To Hold Tight or to Let Go

Chapter Nineteen

The constant beeping next to his ear stirred Kongpob from his sleep. He groaned and reached over, trying to snuggle with Arthit so he could get back to sleep but the bed next to him was cold. Kongpob's eyes flipped opened immediately. He was greeted by a dark room filled with hospital equipment. Then it all came back to him. The hospital. Arthit.

Kongpob pushed away the sheets. He was only wearing his underwear and his shirt so someone must have undressed him so he felt comfortable while resting. He grabbed his clothes and dressed quickly then hurried out of the room. He recognized this floor of the hospital, it being filled with the private rooms and suites where the elites and high profiled people came for treatment.

"Baby boy," Kaiya rushed from the counter where she was speaking with one of the nurses. She came to Kongpob and hugged him tightly. "I was worried about you."

"I need to see P'Arthit," Kongpob said immediately.

"Kongpob..."

"Please mae," Kongpob whispered, already feeling more tears. "Just let me sit with his body. I'll be okay. I just need more time with him."

"Baby boy—"

"This can't be it. I haven't even kissed him goodbye." Kongpob grabbed onto his mother's arms. "Please let me go see his body. I just want to kiss him goodbye."

Kaiya smiled sadly and took Kongpob's hands from her arms. She held his hands in hers and slowly guided him down the hall. They turned down another hall and Kongpob steeled himself for what he would see. He thought his mother would bring him further down to hall to the darkened doorway that lead to the mortuary but she stopped in front of one of the rooms and pointed through the window. Kongpob turned and looked. His heart faltered slightly when he saw Arthit laying in the hospital bed, hooked up to machines and a ventilator. Kongpob gasped and hurried into the room, not believing what he was seeing.

"P," he whispered. His legs gave out and he fell to the floor, unable to keep himself upright. He crawled towards the bed, crying softy until he reached the side of the bed. Arthit's hand lay motionless on top of the sheet. Kongpob reached out for it and when he touched Arthit's soft skin, he began sobbing loudly. Arthit's hand wasn't cold as it was from before. It was warm.

Kongpob lifted himself from the ground and clasped Arthit's hand, kissing his knuckles over and over.

"He hasn't left me mae," Kongpob whispered, looking at his mother by the door.

Kaiya fought not to cry seeing how emotional her son was. "They never stopped working on him when he was brought in. He must have not wanted to leave us because he gave us a heartbeat. Just one and the doctors latched on and didn't let him go."

"I'll wait right here until he wakes up. How long has he been asleep?" Kongpob pushed Arthit's bangs from his eyes.

"He's not waking up anytime soon son," Kaiya said. "He's in a coma."

"No," Kongpob breathed feeling crushed again.

"It's better than what could have been Kongpob. Give him time. Then let's see if he really wants to come back to us or not," Kaiya said. Kongpob nodded and just stayed where he was, holding Arthit's hand. His mother brought him a chair and let Kongpob sit at Arthit's side. If it were Kerrkalai in this situation, no one could pull her away from her husband's side, so she didn't try to talk Kongpob out of it. Instead, she made sure Kongpob was comfortable, giving him a blanket and a pillow so he could rest his head on the bed comfortably as he held Arthit's hand.

She went to the other side of the bed and she leaned down and pressed a kiss to Arthit's warm cheek.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I'll never abandon you again." She squeezed his hand then gazed at Kongpob who was already falling asleep at Arthit's side.