In the spotlight

70

Matteo Rodriguez

The city filled up with life as night was closing in on it. The traffic and headlights on the street changed frequently as cars left or arrived on the streets. Some people were walking alone, walking their pet, or walking together, hands intertwined as I snapped my head away.

I sighed heavily as I caught a glimpse of her. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor broke the silence every once in a while, the whirring of the ventilator filling me with dread.

We were starting our 30th hour. The doctors warned us that she might not react too well to the decrease in her anesthetic they were using to keep her in a coma, but I couldn't help but think about the fact that the 24 hours passed almost half a day ago.

Luckily, mostly without complications. I spent the night by her side, holding her hand throughout, praying for a change in her condition even though I knew damn well that as long as she is sedated, that won't happen.

She was no longer now, and still, nothing happened. The stress was starting to become unbearable, mixing with the sleep deprivation, and the general mood of the ward was starting to feel like too much. But I couldn't leave her. Any moment now...

Long black waves entering my vision dragged me back to the ground from between my thoughts as I snapped my head towards the person. Adriana stood in front of me, holding a sandwich wrapped in thin foil.

She arrived yesterday, exactly three hours after she said that she would. She was the first person to show up, helping me notify her close family when I was in no state of thinking about that, let alone actually talking to them.

I was exceptionally grateful for all help, but right now I wasn't in the mood for a conversation.

"I'm not hungry." I shook my head nonchalantly.

"I wasn't asking." She didn't budge. I looked up at her, her dark eyes ordering me to take care of myself, but I felt too weak to even consider it. I shook my head again.

"In what way are you helping Sofia by starving yourself?" She asked, colder than ever. Her words struck me like a thunderstrike, making my blood boil. Other family in the room looked up as they heard our conversation.

Her parents, sitting on the two sides of the bed beside her, looked at me as well. Her mother turned her attention back towards her girl quickly, brushing through her hair with tears in her eyes.

They arrived a little after Adriana, during the middle of the night. Memories of their first entrance flooded my mind. I don't think I will ever forget the sight of her mother breaking down in tears as she glanced down on her daughter, hooked up to a ventilator while completely unconscious.

"It's been a day, Matteo. Maybe you should take a break, go home..." She was about to continue when I stood up angrily.

"There is no way in hell that I will leave this hospital without her." I pointed towards the bed. "I don't care if it's been a day, a week, or a fucking month." I gritted my teeth, but I regretted my words instantly. She didn't deserve this behaviour from me.

"I'm sorry," I apologized instantly. Adriana didn't seem fazed by the recent events at all.

"I cannot leave now..." I sighed as I felt another surge of emotions rushing through me. "I shouldn't have left her at all..." I took a deep breath and exhaled, quickly wiping away the tears forming in my eyes. I have to be strong now; she can wake up at any time.

"You cannot be with her for every waking second of the day, Matteo." I snapped my head towards Adriana. "We thought we were together 24/7 in New York. And she still got caught by him." Her face darkened as she turned her head towards the bed and sighed.