Turning Tables

Atonement

A/N:

"It wasn't only wickedness and scheming that made people unhappy, it was confusion and misunderstanding; above all, it was the failure to grasp the simple truth that other people are as real as you." ― Ian McEwan

***

I read countless articles about people who fall into a coma.

Some of them wake up.

Then there are those who don't.

***

When I called Angel to summon a nurse, they rushed to the room with lightning speed.

In their haste to check on Jade, they didn't even notice my presence.

Everything was a blur as I witnessed the flurry of activities in front of me.

As the doctor checked Jade's response, I stood on the side watching.

I wondered if they even noticed the half-empty bottle of Dom Perignon or asked themselves why someone else was in the room when Jade woke up.

I was invisible to them and that's okay.

***

After I saw Jade moving her fingers, she slowly opened her eyes and looked right at me.

"Jade," I held her face in between my hands.

"It's me Althea," I said to her.

She didn't respond and I thought she was going to relapse.

But she moved her head to acknowledge the sound of my voice.

A wave of mixed emotions took hold of me.

I was crying and laughing at the same time.

When the nurses came into the room, I stepped aside to let them do their job.

Jade, my Jade, has finally awoken.

I looked up and whispered thank you to whoever listened to my prayer.

It was the best birthday gift I could hope for.

***

Angel told me we should leave before Jade's family gets to the hospital but I told her I'd stay.

She gave me a puzzled look.

"I'm ready to face them," I told her.

She nodded her head in understanding.

Before she left, she told me how happy she was.

"I'm proud of you, Althea."

"I'm sure Jade will feel the same way once she learned what you've done."

She tipped her imaginary hat and turned around to leave.

"Angel," I called after her.

"What is it this time?" she feigned annoyance.

"Thank you," I said to her and the detective winked at me.

***

I sat in the waiting area and watched as the nurses went in and out of Jade's room.

I overheard one of them said it was a miracle Jade woke up.

"There is a God," was the reply of the other nurse.

My attention was caught by the arrival of Oscar and Amanda.

From afar, I saw Oscar's expression changed from joy to contempt.