band-aids don't fix bullet holes

{76} daylight

Travis' POV:

Several weeks passed and I never left Taylor's side, except for some occasional showers, to help Andrea out with Hailey, or to get something to eat, in the rare moments I actually felt hungry, though always making sure not to be spotted by any paparazzi when entering or exiting the building, since the internet has gone crazy, trying to find answers as to why the tour was canceled and why the popstar hasn't been seen in a while.

I even spent my 34th birthday in the hospital, ignoring everyone who tried to reach out to congratulate me, focusing on the singer only, constantly praying for her to just open her eyes.
Nothing has changed though, not since they induced the coma. No signs of recovery, no signs of life. It has been slowly wrecking me, eating up every last piece of hope and strength. October has turned into November, Fall into Winter, the first snowflakes softly falling, covering the city a heavy white.

"You love her, don't you?" Andrea's voice suddenly chimes from behind, forcing me to take my eyes off Taylor. I didn't even hear her come in while I was sitting in that same chair as every day, simply staring at the unconscious woman.

"What?" I blink in confusion.

"You love her...I can tell. I've watched you sit by her bedside for almost six weeks now and the way you look at her...friends don't look at each other like that." Andrea reveals, a soft smile tugging at her lips, before she sits down on the chair next to me, greeting her daughter with a slight squeeze of her hand.

I still remember the moment she found out about Taylor being in a coma. She collapsed to the floor, painful screams echoed through the room.
But she has adjusted to the situation, just like all of us, trying to stay strong, despite the given circumstances.

Now I feel caught, immediately trying to find a decent answer.

"I-I-..." A stutter comes out and the elderly woman instantly places a reassuring hand on my leg.

"It's okay, Travis." She says. "You showed up, you saved her, you sit by her side day and night...you have my blessing. I just hope you can show her what love is really supposed to feel like."

"I'll try my best." I answer a little taken by surprise but also relieved by Andrea's words. "Do you want some alone time with her?" I offer, taking in all of Taylor's features once again. I don't know how many times I've traced them in the passed weeks.

"No, it's okay." The woman shakes her head. "Actually I thought about letting Hailey come to visit..."

"Do you think that's a good idea?" I question, referring to the age of the little girl. She's not even two.

"We won't find out if we don't try." She shrugs. "I'm sure it'll be confusing for her. She won't understand any of it but Tree has made sure this room is a safe place. She has positioned security guards all around the hospital, one right at the door of this room. Hailey deserves to see her mother.
Plus I think it might be good for Tay, hearing her daughter's voice..."

"Let's try it then." I agree a little hesitant before Andrea pulls out her phone to call Eliza, asking if she could bring the girl over.

About half an hour later the babysitter enters the door, handing Hailey over to us, but quickly excusing herself to get some grocery shopping done.

"Grama!" The toddler squeals once she is in Andrea's arms, then reaching out for me. "Travyyyy!" She stretches the 'y' the way she always does when she calls out my name and it's freaking adorable. The two of us have grown quite fond of each other in the last weeks, though the child kept asking about her mother almost every hour of every day.

"Look over here, Hailey." I mumble and point to Taylor. When her eyes follow my finger, finally spotting Taylor, she lets out a squeak of excitement, climbing off my lap and onto the bed, right on top of her mother.