Kelly woke up the next morning feeling refreshed and better than ever. She got dressed and looked herself over in the mirror. The reflection she saw frightened her slightly. She has lost quite a bit of weight, making her size 3 shorts hang off of her hips and her t-shirt look as if it were stretched. The rings on her fingers barely fit and her diamond tennis bracelet look as if it would slip off of her bony wrist. Kelly was going to skip breakfast, but after looking at her rather discouraging appearance, she opted to eat a bagel.
After breakfast, Kelly felt strong enough to drive herself to the hospital. She rode the elevator up to the third floor, but on the ride up she felt slightly dizzy. She stepped off of the elevator, holding her stomach with her hand. She felt sort of nauseous after eating the bagel and riding the elevator. She immediately walked to Nick’s room and found the doctor there, checking the machines.
“Ah, Mrs. Carter!” the doctor exclaimed, appearing glad to see her. “I’m so glad that you finally decided to go home and get some rest. We were all getting pretty worried about you. How do you feel?” he asked.
“Um, all right, I guess. I feel sorta nauseous, but I’m fine. How is Nick?” Kelly asked setting her purse down in the chair, which she had slept in so many nights. She looked at her husband and noted that the tubes that he had been breathing through were no longer present.
“Nick is doing much better,” the doctor smiled. “He hasn’t opened his eyes or said anything, but he appeared to be ready to breathe on his own, so he’s been without supplied oxygen for the last 24 hours.”
Kelly smiled brightly at this joyful news. She wanted to hug the doctor she was so happy, but restrained herself.
“Please don’t get too excited. Although Nick can breathe on his own, this does not mean he won’t slip into a coma or will wake up without amnesia. I’m not trying to ruin the moment, but just don’t expect too much.” With that the doctor left the room and left Kelly alone with Nick.
“Hey sweetheart,” Kelly said softly, walking closer to him. She ran her fingers through his golden locks and ran her fingers over his closed lips. Oh those lips, the luscious sweet lips that had kissed her own so many times. She longed to kiss those sweet lips, but she knew it wouldn’t be the same unless her husband was on the other side of that kiss.
“You know, Nick, I really wish you would wake up. I need you so much,” Kelly started to speak to her husband. “We’ve been through so much together. I can’t bear the thought of not having you to talk to, to laugh with, to cry to, to kiss goodnight, and share my life with. Please, honey, just talk to me. Please Nick, wake up.” There was no response from Nick, just steady breathing and the constant beeping of his heart monitor.
Kelly gently leaned her head against his chest and interlocked her hand with his. The sweet aroma of pears filled the air. Although no movement from Nick would’ve indicated it, he recognized the sweet smell drifting from his wife.
Kelly kissed his cheek lightly and walked out to the waiting room to see if Nick had any visitors. Expecting to see Ang or Brian, Kelly walked in shocked to find AJ pouring himself a cup of coffee.
“Wuzzup Kel? You okay?” AJ asked, sitting down on the couch. Kelly nodded and took a seat beside of him. “How’s Nick?” AJ asked taking a sip of his coffee.
“Well, he’s breathing on his own now,” Kelly smiled.
“That’s great!” AJ tried to sound excited.
“Yeah, it’s good, but he still won’t wake up,” she frowned.
“Hmm…have you tried playing music? Ya know how important that is to him. Maybe he would wake up if he heard familiar sounds,” AJ suggested.
“That’s a good idea! I haven’t tried that yet. I have ‘Millennium’ in my car. I’ll be right back, ok?” Kelly jumped up from the couch and went outside to her car.
A while later she returned with a portable CD player and a few CDs. Kelly took them to Nick’s room and played “Everything I Do (I Do It For You)” and “I Swear” to maybe trigger a reaction. Nick stirred slightly, but that was the most he moved. Kelly slipped ‘Millennium’ into the CD player and played “Show Me the Meaning”, “I Need You Tonight”, “Don’t Wanna Lose You Now”, “Back To Your Heart”, and “Spanish Eyes”. Kelly and AJ both thought hearing those songs might revive Nick, but they were wrong.
