A New Life: Sequel to Amber

Chapter 14

Amber's POV

The doctor led us down the hall and to ICU. He opened the door for us and we stepped into the white room. Link lie perfectly still on the bed. So many wires were attached to his body. A very slow, yet steady beep was coming from the heart monitor. I wanted to cry so badly. My heart ached and I let the tears fall. Rhett hugged me and I cried into his shirt. He was so tall! He rubbed my back gently as  sobbed. After several minutes, I pulled myself together. Rhett let go of me and we both walked over to Link. I grabbed his hand and held it tightly. It was so cold. "Link, please, please wake up. I can't bear to see you like this. I love you and I need you. Link, please!" I began sobbing again. It was no use. That certainly wouldn't wake him up. Only time could do that and I hoped with all my might that it would not be long. I need him. He's my dad, even if I call him by his first name. I love him with all my heart and I'm so scared. Scared to see him like this. 

I leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, wrapping my arms around his neck at the same time. "Don't be gone long, please." Rhett comforted me again.

"Amber, Link's a tough guy. He's going to be alright, I promise. Things will be hard while he isn't here, but don't worry, it won't be too long before he's back. I'll take care of you while he can't. Link went through so much while you were gone. He's going to make it through this too. I promise you that." Rhett wrapped his long arms around my small frame. He kissed the top of my head, just like Link would do. I began to feel the tears building up again. I missed Link so dreadfully already. I missed his laugh, his voice, his hugs, his kisses atop my head, every little thing he did, I missed. 

"W-what did he go through while I was gone, Rhett?" I asked nervously. What had happened to him while I was gone? I was getting very worried. Rhett looked down at his feet, then back up at me. 

"You sure you want me to tell you? It wasn't the easiest thing to deal with."

"I'm sure. He's my dad, I need to know, Rhett. I love him."

"I love him too, Amber," he smiled," He's always been as close, if not closer, as a brother to me. Link's the best friend you could ever ask for. I really am blessed to have him. We all are. No, enough stalling. I suppose I should tell you... Link was depressed, depressed beyond belief. He had a bit of a mental breakdown. There was a voice in his head, telling him awful things. Link practically went crazy with depression and that voice only made things worse. We sent him to a psychiatrist, but that did no good. In fact, it only made it worse. Not only the mental breakdown, but his leg was also an issue. I don't know if you know this, but Link was shot in the leg when you were being taken. He was running after you and wouldn't stop. One of the men shot him in the thigh. Things just didn't go well for Link at all. He cried nearly everyday because of you being gone. He thought the worst had happened and we couldn't tell him otherwise. We couldn't even let him live alone, for fear of him breaking down again. I started living there, and I'll probably stay there so you can be home even though Link's here. This morning, your finger arrived in the mail. Link fainted, hard. He hit his head, yet the trauma didn't affect him until he relaxed a bit more. That's when he fell into the coma. That's how it happened," Rhett said and sighed. He rubbed his eyes and sat down in one of the chairs that we had pulled up to Link's bed.

My heart couldn't take this. Link had gone through so much suffering and pain, because I was gone. He must love me so, so much and I feel the same way towards him. I felt absolutely terrible this was happening. Why did that have to cut off my pinky? That action had caused so much pain through too many people. Because of that, Link was in a hospital, in a coma. I began to cry again. I felt like I cried too much, but I couldn't help it. So much had happened recently that gave me the right to cry. I sat down next to Rhett and he pulled out his phone. "I have to call Christy. She needs to know." Rhett punched in her number and waited for her to answer.

"Hello."

"Hey Christy, it's Rhett."

"Hi Rhett. Are you alright? You don't sound too well."

"Well, I'm not the best right now, but thanks. I have some very bad news to tell you..."

"Is Amber alright? What happened?!"

"Amber's fine. It's Link. He's in a deep coma at the LA hospital. He's in room 427. Please hurry." 

"Oh my gosh. He's in a coma? How? Why? What?"

"Just please, come down here as soon as you can. I'll explain everything once you're here. The only good news is Amber is safe and she's here. She was found. Want to say hi?"

"I'd love to."

Rhett passed me the phone. "She wants to say hi to you," he whispered. I nodded.

"Hi Christy."

"Oh poor baby, this must be so hard on you. Are you alright?"

"I'm okay. Could be better. At least I'm not tied up in a closet anymore..."

"You poor thing. I'm so happy you're safe. How are you handling the news about Link?"

"Not well. I'm so scared."

"Aww, don't be scared, honey. He'll be alright. He will. I have to go now. I want to see Link. I'll talk to you when I get there. Goodbye honey, and take care. It'll be alright."

"Thanks. Bye Christy." I said and hung up. I handed the phone back to Rhett. He was holding Link's hand and crying. My heart shattered at seeing him like this. That was his best friend, practically his brother. He had known his for nearly thirty-two years and there he was, unresponsive, in a coma. I sat down next to Rhett and hugged him tightly. He grabbed my hand with his free one and gave it a thankful squeeze. I leaned my head against his side. Soon enough, my eyes closed and I fell into a light, and not restful, sleep.