REMINISCENT

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR: All About Remembering (FINAL EDIT)

Ashley's POV
I had driven all the way to the outskirts of the city. Now, I sat on a rock just a few feet away from the edge of a cliff.
My eyes are stung, swollen from hours of crying, and a dull headache throbbed against my temples. I'm playing my life out in my head.

Start of flashback
"Hey, babe..." I whispered as I slipped into the chair beside him. His stillness always cut through me, but today I tried to smile. "It's nice out today. You moved again yesterday—I wonder if you'll move today."

I tore open a packet of jelly beans, picking out the red ones. "I know you like the red ones. Here," I said softly, placing them in his palm, as if he could still curl his fingers around them.

The rest I ate in silence, watching him, trying to memorize the curve of his lips, the lines of his face, the rhythm of his shallow breaths. When the packet was empty, I stood. "I'm going to get some water, okay?" I paused, as though waiting for him to answer me, then laughed quietly at myself. Leaning down, I kissed his lips gently, then left the room.

On my way back, I greeted a few familiar nurses, forcing myself to smile. I slipped back into his room and claimed my spot again, downing the water in one long sip.

"I promised you I wouldn't cry today," I murmured, brushing his hand with mine. "You hated when I cried..."

I stood, threading my fingers through his thick hair, letting them linger there. "Hmm. Looks like it's grown again." I smiled, but when I lowered my eyes from his hair, my breath caught in my throat.

His eyes were open.

At first I froze, thinking it was one of those involuntary moments the doctors had warned me about. But then—he blinked. Once, twice, adjusting to the light. A low, raw grunt escaped his throat.

My heart spiked, my voice locked in my chest. He's awake.

He grunted again, his head shifting like every movement caused him pain. I stumbled back, my hands trembling.

"He's awake!" I screamed, the words tearing out of me. "He's awake!!" I ran from the room, tears streaming, my voice cracking as I shouted for help. "Someone, please—he's awake!"

Just then, his dad walked in carrying food. The trays fell to the ground with a loud crash as he bolted past me. Nurses rushed by, pushing through the door, and before I could follow, a firm hand caught me.

"Let me go!" I thrashed, sobbing. "I want to see him!"

"Calm down—we have to observe and do tests," the nurse said firmly, dragging me back. His dad was also pulled out into the hallway, pacing frantically.

Minutes crawled like hours. His mom arrived, breathless from physiotherapy, her face crumpling as she heard the news. We waited together, silent, each of us clutching to hope like it was oxygen.

Finally, nurses began filtering out, and the doctor stepped forward. "We've run all the tests. It's a miracle—he's awake. After all the surgeries to stop the internal bleeding and the swelling of his brain, he's responsive. But..." the doctor's tone softened, "he refuses to speak so far. It's best he sees you both. It might help."

They nodded, tears already streaming down their faces.

I hesitated, hanging back, too scared of how he might look at me. I wiped my face furiously, hoping my red eyes weren't too obvious.

"Mom... Dad?" His voice was raspy, barely audible, but it shattered something inside me.

Both of them exhaled in relief, rushing to his bedside, hugging him carefully.