The Daughter Extraction

1 Year Later

•LUNA•
 

Students spilled out onto the campus grounds, hurrying to take cover from the light, drizzling April rain that never fails to greet us every day.
 
I hurriedly walked towards my car parked in the campus parking lot while rummaging through my bag at the same time for my car keys.
 
Once I grabbed it, I quickly unlocked the car and got in just in time. The rain started to fall heavily on my vehicle, almost creating a waterfall to drizzle down my windshield. 
 
The plitter platter sound filled the car, and I took a moment to rest for a while. I was almost done with the first semester of my first year in college, yet it feels like I've been trying to get through this for years.
 
This was the beginning of bringing back some form of normalcy in my life, and the process was slow, but still, it was progress on my part.
 
I pulled my blazer off and threw it over the passenger seat before starting the car. I left school and went straight to my favorite flower shop to pick up my order that I made this morning.
 
This is still visiting hours, so I'll still be able to make it on time.
 
Twenty minutes later, I arrived at Florence, the flower shop, and I quickly left the car and walked inside to get my order. It was a lovely bouquet of white roses with a little note tucked on the side.
 
I've been doing this almost every fortnight, hoping he'd someday read the note I always write to him along with the flowers. After picking up the bouquet, I jumped back in my car and drove to the hospital.
 
After everything that happened, Alec had been admitted to the hospital, and he was in a critical condition because of that gunshot wound. The doctor had informed us that he was in a coma, and he has been in one for a year now.
 
I may have moved on with my life, but a part of me will always be stuck with the memories of those days in Mexico. Memories with Alec. Despite people telling me to move on with my life and forget about what happened, I still find myself coming back here every day.
 
I was tied to Alec now in a way that nobody can ever come in between that. For fuck's sake, I even owe him my life for saving me at the bridge and taking a bullet for me. 
 
If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't have been in the hospital right now, stuck in a vegetative state.
 
But every moment I spend by his side makes my love for him grow stronger. I kept wishing that someday he'd wake up and I'd be able to express how I feel about him. 
 
I spent more time by his hospital bed than I spent with anyone else in my entire life. Not even my own father, who always attempts to spend some quality time with his daughter now that she has returned home safely.
 
The past was past, and the damage had already been done. 
 
He didn't win the election, and he's trying to get over it by trying to spend more time with me. But it's already too late. None of this wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for him. 
 
But I'm actually glad that it did, because if it hadn't, I wouldn't have met Alec. 
 
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped out. I immediately spotted Martin and another guy standing outside Alec's room, and they both looked up when they saw me.
 
Martin and I have surprisingly gotten along these past few days. He was a close friend of Alec, and I'm beginning to consider him the same for me too. He's always so welcoming whenever I come around to see Alec.
 
Unlike the broody blonde with a pretty face
 
"Hey you." Martin greeted with a hug.
 
"Hi Martin." We hugged for a short while, and he pulled away and smiled while eyeing the bouquet in my arm.
 
"Wow, another one?" 
 
I chuckled while glancing at the roses.
 
"I can't help it."
 
"You know, your flowers have almost filled up the entire room. Not that we mind or anything; they smell really nice, by the way. But the nurses are running out of vases, you know."
 
I laughed and glanced towards the front desk down the hallway, where the nurses were attending to their duties.
 
"This is the last one, I promise." 
 
Martin chuckled and looked towards the guy standing by his side.
 
"Uh, Luna, this is Agent Simpson. He'll be working the night hours tonight to keep an eye on Alec." 
 
"Nice to meet you." Agent Simpson said, and we shook hands.
 
"Blair is inside, so go on in." Martin said, and my heart suddenly dropped.
 
Unlike my progressive relationship with Martin, Blair and I have nothing in common, and she never fails to show her great dislike for me. 
 
I don't even know what her problem is, and I try my best to avoid crossing paths with her, but it's so hard when she's always there whenever I visit Alec.
 
I walked towards the door and exhaled a sigh before going in. Blair was standing by his bedside, adjusting the pillows under his head. She spared a glance my way, and I saw how her face completely changed.
 
"You're here." She said aloud. "Again." 
 
I plastered a tight-lipped smile on my face before walking towards Alec's other side and placing the bouquet on top of his bedside table.
 
"How's he doing?" I asked her while looking down at Alec.
 
"Well, according to the doctor, he's totally fine. He's been responding fast to the medication they're giving him, which means that's a good sign."
 
I smiled upon hearing the news and gently ran my fingers through his hair. They have grown a little longer, and he has also developed a five-o'clock shadow on his face. 
 
"How's school?" Blair asked, and I looked up at her in surprise.
 
"Good." 
 
"Sure, there's nothing else regarding that for you to do at home? You don't have to come see him every day. Martin and I are here too, and we'll take care of him." 
 
My smile slowly faded away after picking up the tone in her voice.
 
"I know. You're his friends, and I appreciate that. But I'm here because I want to, and there will be nothing getting in the way of that." 
 
She slightly raised her brows at me, and we just stared at each other. After a long minute, her face suddenly softened, and she rounded the bed to come to my side.
 
"I'll get a vase for your flowers. Just like with the rest of them." She said, and I couldn't help but smile.
 
She took the bouquet and left the room, finally giving me and Alec some alone time together. I pulled the chair closer to his side and sat down while holding his hand around mine.
 
Tears pricked the back of my eyes, and I held his hand closer to my lips and kissed them while looking at his face.
 
"Please wake up soon, Alec. I missed you. You have to wake up." The words left my mouth in a strangled voice.
 
A teardrop slipped away and rolled my face. I tightened my hand around his, and my lips started to wobble before the next unexpected words escaped from them.
 
"I love you."