by Hall, K R
“Edith and I will see you first thing tomorrow morning,” Walter promised. He placed a hand on Victor’s cheek and held it there for a few seconds. Then he turned and left with Atanase.
“Thanks for letting us see her,” Walter said as they walked past the nursing station.
“That’s okay,” the nurse said, looking up from the desk. “Let’s just hope that Alana shows some more battling spirit and pulls through this.”
“We hope so, too,” Atanase said.
The nurse smiled kindly.
Chapter 24
It was Sunday morning, more than forty-eight hours since they had found Alana nearly dead in the abandoned house. Victor had been there since Friday and had stayed most of the day, watching Alana. Nicolae brought him a fresh change of clothes Saturday morning.
When Alana’s family came to see her Sunday afternoon, Victor went home to get some sleep. It had taken Alana’s family several minutes to convince him to leave.
Victor sat down on the bench, closing his eyes and letting the warmth of the powerful sun bathe his face. A gentle breeze wafted his shirt. He could hear the birds singing. In any normal situation, this would feel like Heaven sitting in the garden. He wandered around after he left the hospital for more than an hour, then he ended up in the gardens at home. He knew what had brought him here— this place brought him back to happier times. It was the place Alana loved to be.
He sat for a few minutes more, watching the brightness of the underside of his eyelids. He just couldn’t shut out the world and its problems, especially when the issue was internal. He opened his eyes and scanned the garden. The sun had warmed him.
Suddenly, he was overcome by anger. Anger at what happened to Alana. He put a hand up to his head. Why did this have to happen? Not for the first time, he felt intense, painful shame. She thought he was the perfect mate. He had enjoyed playing that part.
He was a damned fool. Victor felt lonelier than he ever felt in his entire life.
“Please,” he said, looking up into the deep blue sky, “don’t let her die.”
Victor headed back to the hospital. He spent some time waiting outside the hospital entrance, watching visitors and patients going in, their faces telling a thousand stories of hope, pain, and anguish. He knew just how they felt. When he felt ready, he entered the building and headed for Alana’s room.
Victor and their families sat in the small hospital room. They were waiting for the meeting with a team of doctors who would give them more information about Alana’s injuries and rehab. They were so nervous and anxious about this meeting but knew they needed to hear it. The doctors showed them scans— not that they knew what they were looking at— and explained what had happened and what possibly would happen.
“See this area, this area, this grayish-whitish area? It shouldn’t be that color.” Doctor Wilde said. “Alana may never walk again. She may never recover her memories.”
Then they walked out of the room to give the family a chance to talk. They all looked at each other, trying to wrap their minds around what their doctors said.
“What just happened?” Alana’s father jumped up, ran out into the hallway, and confronted one of the doctors.
“Look,” he said. “we don’t need time to think. You need to do whatever you can do. What would you do if it were your kid?”
Walter got no disagreement from the doctor who replied, “We want to do everything we can for your daughter.”
“I don’t think so,” Walter said then returned to the room. “I think it’s time to find a specialist.”
“I will call Doctor Nathaniel Hartley in to see to Alana’s care,” Victor said. “I think it’s best to have a doctor that has worked with paranormal patients.”
~ ~ ~
“It’s not as bad as you think. I’ve been dealing with coma patients for over twenty years and I lost count of the number of people who weren’t given a chance, but then recovered against all the odds. Do you know what I realized,” Doctor Hartley asked Victor.
“What?”
“That love can make the difference between life and death. I know it sounds sentimental, but I know. I’ve seen how powerful love can be. And that’s why having you here is so important for Alana,” Doctor Hartley said.
“Thank you, doctor,” Victor said.
“I do what I can. Now, I need to look over Alana’s charts and see her test results. I may decide to run additional tests depending on what I find. Then, I shall have a meeting with you all,” said Doctor Hartley.
“Did you sleep?” Edith asked after the doctor left.
“Not really,” Victor admitted. “I must have woken up over twenty times. I probably slept for about three hours or so in total. Every time I woke up, I just kept replaying seeing Alana on the floor surrounded by all that blood.”
Edith smiled hesitantly.
“I finally gave up trying to sleep. I showered, dressed, and headed out into the sunshine and the garden that Alana loves so much. Then I decided to come back to the hospital. I just couldn’t forget about everything,” Victor said.
“Victor,” Walter began. “what do you think happened?”
“I don’t know. I still can’t believe that Halberd hurt her so badly. I don’t mean that I think he did not do it; it just doesn’t make any sense.”
“I still can’t believe that this is happening,” Elmer, Alana’s older brother, said, shaking his head in exasperation.
“I understand,” said Victor, taking a sip of the coffee he brought in with him when he arrived.
“Everything will work itself out. I’m sure of it,” Millie said.
“You guys need to take a walk, have some time away from the hospital. Why don’t you go get some breakfast or something?” Victor suggested.
“Okay,” Walter said. “That’ll be nice.”
~ ~ ~
They spoke with doctor Hartley; the results of the test were back. Alana was suffering from a cerebral contusion: a bruise on the brain. And although they still couldn’t say whether she was going to be okay, the fact that they hadn’t detected a bleed was positive news. The baby was not harmed or suffering due to Alana’s injuries and coma.
Victor wanted to give Alana’s family some alone time with her so he headed back home to pack up some of her belongings she may want to have when she came out of her coma. He had to think positively that she would make a complete recovery.
“This might be harder than I thought,” Victor said as they arrived at his home. It seemed much longer than a week since he had been there.
“We don’t have to do this,” Nicolae said, standing by his side. “We can come back when you feel more up to it.”
Victor mustered up some courage.
“No, it’s okay. If I don’t go in there now, I’ll regret it later,” Victor said as he looked up at Alana’s bedroom window and noticed the curtains twitch. Victor assumed that it was the heater under her window that made the curtains move. He braced himself to enter his home and head up to Alana’s bedroom suite.
Nicolae and Victor made their way up the stairs; memories still fresh in Victor’s mind of how Alana liked to sit and read by the window that overlooked the garden. He was so lost in reminiscence that he hadn’t realized that he had stopped at her doorway. Victor remained there, biting his lip. For a moment, he thought he would break down, but he steeled himself.
“I should’ve done something,” Victor said.
“It’s okay,” Nicolae said. “you did everything you could.”
“I should’ve known something was wrong. I should’ve done that spell when the woman told me to.”
Victor remembered things that happened when Alana was a child and when they first met. All those memories were still fresh for him. He had her back and she was alive. Now, if only she would come out of the coma and everything would be all right with the baby. He could hardly believe the woman that he loved was carrying his child.
“Please, come back to me,” Victor whispered. “I love you so muc
h.”
Victor stared out of the bedroom window for a few minutes, imagining what life would be like in the house, filled with children and happiness.
“What are you thinking?” Nicolae asked as Victor stared out the window. He noticed that Victor had a wistful look on his face.
Victor turned and stepped away from the window.
“Oh, just thinking about a house full of children. Just wishful thinking.”
“Alana will come back and the baby will be safe,” Nicolae began, “we just have to have faith.”
Victor went into the walk-in closet and grabbed the suitcase. He wanted to pack some extra clothes for Alana. As he placed the suitcase on top of Alana’s bed, he noticed the picture of her family on the nightstand. He added it to the suitcase.
“You won’t just have your memories. You both have a great future ahead,” Nicolae said.
“I hope you’re right,” Victor replied. “I can’t take not knowing when she’ll wake up.”
“I know.”
Victor resumed packing and zipped up the suitcase, hoisting it off the bed and onto the floor with a thud. Then he went to his room and picked up a box that was stored in his closet. He carried the box into the living room, placed it on the coffee table, and flipped open the lid.
Inside was all the material related to their wedding. Months and months of mementos, starting with the batch of engagement cards from family and friends, to the cutouts from various wedding magazines of potential trusses and other wedding paraphernalia, and, finally, copies of the wedding invitations and receipts for the wedding ceremony, which was still due to take place this spring. He closed the box and picked it up along with the suitcase to head to the hospital.
~ ~ ~
“Hello, Alana.”
Ladinas moved closer to the edge of the hospital bed, watching Alana as she lay motionless. She was in a better state than he had expected— more asleep than seriously injured. The doctors had obviously done an excellent job. But it was possible to make out some of the damage that had been done, just under her hairline, above her left eye, a purplish, inky bruise that seemed to leak into the surrounding skin.
“You’re free to stay as long as you like,” the nurse said. “the doctor has already been around this morning, so you won’t be disturbing anyone.”
“Thank you,” he said, watching Alana’s face for signs of life. It was hard to believe it had been a week. Ladinas was transfixed by the bleeps of the life-support machine and the thoughts of imminent death. This was the first chance he’d had to come in and see Alana by himself. It was a difficult time for both of their families.
“She’s had a lot of visitors since she arrived. It’s nice to see someone that is so obviously loved,” the nurse said as she checked Alana’s chart.
“Yes, it is. The problem is, the more you love someone, the harder it is to let them go.”
“Yes,” the nurse said, nodding. “But, please, try to think positively. Alana can get better.”
He smiled back at her.
“I’ll leave you to it,” the nurse said, smiling sympathetically.
“So,” he said, leaning toward Alana, placing both hands on the bed’s guardrails. He took a moment to look at the tubes and wires spiraling from Alana’s body.
Ladinas began playing an iPod filled by Alana with her favorite music. Some of the nurses thought that was the best thing Alana needed to keep her brain stimulated. After sitting and listening to the music for some time, Ladinas didn’t know what else to do. He got up, kissed Alana’s temple, and left, saying a brief goodbye to the nurse.
~ ~ ~
Dorin burst through Alana’s hospital room door. He was startled to see his father there. For a few seconds, father and son just eyed each other across the hospital bed.
“I thought I’d come and see how things were going,” Atanase explained. “The nurse told me that Alana hasn’t improved.”
“She might never wake up,” Dorin said, regretting his choice of words as he remembered what the nurse had told them about always being positive in front of the patient. “Although, a lot of people do recover, so we shouldn’t give up hope,” he added for Alana’s benefit.
“I’m worried about Victor, too,” Atanase added.
“Victor will need everyone’s support now more than ever,” Dorian said.
Atanase smiled ruefully, just as the door to the room flew open.
“It’s okay,” Atanase said to the nurse as she raced into the room. “He’s my son.”
Dorin turned and smiled apologetically. The nurse scowled back, apparently not happy at the way he came in without asking permission first. He could understand that. You couldn’t be too careful these days.
“You can stay,” she said. “but, next time, can you please report to the desk? I don’t appreciate having to chase people through my ward.”
“Of course,” Dorin said. “I’m sorry.”
The nurse closed the door, leaving Dorin with his father.
~ ~ ~
Alana opened her eyes.
She’d passed from a coma into a vegetative state, a condition of wakeful unconsciousness— eyes wide open but mind still shut down. Her brain stem had begun sending those pulses of arousal to the rest of the brain, but she still lacked awareness.
“She did open her eyes several times, and they stayed open for a good amount of time today. Not sure what she can see or understand yet, but we know she feels us. She’s had some reactions and responses to our voices and touch,” Walter said to Victor when he returned.
During her fifth week in the hospital, Alana began to show signs to her doctors that she was becoming aware of the outside world. Her eyes followed the moving mirror. When doctor Hartley pinched her fingernails, she tried to push away his hand. Both reactions indicated that she had passed into the minimally conscious state, which instantly increased her chances of meaningful recovery.
Chapter 25
“I feel completely helpless,” Victor admitted, stretching back and looking up at the ceiling. “And I don’t like it.” His grief over her was all-consuming. He thought about her during the lonely nights under the stars and in the early mornings before he began work. He worked again now, trying to keep his mind occupied and not straying to thoughts of Alana laying in a hospital bed.
Then the telephone rang. Victor reached for the phone, but the number wasn’t on the caller ID display.
“Hi, I would like to speak to Victor Marinescu.”
“This is Victor speaking.”
“This is Nurse Dold from the hospital. I’ve got some news about Alana— she has woken up.”
“I’m on my way,” Victor said.
Victor hung up the phone and grabbed his keys, dashing out of his office door. He shouted for his brothers to follow him. Then he texted his father and Alana’s parents to let them know to meet him at the hospital.
“Try not to get your hopes up,” Dorin said as they rode in the elevator taking them to where Alana was being treated.
“I’m trying,” Victor said.
They stepped out and headed down the corridor. Nurse Dold met them at the entrance to the ward as if she had been waiting there on guard since her phone call.
“Take things slowly,” she warned. “Alana has been unconscious now for nearly six weeks. She’s bound to feel disoriented and it’s important not to push her. The doctors said that she shouldn’t be having visitors, but I thought you would want to be able to have a quick visit.”
“Thank you,” Victor said as they walked toward Alana’s room.
“I wanted Alana to see the faces of her friends and family,” said Nurse Dold.
They arrived at the room and, through the glass, Victor could see Alana sitting up, her eyes open. It was the best thing he had seen in weeks.
“I brought a couple of people to see you,” Nurse Dold said, entering the room.
Victor and his family followed the nurse. Alana’s family was still on their way. Alana saw them; she g
ave a brief smile.
“I’ll leave you alone for a few minutes,” Nurse Dold said, smiling at them and leaving the room.
“Thank you.”
“How are you, my love?” Victor asked as he approached the bed.
“Confused,” said Alana, “I feel like I’m dreaming. Not much is making sense at the moment.”
“Have the doctors told you anything?” Grigore asked.
“They’ve explained some things,” she said, her face appearing somewhat vacant. “I haven’t taken much of it in. I know I’ve been in a coma for nearly six weeks.”
“Can you remember what happened at the abandoned home?” asked Victor, knowing that this sort of conversation wasn’t what Nurse Dold would’ve had in mind.
“The doctors told me I got hit on the head. But I can’t remember anything, Victor. I wish I could.”
Victor tried to hide his relief. He had hoped Alana would not remember anything of that horrible time she was there.
“I can’t. I don’t even remember anything since Halberd took me from you.”
“Don’t worry, my love,” Victor said. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
“I’m glad to see you,” Alana said as Victor walked further into the hospital room.
“Nice to hear it,” Victor smiled, sitting down in the chair next to the bed.
He looked at Alana. She looked better than yesterday, which wasn’t difficult, but she still appeared drugged up and tired.
Alana grimaced.
“Are you okay,” Victor rose from the chair. “I can get the nurse.”
“It’s fine. The doc said I would get some twinges from time to time. My body’s way of telling me that it’s still functioning.”
“I guess it’s good news, then.”
“We could do with some good news,” Alana noted sadly. “Victor, I don’t know how you coped these last few weeks.”
“I had no choice.”
Alana broke out into a series of gasping coughs.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Victor said, his panic rising. He couldn’t face losing her.
Alana nodded. “I had dreams about it. It’s a nightmare. There are shapes and voices— I’m pretty sure there was a fight. But I don’t know what it was about,” Alana said.