Brian and Ang rushed up to Kelly, while she was sitting in the lobby drinking a cup of coffee.
“Are you alright? How is Nick?” they both asked in unison, sitting down on both sides of her.
“I’m fine, just some cuts. Nick has a broken arm and a head concussion,” Kelly informed the couple blankly.
“Aw, Kel, I’m sorry. How are you doing?” Ang asked embracing her best friend in a hug.
“Not too good,” she answered honestly. “I can’t sleep or eat. This coffee is the only thing I’ve had. All I can think about is Nick…” Kelly trailed off so she wouldn’t burst into tears in front of her friends.
“Can we go see him?” Brian asked.
“No, the doctor is looking him over or else I would be in there. I spent the night in his room last night and have been with him all morning. So far there hasn’t been any change,” Kelly frowned, staring at the cold tiled floor.
Brian and Ang exchanged looks that Kelly didn’t notice. It was one of those mutual looks that meant they were both thinking that Kelly needed to go home and get some rest and that they were both worried about Nick.
Just then the doctor entered the waiting room and told them that right now only Kelly was allowed in, since Nick was still in intensive care.
For days, the same routine went on. The only thing Kelly would eat was the Jello in the cafeteria and drink coffee in the mornings. She spent every minute of the day with Nick and spent the night sleeping in a chair by his bedside.
AJ and Lis had come to visit Nick, but since they weren’t allowed in they stayed with Kelly for a while to try to avert her attention away from Nick. Brian and Ang visited daily. The couple tried to talk Kelly into going home, but she refused, so they would bring her a change of clothes each day. Kevin and his wife, Michelle had gone back to Kentucky, but they called to see how things were and sent flowers. Howie and his fiance Tracy went back to Canada, where she lived, but like Kevin had called and sent flowers.
Kelly appreciated their concern, but had lost all of her energy from her lack of sleep and nutrition. The doctor was getting really concerned about her sudden weight loss. Dark circles had formed under her eyes and she could barely walk to the cafeteria to order her Jello.
“Kelly, please go home and get some rest,” Brian pleaded with her on her fifth day at the hospital.
“Bri, I just can’t. What if something changes? What if Nick wakes up and I’m not here with him?” she asked endless questions that she had been struggling with, while tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Kelly, listen to me. You have got to get some sleep, or at least some rest. Try to eat something, too. Nick wouldn’t want to see you like this. Please…” Brian pleaded with his best friend’s wife.
Kelly knew he was right and for whatever reason, out of pure exhaustion, because of Brian’s persuasive words, or for her love of Nick, Kelly agreed to go home.
Ang drove Kelly home since she was too weak and exhausted to drive herself. Ang unlocked the door to Nick and Kelly’s massive home and carefully guided Kelly upstairs to hers and Nick’s bedroom.
“You sure you’re going to be okay alone? I can stay if you want. Bri’s going to stay at the hospital tonight anyway,” Ang offered.
“I’m sure, but thanks,” she said listlessly, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Ok, if you’re sure. Brian will call you if anything changes with Nick. I’m going to lock the door when I leave, so you just sleep all right? Goodnight,” Ang said giving her friend a hug and leaving the house.
Kelly looked around their bedroom, noting how strange things looked. She hadn’t seen her house in nearly a week and without Nick there, everything was so quiet and cold. She clicked on a lamp and lit a candle, illuminating their spacious bedroom. She walked over to the bed and practically collapsed her petite, fragile body onto the plush comforter.
Something stabbed into her side and she turned to see what it was and saw the scrapbook she had made and given to Nick for their anniversary. Kelly lifted it up and started to flip through the pages. Her head swam as happy, sad, funny, cherished memories, which would forever be embedded in her heart, filled her head. She silently cried and laughed as she reminisced over her shared memories with Nick. A warmth was rekindled in her heart and the usual glow suddenly lit her cheeks. Kelly yawned and sleepily blinked her bright blue eyes closed. She clicked off the lamp, blew out the candle, and climbed under the blankets. She snuggled close to an old stuffed teddy bear Nick had given her for a Valentine’s Day present after their first year of dating. The familiar scent of his cologne was still lingering on their sheets. Kelly took in a deep breath of his cologne, hugged the bear closer and fell into a dreamless sleep.
