Kelly stayed until 10 o’clock that night and then went home to sleep in her own, warm bed instead of that cold stiff chair. She slept peacefully and woke up the next morning and headed straight to the hospital.
“Morning Kel!” Ang greeted her friend.
“G’morning! Where’s Bri?” Kelly asked.
“Oh, he’s in there with Nick. They’re letting one non-family member in now,” she commented.
“Okay, well I’m gonna go see how Nick is alright?” Kelly whisked past Ang, her pear scent following her into Nick’s room.
Kelly stood at the doorway and listened to Brian chatting to his best friend.
“Frack buddy, you’ve gotta wake up. I really miss talking to ya and kicking your butt at basketball!” Brian laughed slightly. “Seriously, though, Kelly really needs you. She’s so lost without you…I can see the lonliness and pain in her eyes. Please, man, just wake up. We all miss you,” Brian started to feel the lump rising in his throat. He patted his best friend’s shoulder and turned to find Kelly standing at the doorway.
“Oh! Kel, hi!” Brian swallowed the tear-filled lump in his throat, forcing a smile.
“Hey,” Kelly smiled sympathetically. “That was nice of you. It’s nice to know that Nick and I have friends like you and Ang. Thank you.” Kelly leaned over and kissed Brian on the cheek and walked over to Nick. Kelly watched Brian’s shadow slip out of the room, as she took Nick’s hand into hers.
“Nick sweetie, I know Brian’s already told you this, but we all really miss you. My life just isn’t the same, because you ARE my life. Everything’s going to be all right, though. I just know it,” Kelly reassured her unconscious husband, stroking his soft cheek.
About this time the doctor came in for his routine checking of the machines attached to Nick’s motionless body. “Good morning Mrs. Carter,” the doctor said semi-cheerfully.
“Morning. Do you see any improvement?” Kelly asked, taking a seat beside of Nick.
“Well, there’s not much to improve on unless he wakes up…” the doctor trailed off. Kelly cast her now grayish-blue eyes upon the floor and the doctor continued, “Well, how are you? Are you resting better?”
“Yes, but I still feel sick this morning. It must just be stress you know?” Kelly shrugged off her now common nauseous feeling.
“Hmm…maybe we should check you out. Just to be on the safe side and make sure everything’s all right,” the doctor suggested.
“Oh no…I’m fi-“ Kelly began, but suddenly rushed to the bathroom, holding her hand over her mouth.
A few minutes later she walked back out, frowning and holding her stomach. “I’m so sorry about that. I got sick…” Kelly apologized, feeling rude for her abrupt disappearance.
“Please, I would feel much better if you would let me run a few tests or at least examine you to see what’s wrong,” the doctor insisted.
“Really, I think it’s just stress,” Kelly replied, but reluctantly agreed and followed the doctor into another room. The doctor made her put on one of those dreaded hospital gowns, while he left to check on another patient. Kelly waited nervously on the bed, when there was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” Kelly called, wondering who it was.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Ang asked concerned, walking over to Kelly.
“Nothing, really. I got sick in Nick’s room, so the doctor wants to examine me. Ya know…just for precautions,” Kelly informed her friend as the worried expression left her green eyes. About that time the doctor re-entered the room.
“Well, I just wanted to check on you. I should probably go now. Brian is with Nick and I’ll be in the lobby if you need me, ok?” Ang hugged her friend and left the room.
The doctor examined Kelly, asked her endless questions, and ran several tests. Kelly was beginning to get a bit irritable after spending hours continuing this routine, all because she had gotten sick. After running all the tests, Kelly was finally allowed to get dressed again, and went into the waiting room.
Ang was sitting there with Brian reading a magazine. The couple stood up as Kelly entered the room.
“So, what’s wrong?” Brian blurted out.
“I don’t know yet. It took that long just to run all the tests. He should have the results later. Why don’t you two go get some dinner? You’ve got to be hungry and the hospital food is really icky, trust me,” Kelly suggested, making a face.
“Are you sure? We’ll be more than glad to wait with you,” Ang questioned.
“Yeah, I’m sure. Go ahead,” Kelly smiled at them and waited until they left before wandering back into Nick’s room.
Kelly drifted into the room where she had spent most of the past two weeks. Nick still layed in the bed, motionless, all except for the rise and fall of his chest. Kelly looked at his angelic face and just wanted to cry. She wanted for things to return to normal…to look into his royal blue eyes once again, for him to hold her tightly in his arms, to kiss his warm lips, to feel his soft hand caress her cheek… Kelly gently stroked his cheek with the back of her hand and leaned her head against his chest. She could hear the rhythmic thumping of his heart that was echoed by the beeping of the machine. Kelly closed her eyes, hoping that when she opened them she would be met by Nick’s dreamy gaze. She imagined she felt Nick’s hand softly stroking her hair, but was mistaken. She was not imagining someone touching her…it was just not Nick. It was instead the doctor, ready to give her the results of her tests.
