Coming Home

Chapter 18, The Way You Look at Me

Everybody sitting around us gasped. All of their jaws almost touching the floor. I turn my head and see all of them staring. Karen looks at me and gives me a nod. "Let's give them time."
Nathan, Peyton, Brooke, everybody that was here. Everybody knew how I felt. After the door closes I turn back around to face Lucas. "God, that's embarrassing. I definitely didn't want to tell everybody that. I actually wanted to tell you when you got back with Karen. But Lucas. You've made me happier than I've ever been. My childhood was crap, and it always seemed to live on. In my dreams, in the things I've seen. Sights and smells could bring back memories just like that," I snapped my fingers. "but you. You've helped me get that to stop. I can not thank you enough, for how happy you've made me. Nothing else seems to matter when it's just us. I love that. I love the way you laugh, I love the way you smile. I love your eyes and your dimples. I love the way you hold me when we go to bed. I love the way you hold onto my face as we kiss, it's gentle but protective. But most of all Lucas Eugene Scott, I love you."
He starts to blush and gets a huge grin. "I love you too Kierston Harper Rae."
I kiss him, and he kisses me back. This is the longest one we've had. It's passionate and desperate. After being separated for a few days and confessing our love, can you blame us? I missed him so much. Words, they can't describe it. His eyes are full of love. I break the kiss and inhale. After collecting myself for a bit I just break down and start crying again. I'm slightly hyperventilating as Lucas holds me. "I don't know what I would've been able to do if you wouldn't have woke up. I finally could breathe again when you woke up. I didn't realize how badly this has take a toll on me."
"It's okay Kiers, I'm not going any where."
There is a knock on the door, it's Keith.
"Hey guys sorry to barge in like this," he says
"No Keith, you're okay. I was just leaving."

I exit the room and start to feel very light headed. I haven't ate or slept for two days straight and it's really taking a toll on me. While I'm walking down the hallway, I start to stumble a bit.
A nurse stops me, "Miss, are you okay?"
I force myself to stand up and push myself against the wall for support. "I'm not quite su-" I feel my head forcefully hit the wall before I fall down. "SOMEONE HELP!" I hear the nurse yell.

|||||||| Kierston's Hallucination ||||||||
"Momma!" I hear from behind me. I turn around and see a little girl with emerald green eyes and curly brown hair.

"Paisley."
"Momma, play with me." She grabs my right hand and leads me forward. My left hand being free, I wiped away a tear. Is this real? Could my baby girl actually be here?
She leads me into this beautiful room. The walls are a light rose gold color. To the right of the doorway is a small shelf  full of children's books. To the left is a purple and green container for all of her toys. There are stuffed animals, barbies, and baby dolls with different clothes all inside. Above it is a picture with a younger version of her, Drew, and myself. I run my fingers over the wooden frame of the picture.
"Daddy's gonna be home soon. Then we can all have a tea party! Right momma?"
I look at this beautiful young girl and want nothing more. She has a table set up with everything for the tea party. I nod my head with a smile.
"Good, because daddy promised me. I love having tea party's with momma and daddy." Paisley says with a giggle. Then she grabs a stuffed animal and plays with it. I continue to look around her room.
Her bed is centered to the wall with a teal canopy around it to match the teal comforter.
She has an enormous closet. A dresser with a small tv on top. The last thing I notice in her room is a easel. She's artist, and that's why all those paintings were in the hallway. Wow..
"Momma?"
"Yes, baby?"
"Can we get dressed up for the tea party?"
"Sure honey."
"Will you do my hair?"
"Of course sweet heart."
"Aw, thank you momma. I love you sooooo much." She says with a grin. "You're the best momma in the entire world."
I hug her and feel her tiny arms around my neck.
"You want your hair curled?" I ask breaking the beautiful moment before I start crying again.
"Uh-huh."

After curling her hair, I picked out a green dress for her and put a brown belt around her waist. She looks in the mirror.
"Mommy, you made me look so pretty. Almost as pretty as you but I probably won't ever be that pretty."
"Baby, you are already beautiful. You will always be beautiful, no matter what people tell you. Alright paisley?"
"Yes momma."
I kiss her on the cheek and hug her again.
"It's time," she says pulling away.
"For the tea party?" I ask with a smile.
"No. for you to go back."
"To go back? To go back where?"
"Home silly. You have a long life to live until you see me again, but this is where we will meet again."
"Sweetie, I don't want to leave you."
"Momma, you have to. I'll be okay here, I promise. I love you momma."
"I love you too."

Suddenly, DARKNESS
Then, bright. Super bright. I squint my eyes, where am I?
Peyton is sitting right next to me and when I look at her she hugs me. "KIERSTON YOU'RE AWAKE."
I laugh but then groan from the pain in my head.
"Ugh. How long was I out for?"
"A day and a half."

What all happened while I was in the slight coma from sleep deprivation?