It's been nearly a month since my manic episode. Damian had Dr. Matthews come to check up on me. He said I was fine and was bound to have some residual effects from the injuries. It wasn't uncommon for gunshot victims to experience paranoia or dissociative disorder due to the trauma. I was starting to feel a bit better as our life progressed. I no longer experienced any alternate realities or nightmares that made me believe that my life was just some horrible nightmare. Rather my life was beginning to fall back in place.Every so often, however, I would have this nagging thought that something wasn't right. I couldn't place my finger onto what that was, only that it felt as though I was missing something. I knew in order for us to move on from everything that happened, I would have to ignore that feeling. Damian had proved to me on multiple occasions that everything I was experiencing was indeed real.I had no reason to doubt the authenticity of his actions and decided to ignore any l
...Damian POV...It's been seven months since Haley was put into a coma. My faith in her getting better is getting weaker by the day. When Doctor Matthews suggested that I stay with her, as he found that Haley was responding to my proximity to her, my hope went through the window. I remained at her side every day and night. I had practically moved into the hospital. Zane granted me a leave of absence while I stayed with Haley in the hospital. But after a few months had gone by, and no change in her progress had occurred I started to feel deflated. I didn't want to give up on her, but I was starting to lose my will to fight. Hope can be a beautiful thing. However, it can also test you beyond measures. Hope is like a candle in a storm. Lighting up your path, but fragile all the same. Even the simplest of maneuvers could risk blowing the candle out permanently. I felt like I was on a never-ending tightrope. Constantly on the cusp of balancing and falling to my demise. Doctor Matthews ha
The next few hours were absolutely excruciating. I paced the hallway outside of the operating room so many times, that I was surprised I hadn't fallen to the floor below yet. I see a nurse go by and run up to her pleading to tell me what was going on. I needed an update, anything. I needed to know if my little girl was going to be ok. "Please. I'm begging you. Can you please tell me what's going on?" I ask, pointing to the operating room behind me.The nurse looked startled but remained silent. "Please, I'm begging you. My wife and child are in there. They've been in there for hours, but no one will tell me anything. Please, can you just find out if they're ok?" I beg, nearly kneeling in front of her feet desperate to find out what was going on.The nurse shakingly nodded her head in understanding before responding."I'll see what I can do." She replies, before entering the room behind me. I walk over to the chair on the opposite wall, and fall into the seat, leaning over and placi
A short while later, the doctors exited the operating room with Haley in tow. I jumped up from the seat and walked over to the gurney she was laying on. I reached for her hand, holding it tight as we walked back to her room. The doctors got her set up and checked over the machines before leaving the room. They closed the door on their way out, leaving just Haley and me alone. I stood up and ran my hand through her hair. I carefully sat on the bed and snuggled close to her, just needing to be near her. I wrapped my arms around her, careful not to move any of the wires that connected her to the machines. I shifted my head towards her, burying my nose in her neck. I kissed her cheek and placed soft kisses along her forehead as I prayed to all the gods and deities out there to bring her back to me. Zane enters the room a short while later, letting me know that the doctors gave the green light so that we could see Sienna. I nodded my head and placed another kiss on Haley's cheek as I got
I wasn't that hungry. I couldn't remember the last time I ate something substantial. But I still wasn't hungry. My nerves were getting the best of me. I think I'll just go back to Haley's room, and have something ordered there. I needed to see her. I couldn't explain it, it was like an unrooted fear that was deep inside me. I didn't want to be away from her at all, almost as if I expected her to only get better if I was in the room. I knew it was flawed thinking, but at least if I was with her, I could make sure nothing bad happened. I needed to make sure she was safe. Even though we had no reason to be afraid anymore, I still couldn't get myself from being on edge. It was as if I was waiting for something else to happen. Something that in my mind wouldn't happen, so long as I was with her.I walked back to Haley's room, hoping that there would be a change in her progress. I so badly needed her to wake up. For the first time in a long time, I started to feel optimistic. I think part o
Doctor Matthews entered the room later on, and began disconnecting the cords from around her. I got out of the bed, standing against the back of the wall as I watched Dr Matthews carefully remove everything from around her. Nurses came in and removed the pieces of equipment one by one. Once they were done, I stepped back towards the bed, and sat in the chair next to her bed. I reached for her hand, holding it in mine as I leaned against the bed.I wanted to remember everything I could about her. I wasn't going to have any more moments with her, so I needed to make sure Haley was fully engrained in my mind before I let her go. I counted the freckles on her arms and remembered the softness of her skin as my thumb traced over the back of her hand.I kissed the back of her hand and stood up to place a final kiss on her forehead. I took one last look at her before making my way over to the door.I held my breath and reached for the door handle when something startled me."Damian." A faint
...Haley POV...I was so confused. It felt as though I was living through a fog. It's hard to explain, but nothing seemed to make sense around me. Zan and Jessica had already left the room to give Damian and I some privacy. I think that they were worried about me being overstimulated. I was already confused enough. I didn't need everyone's pity on top of everything.I heard the machine beside begin to sound an alarm as my heart began to race. Damian immediately came to my side and pulled me into his embrace.I couldn't talk nor communicate how I felt, so instead all I did was cry. Damian however, didn't seem the least bit phased. Rather he continued to hold onto me, placing my head into the crook of his neck. I could hear a scuffle by the entrance of the room and felt Damian shift slightly. He placed his hand on the back of my head, keeping me close to him, but not before I saw a bunch of nurses looking at us worriedly.Damian simply shook his head and waved them out of the room. "S
...Damian POV...I didn't know what was happening. What did I do wrong? Everything was going ok, then suddenly everything changed. I had gotten out of bed to get her some water. I could tell her throat was really dry, and thought the water would help. However, the moment I got out of the bed with her, it was as if an entirely different Haley had been replaced with the one I just had. Instead of leaning into me, she looked as though she was repulsed by me. But worst of all, it looked as though she was afraid of me.What did I do? I began to ask myself, looking back on every detail, wondering if I had unintentionally made her fear me.Seeing her heart monitor react the way it did just by getting closer to her, was like a stab to the heart. I hated that I was making her feel like that. It was more than enough for me to know that I needed to leave. As much as I didn't want to, I knew I had to do it for her. There wasn't anything I wouldn't do for her. So if she wanted her distance, then i