Birds chirping startled him awake. Not feeling anything from the waist down. He was paralyzed from the waist down. The machines that kept him alive from the accident to come back to such a fucking hell of a world stood in the corner.
A small brown-haired woman set in a chair next to him. She had long, brown, curly hair, and big brown eyes that filled with tears. Amnesia couldn't stop him from remembering that face. "Eve?"
She looked at him for a few minutes and then shook her head. "I'm Tracy, Eves sister. Eve's been dead for three years now"
He looked at the women claiming that she wasn't the woman he knew she was. She was Eve, his wife. A little girl talking to a doll distracted him that she held. She looked familiar. "Who's that?" He asked.
The girl rocked the doll in her arms.
"Abigail. Eve's and yours child."
He looked at the young child now remembering faint thoughts. Last time he had seen her she was a baby.
"She's grown." He whispered a faint whisper.
"She's three. You've been in coma for three years, Taylor"
Taylor. That was his first name. "She's beautiful. Just like my Eve." He said in that faint voice again.
Taylor felt his eyes fill up with tears. Of all things for the poor guy to remember, he remembered Eve, his wife.
Abigail looked up at him. She looked at Tracy.
"Abigail, I want you to meet your father."
She looked up at Taylor.
"I'm your daddy, Abigail. Your daddy." Taylor held his arms out for her.
Abigail looked at Tracy, and she nodded.
She went up to Taylor. He began to cry as he hugged his little girl. He stroked her hair. "I've missed you, baby."
Abigail put her tiny hand on Taylor's back. "Daddy."
"Yes. I'm your daddy"
"Where's mommy?"
Taylor blinked his eyes to clear more tears coming. "She left us baby. When you're older I'll tell you what you mother did for you. She loved you so much." Taylor kissed her.
Abigail looked at him crying. "Daddy, why are you crying?" She asked concerned.
"I'm so glad to see you, baby. Daddy's missed you."
"I missed you, Daddy."
Daddy. Having such a perfect form of life call him daddy. A daddy that he missed being.
"Daddy, loves you. Will you remember that? I don't remember much about life or you."
Abigail nodded. "I'm three" She held up three of her little fingers.
Taylor nodded. "That's right."
"I love you, Daddy." Abigail gave him a hug.
He hugged her back, and remembered how love felt now, and how he missed those three little words. "I love you too."
After Tracy and Abigail left, he laid all alone. Not being able to move his legs. His heart ached though. He stared at the pale blue wall in front of him or the "Get well, Daddy" card that Abigail made him with her two precious hands.
God, he loved her. Abigail had reminded him of Eve. Seeing Eve in his little girl. Remembering his wife that left him. Left him all alone. How could she have left him?
Left him to suffer alone in such a world of hate. How could she have left him at all? That bottle of hurt that he had kept all to himself, bubbled up. How stupid he was to feel such pity on himself.
He would never be complete again. He was forever burned for even feeling love. Flashbacks running through his head, making him feel sweaty and wet, took him back to that life he loved and missed so much. The life that had Eve in it…
Taylor sat at his desk working on the latest project of the Highs and Mills company. He glanced at a picture of Eve and suddenly a smile came over his face.
She was waiting at home for him. He had hated to leave her alone eight months pregnant, but knowing Avery and Damion where across the street, just incase, he felt reassured.
Life had been great the past few years. In college he met Eve, and they became attracted right away. Taylor had been in the music group, Hanson.
He wanted to go to college and that broke up the band. His brothers blamed him for the break-up. Taylor had tried to make peace. He hadn't talked to them since he left for college.
To get away from it all Eve agreed to leave her hometown of Alliance and go to Austin, Texas. They bought a little house next to their friends, Damion and Avery Mclaine. Eve and Taylor ran away to the hills of Tulsa and eloped. Now he was setting in an office waiting to go home to her.
Flipping through a file of papers he was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in" Taylor yelled.
Ruby, his secretary peeked through the door. "Phone call, line one." She looked a bit worried.
"Thanks," Taylor took the call hoping it was Eve.
"Are you Taylor Hanson?" A voice on the other end asked.
"Yes, I am. How can I help you?" Taylor figured it was a salesman.
"Taylor, this is Austin City Hospital. Now I don't wont to scare you, but your wife Eve has just went into premature labor. She won't hardly let us do anything without you here."
Taylor froze. Time stood still and a bullet went through his heart.
"Oh my god. Ill be right there." He slammed down the receiver, flew out the door and drove as fast as the silver neon would take him. Once he arrived it had seemed like five years unlike five minutes.
His heart stamped with pain and was trying to fight back his tears. "Eve. Oh Eve baby." Taylor cried running into the doctor waiting for him at the door.
"Oh my god. Let me see her. Is she okay? Is she hurting? Is she needing me?" Taylor trembled with fear.
The doctor took his hands. "She's not awake now. We stopped her contractions for now. But son, I want to show you something."
Taylor followed the doctor through the door. He burst into tears as soon as he saw Eve. "Oh Eve, honey. I'm here honey, I'm here." Taylor squeezed her hand and gave her a few kisses.
The doctor set up an ultrasound. As Taylor watched the baby appear on the screen from rubbing that controller around Eves stomach.
He cried harder. He reached out his hand to touch the monitor and let his fingertips drag across the screen. The doctor looked at Taylor feeling the young mans pain.
"Son, you have to choose between the two." The doctor said so softly.
Taylor looked up from crying at the monitor. "What are you saying?" He asked.
"The baby's premature. Eve can't handle delivering a premature baby. You either let the baby go or Eve. I'm sorry but you have to choose. It's your choice."
Taylor about threw-up, "No. No. Don't make me do that. I love them both so much. Please doctor, don't take my happiness away." He cried.
The doctor sighed. "There's nothing I can do. I'm terribly sorry. I can only save one."
The doctor slowly got up. He shook his hand and left the room. The monitor disappeared with the baby on it.
Taylor turned and cried. "Oh Eve. I love you. I love you" He rubbed his hand across her stomach and I love you too baby Even though I've never really seen you, but I know you're gorgeous." Taylor did something he never thought he'd seen himself doing.
He kissed Eves stomach light and gentle. "I love you both. I can't choose either one of you. Whichever one of you goes you'll leave with a piece of my heart." Taylor lay up in the bed by Eve.
He felt that it was all his fault. He shouldn't of let her work, or cook, or do anything to cause stress. That could of hurt her. "It's all my fault. It's my fault. I'm so sorry, Eve." He kissed Eves cheek.
A nurse ended up dragging him out of the room saying Eve needed her rest. He found himself at the cafeteria. He bought a nutri-grain bar, and a diet Dr.Pepper, he choked it down and swore he'd throw it back up till he washed it down with the Diet Dr.Pepper. He set there for a second with his eyes closed trying to stop the fresh tears.
The tears still ran down his cheeks. He walked back down the hall, and saw the hospital church. As he walked inside he noticed candles lit all down the aisle. A big cross was at the end above the peu.
Taylor had never really gone to church before or read the bible Eve had bought him. Now he wished he had. He got down on his knees and began to pray.
"God, I know I've never came before you ever and I may have never read my bible, but I want to ask for forgiveness. I need help God. Please help Eve, and our unborn baby. I love them so dearly. I can't lose them, God. Please don't take them from me. Please." He knelt and cried.
Hearing footsteps, he turned and saw a nurse in the door.
"Mr. Hanson, Eve's awake. She'd like to see you."
Taylor got overwhelmed with being happy and scared. He ran to her room to see her look at him. "Oh Eve, honey. Oh Eve, I made it. I rushed here." He gave her a hug and kisses.
"I love you. I wanted you so bad" Eve whimpered.
"Oh honey, you got me, you got me." Taylor rubbed her stomach and gave her a few quick kisses.
She faintly smiled.
"Are you in any pain?"
Eve nodded "A bit, but I'm alright." She promised.
Taylor gave her another kiss. "Eve, if I knew this would of happened when I begged you to have children, I would have never done it. You risked everything you had for me. You put your life on the line just to make me happy. I wish I had never done this to you. I'm so sorry." He sniffled.
"I did it out of how much I loved you. It's not your fault. Its no ones fault. It's life,"
Tay shook his head, "No you changed my life, Eve. You're risking your life for this baby and I love you."
He gave her a big hug. It was silent for a while.
"Taylor, I want you to choose the baby"
Taylor looked up at her. "No, I wont Eve."
She shook my head yes. "Taylor, I've already done what I wanted to do in life. I met you. A wonderful husband I always wanted. I'm having a baby. Something I've always wanted to do. I want you to let me go and raise this baby. I've lived my life, this baby hasn't."
Tay had broken down in tears as he saw me crying.
"Eve, I love you. I'm not letting go. I can have another baby, but I can't have another you." Tay rubbed my knuckles.
Eve closed her eyes and shook her head. "No. Please, just choose the baby."
Tay squeezed my hand. "I love you, Eve. You're my strength."
She opened my eyes to a horrible pain. "Oh my god, Taylor! Get a doctor." I screamed.
"No, Eve don't do this." Tay yelled.
Doctors came flying in.
"Eve!" Taylor let out a blood-curdling scream that could give anyone chills
Eve reached her hand out. "I love you, Taylor."
Taylor screamed. He ran to the doctor. "I love them both so much, but save Eve. Save my wife." He replied.
The doctor looked down. "Son... she's already having contractions, we came here on it's just luck. I'm sorry but I don't know if I can save her. This baby is going to kill her. But son I'll try my best. I promise."
He walked into the room. Eve let out a scream of pain. He went to run back in to the room but nurses stopped him. He fell to his knees and put his head in his hands. He bawled.
It seemed a soon as the screams started they ended. Tay heard a baby cry. A smile spread across his face. "Eve, oh Eve."
He ran into her room to see the doctor holding the infant. As he looked at Eve, she was motionless.
Through a tear the doctor spoke up. "Sorry son, Eve didn't make it. But you have a daughter."
Taylor burst into tears. Eve had risked her life and died for the baby and him. She left behind a beautiful baby and took his heart. He watched the two nurses cover Eve up in a white sheet. Eve was truly gone.
He was handed the little baby an hour later after all its testing and such. She had deep brown eyes that were just like Eve's. He sat in the rocking chair in the nursery.
After looking at her for a second he knew the perfect name. Abigail Eve. Eve to remind him of Eve. He knew when she'd grow up she was going to look just like her mother. Taylor was sure of it.
A nurse asked for the baby to be put in the nursery. Taylor handed her over and walked to the waiting room. Damion and Avery sat there. Damion was teary eyed, and Avery was uncontrollable. Eve had been her best friend.
"We heard Taylor. We're here for you." Damion spoke.
Taylor nodded his head, and Damion gave him a big hug.
"Taylor, I'm so sorry. If I can help, let me know because I will."
He looked at Avie and gave her a hug. "Thanks so much." He whispered. "Do you want to see our baby? It’s a girl."
Damion and Avie both nodded. As Tay showed the couple Avery was overcome with emotions. She saw Eve in Abigail. She knew Eve was looking down at Taylor and her child. Just to make sure they make it all right.
Abigail was allowed to come home three days later. In-between then Taylor removed the crib from the baby's room he had designed specially for his child, to beside his side of the bed.
Going through Eve's stuff, seeing her on videotape, in pictures brought Taylor to tears. Why had she left him?
Keeping up with the housework is going to be so hard. Cooking and cleaning. Baring to take care of Abigail and hold down a job. Being daddy and mommy at the same time.
A week after Eve's death her funeral was held. Tay was dressed in a black suit. The baby's carriage was even black with little Abigail tucked inside. As Taylor watched Eve's casket get carried past him he burst into tears.
Avie and Damion where there to lend a hand.
"I can't bare to watch." Tay cried. He pushed Abigail's carriage to the car. This wasn't where he belonged. This was no longer home. This had been home when Eve was here.
On December thirteenth, a week after Eve's death he moved back to Tulsa. That was home for him. Austin had to many memories there. Besides he needed help with Abigail.
His parents were willing to help with that. His mother was so overjoyed to see him. The first night there he slept where Eve and him slept once. Cuddled so close together.
Now Eve was gone. Buried six feet underground a thousand miles away. But still she held his heart.
She would forever hold that.
Taylor's been doing all right in Tulsa. He got a steady job and on the side he plays guitar. His parents have been so supportive of Abigail. She's just a beautiful baby. Isaac and Zac have came around. Even sometimes they practice together.
Isaac is married has a child that's two. His wife Jenna is still with him. She made it through delivering Isaiah. Why hadn't Eve? Taylor seeing his brother so happy with his family made him feel a streak of jealously. That could have been his family.
As he picks up Abigail he doesn't blame her. She lets out a whine and he's quick to shush her. He understands it's not her fault. It just happened. Still wearing his ring he lets his vows still stand. Death tore them apart but marriage won't come again. He doesn't want it.
Tay's plans are just to stay home with his family all around them. They help him through this and let him stay sane. Raise Abigail in love. Maybe someday find his own home and raise her with the feeling Eve is with him always. No other girl will grasp his heart or what's left of it.
Avery and Damion have been all right. It was different around without Eve and Taylor. They missed them. It took two weeks for Eves and Taylor's old house to sell. To Damion and Avery, they couldn't let all those memories go.
Besides they needed more room and more luxury. Taylor's and Eves had that. Maybe one day they would want to start a family.
Avery walked through the house. Remembering being here with happy-go-lucky Eve, smiling and clinging to Taylor. So young and pretty. So many dreams and hopes.
She came to the room Taylor had fixed up for the baby. She remembered how happy Eve had been about it. Pale blue walls and teddy bear wallpaper were the only things left. Taylor had done a wonderful job.
She walked to the master bedroom. Remembering how the room looked. Seeing Eve's closet bare. Playing back in her mind the day she took Eve maternity shopping. Avery returned to the living room.
Damion looked around at it. "This brings back so many memories." He whispered.
Avie nodded. Knowing their best friends had lived here. New neighbors moved into their old apartment. It was another young couple just starting out.
Damion remembered just a short year ago watching Eve and Taylor moving in.
Things had changed. Eve was gone, Taylor moved to Tulsa. How he wished they would go back to the day he first met Taylor and Eve.
Taylor knelt at Eve's grave on her birthday with a dozen roses. He hung a jade locket around the headstone. He had bought that for her birthday. He never got to give it to her. Now he did.
Looking back down at Abigail he picked her up and cuddled her close to him. He looked down at Eve's grave crying. In loving memory of Grace Eve Hanson. Loving mother and wife. Shall she rest in peace.
The next morning Taylor was found dead of heart failure. Thinking about all those memories. Did that kill him? Was love so strong to do that?
Abigail only got to meet her daddy once to even remember him. Just for a few seconds. He didn't even remember anything about her either. It seemed death and love were so close they held hands.
Abigail took one last look at her daddy before the nurses covered him up. "Aunt Tracy, Daddy never told me about my mommy. He told me he would." Abigail said as she wiped her tears away.
Tracy took her hand. "Oh honey, one day I'll tell you. When you're older to understand. Your mother and father loved you so much."
"Daddy, told me to remember that. I will" Abigail promised as she wiped away more tears.
Tracy tried to clear her tears. She turned to see Taylor being wheeled out of the room. Now he'd be with Eve. Just like he wanted.
"God, let them rest in peace." Tracy whispered and turned away.
