Second Chances

Chapter 55

Once Fi had settled, Leon and I left the hospital, with Everett staying behind with Fi. The drive home from the hospital had been peaceful. The roads were devoid of any vehicles as ours travelled the lonely journey back home. Streetlights and the beams from our headlights guided our way as the day slunk away, the sun dipping behind the buildings and the black of the night bleeding down the sky away from the sinking pinks and oranges like ink running down paper. The radio singing its tunes at a beautifully low volume and the gentle hum of the engine were the only sounds infiltrating the tranquil atmosphere.

It was pitch black by the time we arrived home, the clouds had quickly become pregnant with rain and the darkness was increasing the speed of which my tiredness was overcoming me. I'd barely slept all week and now that I knew Fi was awake, it was catching up to me faster than a junkie on their way to get their next fix and I found myself looking forward to blissful sleep to carry me away into the night as I fought to keep my eyes open.

The cushions of Leons plush sofa bounced underneath me as I plonked myself down next to him with a sigh. My body felt heavy with the stress of the week that had just been consumed by endless worry and lack of sleep. I laid my legs atop of Leons and rested my head against his shoulder as he wrapped an arm around me, pulling me in closer. Being next to him was my happy place, where I felt the most relaxed. And whilst I felt some of the stress slowly melt away from me, there was still residue of it left over.

Fi was awake. Fi was OK. But it seemed that at the moment it was only obstacle after obstacle, and now we had to work to get Fi's memory back. Never in my life had I heard of this PTA and it seemed like the Dr was only making it up, until I did some research on the way home and discovered that it was in fact real, and was incredibly common for those who had just woken from a coma. The health website stated that it could take minutes, hours, even weeks or months in worst case scenarios. There was a glimmer of hope as the article stated it would eventually pass and she'll remember again. Once we were outside of her room, the doctor had said that in Fi's case, her memory is likely to be returned sooner rather than later due to how stable she was out of her coma, meaning that the head injury she sustained hadn't been too severe, and therefore we shouldn't be too worried about it. To say we all felt relieved would be putting it mildly.

"She'll be okay, you know." Leons voice was quiet and reassuring as he stroked the hair from my face, sensing me getting lost in my own head as I mentally recapped today's events. I nodded in agreement as I snuggled in closer to him with a sigh. I knew she would be. Of course she would be. There wasn't really any reason to be concerned anymore and knowing how stubborn Fi is, there was no way she'd go longer than the end of the week to get her memories back - especially now her little one was in the world waiting to meet her.

We sat in silence with Leon stroking my hair, occasionally giving me a peck on my head and I began to let the bottomless chasm of sleep begin to wave over me. It was comforting being in his big arms. I felt safe and calm with my ear pressed against his chest, the rhythmic drumming of his heart a lullaby aiding me to sleep.

"Thank you for telling me by the way," Leons voice quiet above my head, slightly stirring me from my dazed, confused state. "About your conceiving situation." Now fully awake and immediately no longer confused, my eyes magically cured of tiredness as they now focussed on the dark silhouettes of Leons lounge furniture. In my joy at Fi waking up, I'd somehow forgotten my own important news that I'd finally divulged. Too scared to move, I sat still as I quietly listened to what he had to say next.

"I know it must've been difficult for you to tell me, and I appreciate that you did. But it doesn't change how I feel about you. I love you and if it means spending a life childless, or you warm to the idea of adoption, then so be it. As long as I've got you, my life is complete." I began to sniff as tears began to well in my eyes; a silent partner in the act of crying. Spending my life with him was something that I wanted, and as much as I also wanted a child, there was a strong likelihood it wouldn't happen. And if children were something Leon was desperate for, then I wouldn't blame him for taking this as an opportunity to walk away. But with him saying he wanted to stay with me and go through life like this, the last thing I'd ever want was for him to feel chained to me because he had made a promise to stay by me, regardless if he changes his mind down the line.