Tangled Love

CHAPTER 90

I'm unsure on how many days have passed.

Is it even days? Maybe it's been weeks.

It feels like long dragged out years.

I sigh heavily and rub my eyes forcing them to stay awake. I haven't left her side, only to shower and get a change of clothes. I spend every night clutching her hand tightly and making do with the uncomfortable chair next to her bed. I'd been sat on it for so long, my arse has definitely left an imprint on the murky brown leather.

My eyes are heavy, hours of spending long nights and days awake by her bedside praying for her to wake up. The dark circles underneath my eyes are obvious and my face is drawn in, pale and ghostly.

I can't eat and I definitely can't sleep. I'm a living zombie, watching the world go by whilst my own seemed to be one big blur.

How could I possibly sleep when every time I close my eyes the gunshot would echo loudly?

It would play continuously on a loop like some sick horror movie that's purpose was to torture. The door opens and Emily's doctor, Doctor Green walks in. He nods in my direction, giving me a warm smile as he usually does. Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

"Any more news?" I ask the doctor as he does his usual daily checks. Every day I ask the same question and every day the response would be the exact same. . . No change yet.

The doctor looks at me sympathetically and shakes his head causing my disappointment to deepen.

"It's up to her when she chooses to wake up Mr Melvin. The coma that she's in is caused by the amount of blood she lost. She'll wake up when her brain is ready to do so." Dr Green says, writing

something down in his files.

Will she still be the same Emily?

Will she be able to walk, talk and laugh like she once did?

If I had just moved an inch and stood in front of her shielding her from the bullet, things would have been so different. It would be me lying in the hospital bed, completely unresponsive. Dr Green glances in my direction —

"Why don't you go home and get some rest Jake?"

His words are spoken softer this time, holding more sympathy. I shake my head in response.

"I need to be here for when she wakes up, I can't leave her."

Dr Green nods, knowing he's wasting his time convincing me to go home. He clears his throat before leaving the room, shutting the door softly behind him. I'm left alone with Emily once again.

Just me, her and the steady beeps of her heartbeat.

I stand and lifted her arm up gently before tucking myself in beside her. I drape my arm over her stomach and breathe in her warm scent, the only thing that has calmed me down these days. I lie next to her when I'm feeling desperate and right now, I'm desperate.

Guilt is eating me up alive and seeing her lie here day in, day out only makes me feel worse. I feel defeated watching her knowing I can't do anything to help. I sometimes talk to her, when I'm feeling lonely and miss the sound of her voice. I talk to her about silly things, the football or her favourite cooking show. She'd lie there unresponsive but I'd like to think she's listening to me, absorbing my words slowly.

I tenderly kiss her cheek, letting my lips linger on her soft skin. The longing to have her own lips react and kiss me back is too much and I inhale deeply, blinking away the tears. It becoming harder and harder to keep myself together and I'm worried that when she does finally wake up, I won't be strong enough for her. My hand clutches hers and I squeeze

it before burying my head closer to her.

"Muffin, please wake up." I whisper, my tone begging and desperate.

"I'll let you eat out of the Nutella jar every single day if that's what you want. We'll both watch The Titanic together and I won't make fun of you when you cry. I'll take you out to the fanciest restaurant in town and we can have a proper date. I won't ruin it this time, I promise. I'll wear a suit and we'll take you shopping to find the most beautiful dress because you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. Maybe we'll get you one of them ones with a split up the side, you'd look so good Muffin. I don't think we'd even make it to the restaurant." I smiled warmly, knowing if she was awake, she'd be blushing right now.

"Afterwards I'll take you dancing to that fancy place downtown, you know the one with the live band? I've got to admit though. . . I have two left feet, I'd probably end up tripping over every second and leave because I'd get annoyed at the fact I can't dance."

I imagine all the places I'd take her, all the things we'd do together. Just silly little things like lying in bed with our arms and legs all tangled up, me annoying her so much she'd eventually stop talking to me until I apologised. My smile fades as I realise we may never get to do any of those things.

"I've never felt this strong about someone. You understand me like no-one else, when I'm around you, I feel amazing. I feel like I'm on cloud nine, you're my drug Emily. I can't get enough of you."

She doesn't respond, her heartbeat beeps back at me instead, filling in the silence.

"Please wake up Muffin. Squeeze my hand, move your arm, leg, anything. Just show me you're listening, please." I beg her. I hold my breath and wait, feeling hopeful that she'd obey. Minutes pass and the silence in the room becomes unbearable. She lies completely still, not moving an inch. I sit up on the edge of the hospital bed and swallow the thick lump in my throat.

My hand loosen from hers and I feel completely deflated, like all the life has been drained from me. This is it, I can't pretend anymore that she's going to be completely fine. I have to face facts even if the facts would completely break me apart.

That's when I feel it, the slightest movement in my hand. I immediately stare at our hands intertwined, my breath caught in my throat. I didn't imagine that, did I?

I don't dare blink incase I miss it. Nothing happens for a few moments and my hopes begin to fall until I feel it again, the slightest squeeze.

It's so faint and if I didn't have hold of her hand, I would barely feel it but it was definitely there. I cry out in relief and joy as it finally hits me that she's responsive. . . She's listening to me.

'"Emily, Muffin, I'm here." I say quickly, the joy in my voice clear as day.

"You're going to be okay" I add, holding my breath once more. My eyes never leave her hand and I see it move once again, the force of her squeeze more stronger this time. A grin breaks out on my face and I wipe the tears away with my free hand. She's fighting for her life, I know it. She's showing me that she's getting stronger and my heart swells in pride.

"Do that again, squeeze my hand." I say quickly and she almost immediately repeats her actions. She squeezes tightly before letting go, letting me know she's listening. My shoulders slump in pure relief and all the days of sitting here is worth it for that one squeeze.

I'd remember this moment for the rest of my life, the moment she finally responded to me.