It's You...

Chapter 24.

I walk in the ward and there she is--- lying straight on the bed--- eyes closed and exhausted, but looks so very much lively. These past few days, she was just a living dead person, that would break me from within everytime I saw her. And now, I see my Jen living her life again. Coming back into my life again. I can't stop my tears anymore--- they just roll down my face, along with a feeling of an achievement. And yes, fear too. I nearly thought that I lost her.

I realise that I'm still standing at the door. I shut the door behind me, wipe my tears with the barrel cuffs of my shirt and slowly--- without making a sound I walk towards her. Jen slowly opens her eyes and I go and sit besides her on the bed. She gazes at me with those sunken and rheumy eyes, those lips which had a beautiful shade of pink--- have gone pale, her hairs have lost its gloss and fluff--- oh! I loved that so much. This sickness ate her alive. But she's still my beautiful girl.

"Hi," I say. Her lips forms a curve, and that lits up her whole face.

That's what was missing--- a smile. Her hand reaches for mine--- I take it and hold her hand gingerly.

With a soft and low voice, she asks me, "Where were you?" It's more like a whisper to hear.

"I...I was..." I pause, inhale deep and continue, "I got out of here. Yesterday, the doctors said that you're not responding to the treatment--- so I lost it. And then, I kinda had a premonition--- that today you might...." I leave my sentence incomplete, because my throat tightens and I can't speak anymore. I couldn't help--- but a tear spills out of my eye. I don't want her to see me like this, so I keep my head bowed as much as I can. But she sees me.

"Hey! No!" Her fingers caresses my jaw and I look up. She shakes her head slowly.

I kiss her fingers. "I was so scared. I thought....I thought I lost you forever," my voice cracks and my tears won't stop.

She removes her nasal ventilator and manages to get up and sit. She then, wipes my tears and puts her arm around my neck. I grab her as soon as she came in for a hug and buried my face in her neck, suppressing my cry and taking in her warmth. I yearned for her touch, her embrace.

"I was scared, too--- I didn't wanted to go either," she sniffles--- her voice quavers.

"Everything's fine. You're fine now," I whisper and kiss her cheek. She pulls out--- her fingers play with my hairs.

She wipes my eyes drenched with tears and smiles. "Happy Birthday," she says.

"You knew?"

"Hmm... I also have a gift for you. But it's not with me right now."

"You know, you didn't have to. And infact, I've already got what I wanted."

She furrows her brows and is bemused. "You coming back to me--- is the biggest gift of all," I tell her. "This is surely my best birthday." I kiss her hand.

And after days, I see Jen smiling with her eyes. I missed that so much. I love seeing my girl like this.

"What have you done to yourself?" Jen mutters, rubbing her hand on my beard. "You need to shave. You look like a man ran away from the jungle." She giggles. I chuckle too.

She lies back on the bed. I stand up and tell her, "you need to take some rest. You're not completely healed, okay?"

She grabs my hand and says, "No! Don't make me sleep again. I'm tired of it. All this time I was only sleeping. I had enough now." She pulls my hand. "Please stay her and talk to me."

How can I say no to her, now? I sit back again on the foot of the bed. "Christian said, that you yelled at the doctors," she says.

"Hmm.... Yeah. I don't know what got into me? I just..." I shake my head as my mind replays everything I did yesterday. It was so bizzare of me.