Finding Serena

I Won't Lose, I Can't

  "Excuse me, miss."
I wake up.
"Oh hi."
A nurse is kneel on the ground in front of me.
"Are you alright?"
"Ya. My boyfriend is in there."
"Oh. My boyfriend went in the hospital once too. I know how you feel."
"Really?"
"Ya. And wanna know the coolest part? Me and my boyfriend are married now."
"I hope that happens to me and Derek. I mean, we've know each other forever."
"Well if you wanna go in and see him you can."
"Really?"
"Ya, he isn't awake yet though."
"When will he be?"
"We aren't sure."
"Okay."
I take off my long pants leaving myself just in my shorts, my tee, and my sneakers. I put the pants in my bag and walk in the room. I shut the door. He's asleep. He's so cute when he's sleeping. I sit in the chair and hold his hand.
"Hi."
No response.
"I was so scared. I still am. Don't you dare leave me, Derek. I won't lose you, I can't lose you. Your my best friend, and my boyfriend. I wanna be with you forever. Don't go. I love you."
I hope he understands. I feel like I'm in the book "If I Stay" and I'm the boyfriend.
The doctors come in and feed him through a tube. They give me some food as well and I eat it.
Night comes and I try to fall asleep but I can't. At about one I finally fall asleep.
I'm woken up by movement. I was excited because I thought is was Derek but then I realized it was just the doctors.
I left the room for a half an hour to eat lunch at the hospital cafeteria with April and James. They came back to the room with me after for twenty minutes until they left.
The doctors fed him again and the gave me more food. Hospital food is gross.
I climb onto the bed next to Derek. I put my right arm on his chest and my right leg on his.
Twenty minutes go by and I can't fall asleep.
"You know I never liked that outfit on you."
I sat up.
"Derek! Your awake!"
"Hi."
I kiss him. He wraps his arms around me.
"Oh my God. I was so scared."
"Of what?"
"Of losing you. You mean everything to me, Derek."
"You mean everything to me. So how exactly did I get into a coma?"
"Football accident."
"Your so cold."
"Your not exactly warm yourself."
"Still your wearing shorts."
"I'm fine, Derek. Don't worry about me. I should tell the doctors your awake. I'll be right back."
"Okay. I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too."
I walk down the hallway without any shoes on. The floor is cold against my skin. I see Derek's doctor and run up to him.
"Doctor Charleston!"
"Yes, Serena?"
"He's awake."
He gets up and we walk down the hall together. We walk into the room and Derek is asleep.
"He was just awake I promise."
"I believe you."
"You do?"
"Just the look on your face was enough to make me believe. Wake him up."
"Okay."
I lay down next to him just as I was before.
"Derek. Wake up."
He wakes up.
"You're back. I thought you were gonna be gone for a lot longer."
"No. This is Dr. Charleston."
"Hi Doctor."
"Hi Derek. Um I need to tell you something."
I sit up.
"Okay talk to me."
"Well Derek. Your injury was so severe that we don't think you'll be out of the hospital for a long time."
"Okay. How long?"
"About a month."
"Not as long as you made it seem so I'm glad about that."
"Ya...and this probably won't happen, but you might not be able to walk ever again. It is highly unlikely though."
"Okay. Is that all?"
"Yes. I have to leave now. Good day."
The doctor left the room without another word and I burst out crying.
"What's wrong?" Derek asks me with so much thought that it hurts.
"What do you mean what's wrong'" I stand and look at him, "You're not even the slightest bit concerned that you might never be able to walk again."
"They said it was highly unlikely."
"Okay. Okay.."
"Come here." He patted his lap. I put one leg on either side of him and sat looking at him.
"Does this hurt, do you want me to move."
"Serena, you barely weigh two pounds."
"Whatever." I smile.
He laughs.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing. I just love to see you happy."
I lay down with my head on his chest.
"Your wearing the necklace that I gave you."
"It's given me hope."
"I knew it would come in handy someday."
We both giggle.
"I love you, Serena."
"I love you too, Derek."
We kiss and fall asleep.

I wake up to feel a shake. There is no one in the room except for Derek and myself. He is still asleep.
"Derek wake up! Derek!"
He wakes up with a start.
"What? Are you okay?"
"I think that there's an earthquake or hurricane or something, I don't know I'm scared."
"Don't worry come on let's go get someone."
"Are you supposed to get up?"
"I don't care if I'm not supposed to, I'm gonna protect you."
He stands up with ease.
"Ha! And they said I might never walk. Please."
"Not the time, Derek."
"Right. Let's go."
I grab my bag and we run out of the room. We run down the hall to the cafeteria where people are panicking and Doctor Charleston is making an announcement on the table.
"Everyone! Settle down! Settle! Please!"
No one stops talking. I tap Doctor Charleston on the arm and he comes down.
"What's wrong?"
"Serena, you're a cheerleader right?"
"Ya."
"You're loud so could you make the announcement?"
"Sure. What is it."
"There's a tornado outside and we want everyone to go down that flight of stairs to the basement. If you can get their attention, you can lead them down."
"I got this."
"Thanks, Serena your a lifesaver."
I climb on top of the table.
"Excuse me! Everyone! Attention!" I yell. No one turns a head in my direction.
Doctor Charleston looks at me.
"It's not gonna work, Serena."
"She's got this, trust me." Derek says.
"Everybody shut up and pay attention to me!" I scream. Everyone looks at me and goes silent.
"Listen, sorry about that but this is an emergency, okay? You are gonna do what I say, and your gonna do it the way I say. There is a tornado out there. Nurses and doctors, if patients are not able to walk, wheel them down those stairs. Now!"
All nurses and doctors go towards the rooms.
"Now as for you." I look out at the people.
"You are going to line up in a single-file line and go down that staircase. Not now! When I say. You're going to go at the same pace as me, no faster, no slower, got it? Follow me. In a line!"
I hop down from the table and the people follow me. Derek and Doctor Charleston take the back of the very long line.
I start heading down the staircase not at a run but a quick walk. The people follow at the same pace. The nurses and doctors with patients that can't walk are already in there. I go into a corner and sit as people keep filing down. A young girl approaches me.
"Excuse me."
I look up. The girl is crying.
"Oh, sweetheart, what's wrong?"
"I lost my mom."
"Okay what's your name? How old are you?"
"I'm Amy. I'm four.
"Wow your old."
She giggles.
"You can stay with me until your mommy comes down and finds you, if you'd like."
"Okay." She sits next to me and lays her head on my lap.
"We'll find her. No worries."
I look around and notice that this basement is huge. They have four carts with medical supplies already down here and a room I'm guessing is a bathroom off to the side. There are a few square bins and round buckets next to all of the supplies.
"Hi."
I look up to see Derek.
"Hi."
He sits next to me.
"I wouldn't move, I think she's asleep."
"I won't."
"Who is she?"
"Her name is Amy. She lost her mom in the chaos and I'm guessing she knew she could trust me because she made the announcement."
"Ah. That makes sense."
"Ya."
We sit for another hour chatting until Amy wakes up.
"Have you found my mom yet?"
"Let's go find her right now. C'mon."
I take her hand and lead her thought the crowd to grab a bin. Then I bring her to the front of the room, close to the door. I stand on top of the bucket and she stands next to me on the floor.
"Excuse me!" I yell, "Excuse me!"
Everyone looks at me and goes quiet.
"You might remember me from the announcement earlier. Sorry I was so rude then, but I had to get your attention somehow."
Amy pokes me in the leg.
"Anyway. I have someone here who is looking for their mom. If your her mom, please come up."
I hold her up and a woman waves and runs through the crowd. The woman appears in front of me.
"Mama!" Amy cried.
"Baby!" replied her mother with tears of joy. She looked up at me, "Thank you so much!"
"Your welcome." I look up at the crowd.
"Is anyone else missing their family?"
A small boy walks up so I pick him up and be reunited with his dad. This continues for a half an hour and finally everyone's family was back together. I went and sat down next to Derek. I laid down and put my head on his lap. I fell slowly asleep.