Chapter 17

Laura

The antiseptic smell filled the space as I stood over by Christian.

The rhythmic sound of the machines was a reminder that he was still with us, but the anxiety gnawed at my insides. Following the surgery, I felt a flicker of hope, yet hope was inextricably blended with fear as I waited anxiously for him to wake.

“Please, Christian,” I whispered, gripping his hand tighter. “I need you to wake up. I can’t do this without you.”

My heart went out to his pallid complexion, in spite of the bruises that still lit up his appearance. The doctors had reassured me he was stable, but the unanswered one of time, if at all, he might become conscious above me, an approaching thunderstorm.

“Laura,” Adlan broke my concentration and I saw him standing by the doorway with a worried expression. “How is he?”

“Stable, but not awakened,” I whispered. “I just… I don’t know how much longer I can wait.”

Adlan stepped beside me, his presence a steady anchor. “You’re doing everything you can. Just being here means the world to him, even if he can’t respond right now.”

I smiled, happy to hear his support, however the weight of the task felt heavy soon after. “What if he doesn’t wake up? What if he doesn’t know I’m here?”

“He knows,” Adlan said firmly. “You’re his sister. You two share a bond that goes beyond words. Just keep talking to him.”

I let out a deep breath, in an attempt to recover from my pounding heart. “You’re right. I just need to keep believing.”

Adlan stayed by my side, offering quiet encouragement as I resumed my vigil at Christian’s bedside.

I told him about our shared childhood memories, rehashing the times that we've experienced. I explained to him the ridiculous experiences in our life, hoping by all means that he would be able to listen to me.

“I can still picture the day we constructed that treehouse in the backyard," I said, letting a little smile spread across my face. “You were so determined to make it the best treehouse ever. We spent ages scaling up and down, and at one stage, you even fell off of the tree!”

I stopped, and let the hit of warm memory flood me. “You were so brave though. You just laughed it off and climbed back up. You’ve always been my hero, Christian. Please, come back to me.”

Adlan shifted slightly, his hand resting on my shoulder as I continued to talk. “By the way, I wish that I could just rewind all the way back to the good old days, right there. We had so much fun together. I want you and I am begging you to return and rouse yourself.”

As the hours passed, I found comfort in sharing my feelings, and Adlan remained quietly supportive beside me. I realized the strength of our bond got stronger.

At last, after what seemed like ages, a nurse approached the room and made checks on Christian's vitals. “How’s he doing?” I asked, my heart racing.

“He’s stable, and we’re keeping a close eye on him,” she replied, glancing at the monitors. “It may take some time for him to wake up, but the fact that he’s stable is a good sign.”

“Thank you,” I mumbled, clinging to that sliver of optimism.

Having finished the rounds and left, I sunk back down into my chair, exhausted. “You should get some rest, Laura,” Adlan suggested gently. “I can stay here with him while you take a break.”

“I refuse to leave. I will stay with him," I finally whispered.

“It won't be long before you'll be gone,” I promise," he comforted me. “Just a quick break to recharge. He’ll still be here when you get back.”

I hesitated, torn between my desire to be by Christian’s side and the overwhelming fatigue that weighed on me. Finally, I nodded, realizing that Adlan was right. I needed to look after myself in order to be there for him.

“Okay, for a little while anyway," I replied, getting to my feet and stretching my stiff muscles.

As I left the room, I felt a pang of guilt for stepping away, but I reminded myself that I was doing it for Christian. I needed to be strong for him, and that required taking care of my own well-being.

I went down the corridor, and my mind raced. I went to a little cafe and had a cup of coffee. Its strong aroma stimulated my senses.

I sat down at a table and tried to organize my thoughts, but my mind would be drawn back and back again to Christian. I sighed to myself, as the burden of anxiety came to rest once more on my back.

At that moment, my cell phone buzzed in my pocket and I yanked it out to catch a text from Christian’s friend, Jake. “Hey, Laura. Just checking in. How’s Christian doing?”

I dashed off a quick response in which I updated him on the matter. “He’s stable but hasn’t woken up yet. I’m really worried.”

Jake replied almost instantly. “I’m sorry to hear that. Just tell me if I can help. I’ll be there for you both.”

I appreciated his support, but it only served as a reminder of how alone I felt in this moment. “Thanks, Jake. I’ll keep you posted.”

After finishing my coffee, I decided to head back to Christian’s room, feeling a bit more energized. Walking down the hospital corridors as the fluorescent light flashed on harsh illumination, but I set my mind to be there for my brother.

When I entered the room, I found Adlan still by Christian’s side, his expression calm and focused. “Hey, how was your break?” he asked, glancing up at me.

“It was good. I needed it,” I replied, taking my seat again. “How’s he doing?”

“He’s stable. I chatted with him while you were out,” Adlan says with a smile on his lips. “I told him what a brave brother he was and how much you love him.

I felt my heart swell at the thought. “Thank you for being here,” I said sincerely. “It means so much to me.”

Adlan nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. “We’re in this together, remember?”

I gripped Christian's hand again as I sat down in the chair a second time, the warmth against my own skin.

The minutes ticked by, and I felt the urge to succumb due to fatigue drawing closer. Just as I began to drift off, I heard a soft sound, a faint groan.

“Christian?” I gasped, jolting upright. I looked at him, my heart racing. His eyelids trembled and I came closer, gasping up into my sternum.

“Laura?” His voice was sickly, barely audible than a whisper, but it was the most beautiful sound to my ears.

“I’m here! I’m right here!” I cried, my heart soaring with hope. “You’re going to be okay! You made it through the surgery!”

He gradually opened his eyes and made eye contact around the room, ultimately fixating on me. “What happened?” he murmured, confusion clouding his expression.

“You were in an accident,” I explained, tears streaming down my cheeks. “But you’re safe now. You’re in the hospital, and you’re going to be okay.

Christian blinked, processing my words as he tried to sit up, but I gently pushed him down. “No, don’t try to move too much. You just woke up from surgery. You need to rest.”

“Laura…” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? For what?” I asked, my heart aching for him.

“Worrying you,” he replied. His eyes streamed with remorse. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You didn’t scare me,” I said, shaking my head. “I was terrified but the important thing is that you’re awake now. You’re back with me.”

“I can’t believe it,” he murmured, his voice cracking. “I was so scared…”

I gripped his hand tighter and my pulse quickened with delight. “We’re going to get through this together. I promise you that.”

Adlan stepped away from the room, but I could still sense his presence hovering just in the background. I turned to see him, and he smiled a smile that glowed throughout the room.

“Just aim to improve, Christian," I replied while looking back at my brother. “You have a lot of people who care about you, and we’re all here to help you.”

As Christians' eyes closed again, I experienced a feeling of gratitude wash over me. “I love you, Christian," I said, my voice trembling. “You’re my everything.”

“I love you too, Laura,” he replied softly before drifting back into a peaceful slumber.

I realized the road ahead would be difficult, but for the first time in days, I experienced a glimmer of hope. Christian was awake, and that was all that mattered. Together, we would face whatever came next, and I would be there every step of the way.