God and angels,” Sophie snorted.

  “Erm, no. Those were excluded from the research. I studied those that were in a coma, but interacted with this reality to some degree. For instance, one of the patients was in a coma, no eye response, no pain response, but he talked out loud, and the entire time he behaved as if he were in a bar. Not dreaming it, a real time interaction. Nothing from this reality could get through to him. His body was here, but he lived elsewhere.”

  “That happens? Really?” I gasped. “I always thought coma meant no response from the body at all.”

  “There are different stages based on a level of consciousness,” George chuckled. “Later, he told us that there was no difference, and that his body was normal, but he was annoyed that nobody could see him, and he couldn’t get a beer.”

  “We checked his story with the bartender,” Alexandra interjected, “And it checked out with everything he had described. He was here, in our timeline.”

  “With one exception,” George smirked. “He was time dilated for three days!”

  Zack and I looked at each other, then Sophie asked, “Was he in that bar when he fell into a coma?”

  “Yes,” George replied.

  “Then it’s normal that he went back there, they all do,” Sophie darted a glance at me. “It could have been memories of his past days there, not real experiences, though.”

  “Ah, there’s the catch!” George’s face lit up. “We have three weeks of his coma taped, and they all match to what was going on in the bar. Every single detail. We didn’t understand it till the bartender showed us surveillance cameras. Once we compared it to our data, we were shocked.”

  “That’s amazing,” I said.

  “Ask him does he know how it happens? The travel—” Zack said to me, and I asked the question.

  “Einstein-Rosen bridge! That’s why we couldn’t find one. It happens through consciousness, but we have no knowledge of how and why.”

  My heart sunk. I heard Zack sigh heavily behind my back. This wasn't helpful, and we were out of options.

  “Let’s oversimplify things,” George continued, oblivious to our sudden sadness. “Before coma, our patient’s coordinates would be L1 for length, H1 for height, W1 for width, T1 for time, and F1 for our frequency band. When he slipped into coma, his coordinates for time and frequency changed to T2 and F2, while others stayed the same.” George rustled through a mess on his desk, and got a piece of paper and a pen. He drew a circle. “This circle is our frequency band. We're rooted in it by our coordinates L, H, W, T. What happens to coma patients and on a miniscule scale to schizophrenia patients is a slippage out of that circle, frequency wise, and sometimes time wise.”

  “I always knew I had a lot in common with schizophrenia patients,” I snorted.

  “Not really,” Alexandra retorted. “They slip out of George's circle, and you two don't.”

  “Alexandra is correct,” George picked up, “You two have a wider frequency band within the same coordinates.” He drew another circle around the existing one. “That's why you perceive reality like we do, and you get a bonus of seeing what we don't.”

  “Doctor,” Sophie addressed Alexandra. “If you knew all this, why didn't you believe me?”

  Alexandra sighed, and bowed her head. “I'm sorry Sophie, but like so many others, I thought George was plain crazy. Until you proved Zack's existence, I didn't think any of his research could be true.”

  “When I say we, I mean my long term assistant and myself, not Alexandra,” George explained. “She helped a lot during my research out of courtesy, but she didn't think it true, nor did she participate in my experiments.” George shot a bland look toward her. “It was dangerous enough for her to be involved as it is.”

  “Whoever sided with George, either lost a job or funding,” Alexandra added.

  “Lyra,” Zack said. “Ask him, in his opinion, how would one voluntarily move from his coordinate system. In theory...”

  Hearing me repeat Zack's question, George trailed off into his thoughts. “You're basically asking me to invent time travel,” he said after a while. Zack chuckled nervously; Sophie and I stared at George hopefully. A couple of minutes passed in silence before he said, “It's not impossible, but you would have to have such level of consciousness that would allow you to use Einstein-Rosen bridge voluntarily. And that's very unlikely.”

  I looked at Zack. His face was expressionless, but something wild played in his eyes. Then he asked, “Consciousness is a frequency. Could it be a thing of resonance or quantum entanglement?”

  “It might be,” George smirked. “Coma, sleep, psychological disorders, even death—all are changes in frequency. If you could create a quantum entanglement in this coordinate juncture point, and if you could lift your consciousness' frequency to a higher level, then you would, in fact, create your own Einstein-Rosen bridge from there to here.”

  Zack's eyes sparkled; Sophie and I exchanged confused looks. “I don't get it. What does that mean? What's quantum entanglement?” I asked.

  “Quantum entanglement is a relationship between two photons that enables them to communicate instantaneously upon separation, transcending time and space,” Zack explained, and George confirmed after I repeated Zack's words.

  “Now. Can I hear more about what you know?” George asked, crossing his arms. I was too numb and confused to react. Luckily, Sophie couldn't wait to tell her side of the story. She and Zack exchanged information with George about intelligent realm design, what was allowed and what not, and how coma patients' destination was always their last memory. Zack shared some of his memories, and told everything about his amnesia.

  That feeling of being out of place and time became stronger than
ever. I felt as if I was about to disappear. My ears buzzed, and my body felt paralyzed. I heard them talking, I saw them move around the office, but I couldn't move a muscle. As if glued, my eyes were fixed on the tip of my knee. I wanted to look away, to move a finger, but automatic body mechanisms that usually did that for me without thinking, were now shut down. All I could do was stare. Fear spread through my veins, quickening my heart beat, requesting more air, but I couldn't speed up my breathing. Completely immobile, I struggled for air, I willed my breathing to speed up, but it wouldn't listen. As if on life support, my breathing was shallow and slow. Panic gripped me, causing even bigger shortness of air. Sparkling dots appeared in my vision, and weakness overwhelmed me. I collapsed.

  When I came to my senses, I was down on the floor with a throw pillow under my head. Zack's worried face was the first thing I saw upon opening my eyes. I saw his lips move, but heard no sound. Slowly, my hearing came back, and I was able to move my toes.

  “Lyra,” Zack said, softly, stroking my hair, “Are you okay?”

  I cleared my throat, and a hoarse “Yes” came out.

  Zack smiled faintly, “Do you feel strong enough to stand?”

  “I think so,” I said, sitting up.

  “Grab onto me,” Zack said, and helped me up. The meeting was officially over.

  ~*~

  Chapter #12

  Fresh air in front of George's building brought much needed relief. Leaned against the wall, I inhaled deeply through my nose, and exhaled through my mouth. Slowly, oxygen levels in my blood improved, and I was feeling a lot better. My hands still felt clammy and cold, but my heart established its normal rhythm. Zack kept running his hands through his hair, and nervously pacing up and down like a caged beast, irking Sophie.

  “Will you stop that?” Sophie hissed at him. Zack glared at her. “She's okay,” Sophie's voice lost that angry edge. Zack darted his look toward me, and I put up a faint smile. Okay wasn't really the word to describe how I felt, but I was getting there. Zack wasn't convinced, so he suggested we grabbed something to eat in a diner across the street.

  Sophie was the first to sit down, then Zack, and finally I slid next to him. I didn't feel like eating, but Zack insisted I got some sugar down my throat. The only reason I had agreed was to get his worried stare off my back.

  “What does it all mean?” Sophie asked after the waitress took our order.

  “George's story?” I asked.

  “Uh-huh,” Sophie confirmed, smoothing her palms over the table. “I didn't get the half of it,” she sniggered.

  “I'm thin on some parts, as well,” I chuckled, “But Zack...” We both glanced at him. “Where did that come from?”

  “What?” Zack looked at us, baffled.

  “Yeah, Zack,” Sophie picked up, “I thought you were cool, not some nerd,” she giggled.

  Zack flashed a nervous grin, “What's not cool about quantum physics? Wormholes, time travel...All the good stuff,” his nervous grin changed into a smirk.

  The waitress brought our food and drinks, temporarily bringing our conversation to a halt. Sophie immediately started chewing on her burger, as if she hadn't eaten for days, while Zack and I shared a plate of fries. I took a gulp of orange juice, and pushed the glass over to him.

  “Was any of that quantum stuff helpful?” I glanced at Zack.

  “Maybe,” he said, “I mean, in theory, I could get back, but in practice...” He sighed. Pressure built inside my chest, making me nauseous again. I shut my eyes, and placed my hand over his. He flipped his palm, threading his fingers through mine. “Let's hope that hundred years from now science has moved from theoretical to practical,” not quite reassuring smile flickered on his face.

  “Crap,” I said, Sophie and Zack chuckled.

  “That sums it up alright,” Zack laughed.

  “So we're back to square one?” Sophie said after downing the last of her coke.

  “No,” Zack shook his head, “In order for me to know what I know, quantum physics must be common knowledge in the future. It came from that part of me, rooted deep inside, the one that doesn't get erased by amnesia. Like walking, talking...”

  “And how's that a good thing?” I rolled my eyes, and took another sip.

  Zack brows furrowed. “If that's the case, quantum entanglement could work.”

  “And how do you get...entangled?” I chuckled.

  “Oh, he's entangled, all right,” Sophie giggled. Zack smiled, and looked away, hiding flushed cheeks.

  “No, really. How?” I said, raising my brows.

  “Well, she's kind of right,” Zack squeezed out, having trouble maintaining eye contact.

  “Elaborate,” I demanded, narrowing my eyes on him. Zack squirmed in his seat, and folded his hands in his lap. “Zack?” He flashed a cute smile, and diverted his gaze to squeezing fingers in his lap.

  “Argh, spill it out Zack,” Sophie demanded.

  Zack sucked in a huge gulp of air, and let it out slowly, then said, “Quantum entanglement is a strong connection between two parties,” quickly, he moved his gaze out the window.

  Strong connection was a vague term, and a slippery ground, but I had to push it out in the open, so I said, “Define strong connection?”

  Zack's head darted toward me, his glance expressing disbelief. He searched my eyes for a moment, and then said, without breaking eye contact, “Sophie, pretend you're not here.”

  “Sure,” Sophie replied, and let the last drop of coke from an already empty glass roll down to her mouth.

  “Lyra,” he took both my hands in his, and swallowed a knot, “What I feel for you is something I would define as strong,” he bit his lip, maintaining eye contact. My insides were struck by thunder, my heart started banging violently against my rib cage. “But,” he swallowed hard, and paused, searching for words. “To call it quantum entanglement, you'd have to feel the same...intensity.” He dropped his gaze, leaving me speechless.

  Stupid as ever, I said, “How do we measure it?” Zack looked up, and burst out laughing.

  “You're unbelievable!” Sophie exclaimed, laughing as well.

  “What?!” I didn't laugh, didn't find it funny at all. They didn't answer, instead they continued laughing and shaking their heads. “Stop it! How do we know it's enough?”

  Zack managed to repress his laugh enough to say, “We don't.”

  “Especially now we don't,” Sophie giggled, Zack's lips tipped up on one side.

  “What do you mean?” I shot a stern look at her.

  Sophie opened her mouth to explain, but Zack shushed her up by saying, “Sophie, please, don't!”

  For several long moments, Sophie watched him, then said, “I'll give you two some privacy,” then stood up, “Meet me in five down at the station.”

  Zack nodded, and turned his glance on me. By the way he was looking at me, I was sure confusion was written all over my face. He brushed his knuckles down my face, and said, “I'm sorry for unloading that on you. I shouldn't have.”

  I frowned, “No, you had to. Time is a luxury we don't have. Look,” I sighed, “I never felt about anyone the way I feel about you,” his eyes sparkled, and then I realized what they were laughing about. Statement like his deserved my response, and stupid as hell, I went on rambling about measurement. He needed to know, so I said, “When I think of you going back, my whole body aches. I don't feel like living anymore,” I bowed my glance. He picked up my chin, and searched my eyes. The softness of his gaze reached levels of my being I never knew existed, so I said, “If that's not strong, I don't know what is.”

  Still holding my chin, he lowered a kiss on my lips that conveyed depth of emotion we both expressed. Not returning his kiss in public strained me more than I was capable to endure. All I wished for was to lose myself in him. He broke off, and looked deep into my eyes, then said, “Let's hope it's enough to transcend space and time.”

  A nervous giggle escaped me.

  ~*~

  I came home with
a grin plastered on my face. Mom looked at me suspiciously, and then flashed an all knowing smile. All through dinner, she kept glancing my way, and I knew she would come up to my room later to fish it out of me. I had to think of a cover story, because truth wasn't an option. Dad was oblivious as expected, talking about his day and current politics, not noticing we had a wordless conversation going on.

  Half an hour after dinner, I heard a knock on my door. Mom peered her head, and asked if she could come in. I confirmed, and she sat next to me on the bed, grinning.

  “What?!” I asked through a giggle, already knowing the reason.

  “Do I know him?” She cocked her head, maintaining a grin.

  “Nope,” I replied with a giggle.

  “Is he cute?” Her eyebrows picked up.

  “Terribly,” my mind went to Zack's face, bringing burning sensation to my cheeks.

  “Oh, come on! Don't make me drag it out of you,” Mom snickered. I had no choice but to tell her as much as I could about Zack, leaving out the details of his paranormal existence.

  “Are you using protection?” Mom jumped to the point.

  “MOM!” My eyes goggled, and I wished the ground under me would open.

  “I didn't fall of a tree, you know,” she giggled.

  “I didn't say you did,” my cheeks were burning.

  “So...are you?”

  “It hasn't come to that,” I scowled.

  “But it will,” I opened my mouth to protest, but she went on, “Promise me you'll be smart about it, and use protection.” She darted a demanding look. What was it with all the people asking me to promise stuff?

  I promised, and Mom hugged me, then left the room. It wasn't the first time we had that conversation. Ever since I turned thirteen, whenever she'd suspect I had a boyfriend, she would come up to my room, and beat around the bush. This time, though, she was straight forward. I wasn't a virgin, thanks to my ex, Damien, but Mom didn't know about that, nor did I want her to. It was something I wanted to forget, and certainly didn't want to discuss. It was a mistake, and I learned from it the hard way.