15. Skye
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
SKYE
“ S kye! Oh, my God! I’m absolutely happy to see you, dear!” Monte’s mom, Gwen, exclaimed with genuine kindness as I stepped into the hospital room, her eyes lighting up with joy.
After much deliberation, I finally made the decision to accept the job offer that Savvy had presented to me. It wasn’t an easy choice, as it took me three entire days of contemplation and soul-searching to weigh my options. I understood that I needed to put my personal feelings aside, especially the complicated history I had with Monte, and step in to support his family during that challenging time. As a nurse, my instinct for compassion naturally took over. In that moment, Monte transformed from being my ex-lover, with whom I had an emotional breakup, into a patient who required my assistance and care.
“Hey, Gwen! How have you been holding up?” I asked, trying to gauge her emotional state.
“I’m doing well, thank you! Oh my God, it’s just so good to see you!” she replied, wrapping me in a tight, comforting embrace.
“It’s good to see you too!” I said, pulling back and smiling at her. “I’ve actually been here a few times since he's been here, but unfortunately, you weren’t around any of those times. I just didn’t want you to think that this was my first visit.”
“Oh, I know, sweetheart. Either Savvy or Apollo have filled me in on your visits.”
“By the way, where is your husband? I expected him to be around,” I inquired, scanning the room for Apollo.
“Ah, he’s in the bathroom,” she whispered. “He’s having what we like to call bubble guts! I told him to be careful with the hospital food—never trust the cooking here!”
We chuckled together.
“I really hate to leave you so soon because I’d love to catch up, but I need to step out and make a few important phone calls. You’ve heard that Monte is being discharged today, right?” she said, shifting my focus back to the matter at hand.
“Yes, ma'am. Savvy mentioned that to me! In fact, that’s why I’m here,” I replied. “I’m going to be Monte’s nurse during his recovery,” I informed her.
A huge smile erupted on Gwen’s face. “God has truly answered my prayer.”
“And what prayer might that be?” I asked, curious about her expectations.
“To bring you two back together,” she said, her grin growing wider.
“Gwen, I…” I started to reply, but she raised a finger to pause me, a look of determination in her eyes.
“Skye, I know things with you and my son didn’t end well, and believe me, I wasn’t a happy camper when I found out. It probably hurt me more than it did him or even you. My son needed, and still needs, someone like you in his life. Skye, you have wife written all over you. Monte was just too blinded by other things to see it at the time. Now, I don’t know how long he’ll be in this condition, but if… no, when he wakes up, I want your face to be the first one he sees. Not mine, not his father's, not Savvy’s, but yours. I want him to know that you’ve been here. I also want him to see where he went wrong with you. Sometimes, God takes us through drastic things to slow us down or to show us who’s God. I hate that this had to happen to my son. No mother would ever wish anything like this on their child. However, in a way, Monte probably needed to go through this, and when he comes out of this, I hope he is a renewed man, and I hope the two of you can look past your differences and work things out. God, I would give anything to have you as a daughter-in-law and to watch you carry my grandkids.”
Once Gwen stepped out of the room, I shifted my focus to Monte, who lay motionless in the hospital bed, surrounded by a network of medical equipment. The sight was heartbreaking. I sighed deeply as I absorbed the reality of his situation. Although he had lost a noticeable amount of weight, he wasn't so thin that he looked frail. A few of his muscles remained visible, a testament to the strength he once had, but the feeding tube that snaked into his arm ensured that he received the necessary nutrients to survive. Savvy had also maintained his appearance, so he still held a semblance of health, even in this vulnerable state.
I settled into the chair beside him, letting my hand glide down his arm, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my fingertips.
“Monte, what happened to us? What happened to you? We used to be so happy, sharing our dreams and planning our future together. I never imagined a life without you by my side. And now, look at us. You’re lying here in this hospital bed, leaving us in the dark about when you might wake up. My heart aches because all I long for is to hear your voice again. Please come back to us. Your family needs you so desperately, and I guess… a part of me does, too,” I finally confessed, my voice trembling with emotion. “I still love you, Monte.”
As I spoke, tears began to flow freely down my cheeks, catching me off guard. Just when the weight of my sorrow felt overwhelming, I heard the familiar sound of the toilet flushing from the bathroom. In a panic, I quickly wiped my tears away, desperate to compose myself before anyone noticed my fragile state.
“Hey, Skye! I didn’t know you’d come in! How are you doing?” Apollo said with an upbeat tone, his hand giving a gentle pat on my back as we both stood beside Monte’s hospital bed.
“Hey, Mr. Morris. I’m doing well, just here to assist with the transport.”
Apollo’s expression softened as he observed me closely.
“You look like you’ve been crying,” he remarked, genuine concern lining his voice.
“Crying?” I let out a small, nervous chuckle, trying to dismiss the thought. “No, I’m fine.”
“Skye, it’s okay. I know, hell, we all know you still love Monte. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have dared to show your face up here as many times as you have,” he said, his words wrapping around me like a warm blanket. “Little do you know, he still loved you.” His statement caught me off guard, and I blinked in astonishment.
“He… he did?” The hope in my voice sounded almost foreign to me.
“Yes,” Apollo affirmed. “We actually had a talk earlier this year. Monte knew he messed up with you, but, of course, his pride was too high to come and admit his wrongdoings. I want you to understand something, Skye. Us men, we’re prone to making mistakes now and then. Just ask Gwen; she’ll tell you. But that doesn’t mean we don’t love y’all; it’s just part of who we are. Not saying it’s acceptable behavior, but there are certain things that can be forgiven after a breakup. And then… well, there are some things that are just completely unforgivable.”
I listened intently, feeling a mix of understanding and admiration for Apollo’s candidness.
“I feel like after an in-depth talk, everything could be forgiven between you two. Monte wasn’t actively willing to change a lot of things for you, but you know, time,” he glanced over at Monte, “and difficult situations bring about change. If my son pulls through this, and I’m convinced he will, he’s going to need you more than ever, Skye. Just promise me that you’ll be there for him… for the family.”
“Like I promised Gwen, I will, Mr. Morris. Anything for the family,” I replied honestly, feeling a surge of determination.
Apollo nodded, a ghost of a smile crossing his lips as he patted my back once more before stepping out of the room.
I turned my attention back to Monte, then took a deep breath, murmuring a silent prayer for him to return to me.
“Well, as you can see, your family wants us back together. So, if you really want this, too, I suggest you wake up so we can see how we can move forward from our past and hopefully have a brighter future together.”
As I sat by his bedside, I couldn't help but think about the moment when he would wake up. I knew it would be a difficult time for us both. Not only would I have to navigate my role in his recovery, but there was also the unsettling possibility that Monte might not be the same person he once was—mentally, physically, or emotionally. Comas can have profound and varied effects on a person's psyche and overall well-being, and I was acutely aware of that reality.
I found myself praying fervently for his recovery, hoping he would emerge from this ordeal without experiencing any significant complications. Yet, deep down, I knew that no matter how he came back to us, I was prepared to support him through every step of the journey. The uncertainty loomed, but my determination to stand by him remained unwavering, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.