Chapter 52 West
It’s been five hours since we got to the hospital and they took Jade into the OR. No one will tell us anything, and I’m getting antsy. Surely this is a good sign at the least? That they haven’t come out with bad news yet.
All our family and friends are waiting in the lobby, and with each passing tick of the clock, my heart fractures just a bit more.
Finally, the doors open and a man in a white coat comes out. I jump to my feet, holding a breath.
“Family of Jade Holland?” he calls out, and my arm shoots to the air.
“That’s us!”
My heart pounds with each step closer he takes. My mom and dad stand next to me for support, and the doctor stops in front of us.
“You’re family?” he asks in confirmation, and I nod.
“Husband,” I say, because it feels right and I don’t want him to hold anything back.
“As you know, your wife was brought in with a very light pulse. Our team worked hard, and we were able to get it back up to a steady healthy rhythm.”
A gust of wind slips through my lips, and my coiled chest relaxes.
“That is very great news,” he confirms. “But because of the amount of time she spent without oxygen prior, we won’t know the extent of possible brain injury until, or if she’ll wake up.”
“If?” I croak.
“Yes. Your wife was in a very bad state. She lost a lot of blood and was off oxygen for quite some time. We had to give her a transfusion, and it was quite touch and go for a while. We lost her for a few moments, but our amazing team of professionals were able to get her back. Luckily, when that second knife went in, old scar tissue made it harder for it to go in too far and create any real damage. There was no severe internal damage. We were able to stench the blood flow and repair the tear. However, like I mentioned, her body and brain have been through a lot. All we can do is wait.”
That pressure on my chest that left moments ago is back. She needs to wake up. We can’t get this close only for us to lose her.
“Thank you, Doctor,” my dad says, shaking the man’s hand.
“Would you like to see her?”
Words escape me, but I nod diligently.
“Follow me.”
It’s been two weeks, and Jade still hasn’t woken up. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t left her side. I’ve gotten used to the steady beep of monitors and my own voice as I speak to her. Every single day, I tell her how much I love her and beg her to come back to me.
Everyone has taken turns bringing me food and sitting with her while I shower. My mom fought with me at first. I refused to leave Jade’s side those first few days.
My showers are quick, because I don’t want to miss Jade opening her eyes.
Wrenley and Sarah have taken turns washing and braiding Jade’s hair, and even in a hospital bed, pale and hooked up to machines, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
I need her to wake up.
I squeeze her hand and watch the steady rise and fall of her chest. A movement I will never take for granted again.
“I need you to come back to me, baby.” I bring her hand to my lips, leaving a kiss.
“As soon as you do, I’m marrying you, you got that?
We’re going to have all our friends and family, and you’re going to become my wife.
It’s going to be the best day of my life, and you will be the most stunning bride to ever exist.” I swallow down the tightness in my throat.
“We’re going to have a beautiful life together, Jade.
I promise. All you have to do is open those beautiful eyes for me. ”
I feel a light squeeze against my palm, and my breathing stops.
“Is that a yes, baby?” Tears begin to roll down my cheeks in big fat blobs, and she squeezes again. “Come on, Jade. Open those eyes.”
Her eyes pop open.