Racing for Keeps

Chapter 9

"What's the news doctor?" Sinu asks anxiously.  The nervous pit in my stomach growls as we all wait on pins and needles for the doctor to speak.

"Her test results have come back and show remarkable improvements.  We are going to ween her off the vent and see how she does breathing on her own.  We'll reduce the medication helping her sleep at the same time so that should help us gauge how she'll react when we take her off completely" Dr. Carli says.

"Are you sure she's ready?" I ask quietly.

"Yes" Dr. Carli nods, "We won't know unless we try Shawn.  All signs point to today being a good day to try this."

"Okay...." I say anxiously as I wring my hands together and try to swallow down the bile in my throat threatening to come up.  James puts a comforting hand on my shoulder as we hear Bella cry into Josh's arms. 

This is huge.

Today I could see Camila's big chocolate brown eyes and feel the warmth of her touch for the first time in now over three months.

Hours pass and Dr. Carli and her team bring Camila back to the room.  We are all asked to wait just outside her room, but I fight and after a short battle with my friend, they allow me to sit deep in the corner of the room as they begin the process of waking her up.

Camila looks so tiny wrapped up in the blankets and sheets of her bed as the nurses work to prepare her for the removal of the tube down her throat.  Dr. Carli orders for the medication helping keep her asleep to be decreased and they decrease the settings on the ventilator as well.

At this point, I'm asked to leave the room for real this time and Sinu is the only one allowed back in.

Two hours later Sinu comes running out of Camila's room.  "She's waking up and she's asking for Shawn!" She says over enthusiastically as she reaches me, grabs me by the arm, pulling me with her back in the room.

Things are a blur for the next few minutes until the next thing I know is I'm sitting by my girls bedside, holding her hand as tears cloud my vision.

Her big bright, beautiful eyes meet mine for the first time since our last FaceTime call months ago and I loose all resolve.  I squeeze her hand as I hear her groan in discomfort. Her eyes squeeze shut again as if she feels pain ripping through her body. Sinu sits on the other side of her bed, trying to hold herself together as well.

Camila opens her eyes again, meeting mine.

"Shawn...." she says barely above a whisper, the sound coming from her throat dry and grumbly.

"Yes my love it's me" I smile warmly as our eyes keep locked on each other. Tears continue to pour out of my eyes, but god I've never seen such a beautiful sight in my life.

"You-...you're n-nnot mmmy Shawn" she speaks against the soreness and harshness of her throat as she coughs, turning pleading eyes to Sinu who immediately gives her a spoon with some ice chips on it.

"What? What do you mean Camila, that's your Shawn mija, he's right here" Sinu says convincingly as she looks at me, concern flashing across her face.

"No" Camila says quietly. "My Shawn doesn't cry like this. He never looks this sad" she speaks again, turning towards me again as she squeezes my hand and interlaces our fingers. A mischievous smirk slowly spreads across her face as she flinches slightly.

"Got ya!" She winks as a small chuckle erupts from her belly.

Wide eyed and horrified, I stand up and bring my lips to her forehead. "You little...." I hum against her warm skin. "You scared the shit out of me amor."

"Payback isn't so fun is it?" She questions as I watch her struggle to lift a brow. "That was cruel" Sinu says as she shakes her head, but laughs slightly as the three of us share in laughter and humor.

"How are you feeling baby?" I finally ask.

"Better now that I've seen your face" she replies. "Where am I even?" She asks, confusion evident across her features.

"You're at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona mija. It's a long story and we have plenty of time to tell you everything, but right now you need to get some rest. The doctors will be back to run some more tests soon" her mother says.

"I probably should go too" I say quietly in defeat. I don't want to move from her side, but she does need to rest and I should update my parents and sister.

I feel her hand wrap around my wrist, stopping me from getting up from the chair. I watch as Sinu leaves the room.

"Stay Shawn, please" she begs with her eyes and her lips. "Please don't leave me again."

My heart plummets, none of today went how any of us would have expected, but she's awake and she's alive and she doesn't want me to leave. The guilt of ever letting her go creeps into my conscience as I sit next to her on the bed and cradle her face in my hands.

"I'll never let you go again baby, I promise. I love you" I whisper between the two of us.

"I love you too" she says clear as day as she puckers her lips slightly, trying to lean forward off the bed. I stop her, leaning down to meet her the rest of the way and for the first time in what feels like forever, our lips meet. Her's dry and chapped against mine soft and smooth, kissing gently as we take each other in. I feel wetness against my cheeks as I realize we are both crying. The kiss overwhelming us both as I taste the saltiness between our lips. "God I missed this" I say against her lips as we break apart. "I missed it too" she whimpers as she gently cups my face with her hands and brings our lips together again.

The rest of the night between tears, more tests and visits from our friends and family; Camila lays wrapped in my arms as I grip her protectively. I'm never letting her out of my sight again; she can lay in my arms forever.

Because now, we can have a forever. We've both been given a second chance at life and it's time to make the most of it.