Fifty Reasons to Stay (Book Three)

Chapter Sixteen-Coma

Part Two
(Leo's POV)
10.7.25
You've been asleep for four weeks. I have nothing to do but stare at you. I'm only working four days a week this semester. The students understand.
I visit you every day after work. And I decided to start this little list of the things I miss doing with you... I guess just to start a list of reasons for you to stay alive. I'm only doing a few today. But...
1. Movie nights up in our room. Didn't even have to be romantic. I just liked that we had the same taste in movie genres.
2. Early morning cuddles? More of those, please.
3. Singing in the car to your favorite songs as a teenager.
4. Long showers in the morning and baths together at night.
5. Dates. Lots more of those are needed.
6. Talking about our dreams for the future and making that bucket list. We need to work on that because we've only done two things from it.
7. Kissing. Hello-kisses and goodbye-kisses and I-want-you kisses and comforting kisses. I miss that.
8. Intimate stuff. I shouldn't write that here.
9. How your eyes would always light up when you talked about things you loved.
10. Your smile. I haven't seen that in a very long time.

I.. think that's enough for today. Wherever you are out there, I hope you know someone loves you.
-Leo

"Leo.. do you have any idea what time it is?" Raph stood at the door to Donnie's room.
I looked at the wall. "One thirty in the morning. I can read."
"When are you going to start sleeping at home again? You could use a few days to rest."

I shook my head, warding off my impending sleep. "No, he might wake up if I go. I need to be here when he wakes up."
"Leo.." He sat beside me, hand on my shoulder. "It's been a month. You need to start thinking about what's best for both of you."
"I am. That's why I'm here."

"No, I mean... I think it's time you let go, let his soul rest. Let the doctors unplug his machines. He's made no progress... and it hurts me to see you this way. I know of some beautiful funeral homes and cemeteries around here-"

"No, no.." I cut him off, holding my hand up. "He'll wake up soon. I'm going to wait." I scooted my chair closer to Donnie's bed, squeezing his hand. "And I'm going to be right here when he does."

"Think of your kids.. you work all day then spend all night here.. on the days you're not working you are back at the hospital. What about them? What's truly best for them? Your boy needs closure. He needs his father."

"He understands that I have to be here. Don't dismiss Donnie as gone. I spent just as long in a coma and I turned out fine."
"Most of it was medically induced. That was different. You didn't stab yourself in the wrist and chest and overdose on toxic medications. You fell."

"You know what, Raph? You don't even have to be here. You can go home."

"Leo, I'm only saying this because I care about you, you're my family and I want what's best for you. Go home and get some sleep. You look terrible."

"I'm fine. I..I'll take a shower and then sleep on the pullout bed. Okay? I just don't want to leave. You'd feel the same way if it was Mikey."

Raph sighed. "Listen.. I'm falling behind on work. Mikey and I will have to go back to New York soon. If Donnie doesn't wake up by the end of the week, you need to make that decision."

Once Raph left, I went into the bathroom to grab a wash cloth and came back. I always wanted Donnie to look as nice as possible. It bothered me that he didn't even react to the icy cold water hitting his skin. "It's cold, I know.." I smiled slightly, talking as if he was awake. "Your doctor is going to check in on you tomorrow morning. Maybe he'll have the solution to your problem, and you and I can finally go back home.. to our home." I unbuttoned his shirt, putting on a clean light blue nightshirt. The stitches over his chest were healing nicely. "I'll take the rest of the semester off and we can travel.. we'll go to Japan. Uh- or wherever you want to go. It'll be just me and you." I ran a comb through his tangled hair, sighing softly. "You could use some sunlight anyway. I think it'd be very romantic."
His eyes shot open, so quickly you would've thought he heard an explosion. His brown irises were very empty, the whiteness around them purely bloodshot. His eyes were so far open....I knew something was wrong.