Back To You

Dear Hope, Please Stay

"Right now I just feel so useless."Adam said to Barbara's cousin Charlotte that night over the phone. He wound the phone cord around one of his fingers to ease his nerves. Charlotte, known to her family and friends as Chuck, was a pie maker in the next town over. Always ready to help at the drop of a hat, Adam felt like he needed to hear her voice."You're doing all that you can."Chuck replied in her usual, reassuring tone."Know that Adam. Sometimes all that you can do is the best that you can do."Adam dug his nails into the receiver to push back tears."What if she never wakes up Chuck?"He asked. There was silence for a moment. Adam could picture his cousin-in-law jumping to her feet, dress bouncing against her legs as she took action."Hey, hey, hey! Don't you dare think like that, you hear me?"She said."What do you think Barbara would want for you?"Adam thought for a moment as his gaze went to his and Barbara's engagement photograph. The old poloroid shot, guarded by glass and a golden frame, sat above the living room fire place. In it, his wife was smiling, leaning her head upon his shoulder as he rested his chin atop her head.
-Flashback-
"Gosh the dipper is bright tonight!"Barbara remarked. She and Adam were resting on a picnic blanket in Charleston Park. Barbara was facing upwards while Adam was claiming downwards. Adam responded to Barbara's remark with a soft laugh as he admired the glittering array of stars. As he eyed them, the urge to unmask the reason for the journey to the park tugged at his heart. Is it too early? He wondered, turning his head towards Barbara. She had no idea that the park visit was masquerading an engagement date. As far as she knew, she was just spending time with her boyfriend. Is two hours into the date too fast? He thought. He returned his gaze to the big dipper and then back to Barbara. I guess not. He decided. He pinched her elbow playfully. She turned her head towards him, her bright smile infecting her features with dimples."Enjoying the veiw?"She asked."Maybe."Adam mused. Gently, he took both of her hands into his own."Barb, Honey, I don't have much to offer you. All I can offer is my heart."He told her. Barbara kissed the bridge of his nose and smiled."Would I settle for anything else?"She asked."Barbara, will you marry me?"Adam smiled. Barbara teared up as she brought the bridge of her nose to touch the bridge of his."Yes!"She laughed."Yes!"
-Present-
"She would want me to hope."Adam replied finally."Exactly."Chuck replied, Adam could hear the hint of an encouraging smile in her voice."Ned and I will come and visit as soon as we can. Get some rest, sending you and Barb lots of cousin love."Adam couldn't help but smile."Love you too Chuck."He replied, placing the phone down. Afterwards, he went upstairs and flung himself down upon his and Barbara's bed. He reached for the floral blanket that she had stitched for him for his last birthday and tightened it around himself. The emptiness, the absence of her smile, the cold spot that had replaced her form on the other side of the bed . . . each detail dug into his heart like a merciless dagger.
***
"Welcome back Mr. Maitland."Job greeted him as he stepped into St. Mark's. Adam, clutching a sheet of paper in one hand, half-smiled in return."How is she Job?"He asked. Job placed a hand on his shoulder."She's peaceful, which is a good sign."He replied. He dropped his hand and guided Adam down the long hallway again. This time, Adam opened the door. Barbara was still being held captive by the demon of unconsciousness. Adam entered the room, took one of the hospital chairs, and sat by her bedside. Behind him, he heard Job shut the door gently. He took Barbara's hand into his free one and gently caressed her fingers with his thumb."It's me again Honey."He said."I, uh . . ."He wiped his eyes and cleared his throat."I wrote you a poem."He finished. He placed her hand back on the bed and opened up the sheet of paper;

"My star in the night sky shining bright,
Know that I love you and in my heart I will always hold you tight.

Sweet star, please hold on till the morning light,
Continue to fight, sweet star through this dark night."

He swallowed oncoming tears and gripped her hand again."I love you so much Honey."He whispered. Softly, he sang:

"You're the only girl I'll ever love.
And I'd do anything not to give you up.
If I could only stop the world, when you're standing by my side . . .
See, I'm having the time of my life.
Yes, I'm having the time of my life."

He stood, placed the piece of paper upon the chair, and found a space within the hospital bed. He rested his head beside his wife's and kissed the tip of her nose. So, so, much! He thought.
***
"Adam?"A gentle voice brought Adam out of sleep. When he opened his eyes he met the sympathetic gaze of Chuck. She was armed with a bouquet of pink daisies and her usual warm expression."Hey."She said."Hey yourself."Adam replied as she found a space for the daisies on the table beside Barbara's bed. Adam moaned as he pushed himself up."You're an ace at hanging in there, you know that?"Chuck said as she guided him from the bed. Adam gave a short laugh."Really? I feel like hell."He replied."Yeah, well I don't blame you."Chuck sighed as she drew him into a tight hug. The click of Barbara's door announced the entrance of not just Ned, but also of family friends Olive and Emerson."They threatened to remove the motor of mine and Ned's car if we didn't let them come."Chuck whispered. Adam heard the glint of amusement in her voice. Olive, armed with shopping bags, stepped forward."Not to worry fellow family members, I came prepared!"She announced. Emerson cast her a side glance."Yeah, a little too prepared."He said. Olive glared up at him."And what's that supposed to mean?"She asked."A woman's friend is in the hospital and she can't spoil her is that what you're saying?"Well, Miss Snook you might have overdone it-"Emerson began. Olive waved his remark away with a flick of her hand."Oh don't you 'Miss Snook' me, I haven't overdone anything trust me."She said, placing her bags behind the door. Chuck freed Adam so that Olive could embrace him."I'm so sorry about this Adam."She said. Adam gave her a grateful squeeze. Olive left his arms and looked at Barbara."What did Doctor Job say?"She asked."That she was peaceful."Adam replied."They're doing all that they can."Olive placed a kiss on her hand and transferred it to Barbara's forehead."You poor dear."She sighed. Adam turned to Ned and lifted his hand in a friendly wave. Ned smiled sympathetically back and returned the gesture. Adam turned to Emerson, who took his hand and brought him into another tight hug."We've got your back man."He said."Thanks Emerson."Adam replied with a tearful sigh. Olive retreated to one of her bags and drew out a blue yarn blanket."Hospital blankets are so thin when you think about it."She said as she unfolded it and carried it towards Barbara. Carefully, she spread it over the unconsious woman. Then she journeyed to her bags again and brought out a large pillow with a bee pattern stitched into it."And so are hospital pillows."She remarked. She looked at Chuck."Chuck be a dear and lift Barbara's head."She said. Carefully, Chuck did so, sliding the thin hospital pillows out from beneath Barbara's head. Slowly, Olive replaced them with the bee-patterned pillow. Chuck gently lowered Barbara's head."Do they have an estimation as to when she'll wake up?"Ned asked. Adam drew a tired hand over his face and shook his head."No, all Job could tell me was a while."He replied. He turned to eye his wife again."The only things that I feel that I can do now are just sit with her and . . ."He paused and blinked back tears."Silently beg her to come back to you?"Ned finished; Adam nodded. Chuck came over to him and wrapped his hand in a comforting hold."Barbara will wake up."She assured him."Don't you lose hope for one second, okay?"