Call me England Dixon

Chapter 2: Hope...

(Edited)

3 months earlier...

England's POV:

Pale white skin, fingers cold as ice, breathing sounds raspy as if he had very bad asthma. The sound of the heart monitor beeping reminds me that my father is alive. Doctors say he's in a coma and can hear and feel everything. That one of these days he will just medically wake up, trying to give us faith when worse possible thing just happened...

But judging by the look on their faces, all they're doing is giving us false hope.

I don't know how long I've been here. Sitting in the small sofa chair next to my father's bedside... holding his hand. I haven't slept, ate, or even talked much to anyone that wasn't him or Carl. But how can I? Would you freely do anything knowing your father isn't really here with you? 

I look to my left to see Carl sleeping with his head on my shoulder. Dry tears stained on his cheeks. It breaks my heart to see him so sad and all I want to do is take his pain away, but how could I?  Knowing that I too am feeling the exact same way. I look back at my father to see if there are any changes, but there isn't. There isn't going to be any changes for a while longer and it is something the rest of us have to put up with...who knows how long that will be. 

Glenn has come in from time to time to check on me and on Carl. He's even tried to get me to eat, but I've refused. I don't want to do anything until I see at least a small sign that my father is still here. That my father is still my father and not some object with his face. A sign that tells me he will pull through sooner rather than later... I feel bad for ignoring everyone and causing them to worry about me, but all I want is for my father to be okay.

I know I'm not biologically related to him or Lori, but they've been nothing but kind and loving to me. He saved me when I didn't want to be saved, he brought me into his family when he didn't even know me. Treated me as if I was his own daughter and not some stranger he's stuck with. He's been there for me for years and now it's my turn to do the same.

I'm snapped out of my thoughts when I hear Uncle Shane's "low" voice in the hallway outside the hospital door.

"I don't know anymore, Lori. It's been a week and nothing has changed... I don't think he's going to get better." He sighs.

"So what are you suggesting Shane? You want to give up on him?" My mother says in disbelief. I gently take Carl's head off my shoulder and put it next to my dad's hand on the bed. I make my way to the door.

Shane sighs. "Of course, I don't want to give him up. He's my best friend. But it's-" He sighs again. "It's only a matter of time." I shake my head at him.

"How can you say that?!" I whisper-yell. Trying not to wake up Carl. And They both turn to look at me. "You say he's your best friend and that you don't want to give up on him, but that's exactly what you're doing!" How can he give up? How can he WANT to give up? 

"He has been involved in a terrible incident and hasn't been able to rest these past couple of months. It is obvious that his body is taking the time that it needs to heal so he can rest and become stronger... and you just....you just want to give up? Already? It's only been a week, Shane. For christ sake!" I start to raise my voice. Causing people around us to turn their heads and look at us.

"Look, you need to underst-" I cut him off.

"No, you need to understand that he will pull through. Yes, he might not be showing any signs, and yes he looks like sh*t, but he will pull through. He is the strongest man I know. The strongest man any of us have known!" I feel my throat start to clog up. "You just need to have a little faith, please?" I whisper in defeat at the last part. Shane nods his head and hugs me.