Haunted by the Past

Chapter 11: Sleeping Beauty

Copyright 2016 © Rosesareforever

Haunted by the Past

Chapter 11

Sleeping Beauty

Another ninety-six hours had gone by without Stephanie waking up from the induced coma she'd been put in. David didn't know how much longer he could wait for his sleeping beauty to open her chocolate orbs before he'd go insane. He was snappy, his patience completely gone and his thoughts a mess. He'd shouted at one of the nurses twice now and he'd almost hit the doctor when the man had ordered David to go home and get some rest before he would drop asleep while standing.

Aside from a quick pit stop at home to take a shower and put on fresh clothes, David had constantly been in the waiting room of the intensive care unit. He'd refused to leave for longer than that, afraid that Stephanie might wake up when he wasn't around. Even Jade, who usually wasn't his biggest fan, was getting worried. The woman even went as far as bringing him food and drinks when she stopped by to visit Stephanie.

His firecracker was allowed two visitors at a time now and had shown no signs of waking up anytime soon even though they'd stopped giving her strong sedatives. The doctors suspected that her body was not ready to return to full consciousness after the trauma it experienced. It wasn't abnormal and David shouldn't worry, they said, as if an explanation from someone with a medical degree would convince David to stop worrying. Only seeing Stephanie's eyes would ease his anxiety.

"Good morning." Looking up, David noticed Jade had just walked into the room. He hadn't heard the door opening, too far gone in his thoughts.

"Morning," he mumbled, absentmindedly stroking Stephanie's hand with his fingertips.

"You should go home to take another shower," Jade advised. "You're starting to look like a cave dweller with that beard you've got going on. I didn't even know you could grow a full beard! You're always clean shaved."

David snorted, shaking his head, his attention returning to the woman fast asleep in the hospital bed. Stephanie looked a little better today, less pale. The angry purple bruises that marred her skin were still present, but less noticeable. What had changed the most was probably her face. While it was still swollen, Stephanie was finally recognizable again.

"The nurses think it's sweet that you're here day and night," Jade went on. "They do agree that the beard you're sporting is getting out of control. It's been almost a week. You need to shave."

One thing David had learned about Jade the past couple days was that the woman could ramble all day long if necessary. She must love to hear herself speak. Every time he stayed silent in the hope that she'd get the hint and shut up, Jade kept babbling about utterly trivial shit. How Sedric survived living with the woman was a real wonder.

"No one at the firm would probably even recognize you. The impeccable, ruthless lawyer, David Thompson, looking like a homeless man. It's unbelievable. You look like you haven't slept a wink in days, your hair is disheveled, your facial hair on full display and your clothes look wrinkled and stink. It's..."

"I get it. I don't look like I'm going show off on a runway. It's cool, Jade. Honestly," he sighed. "The last thing I care about at the moment is how I look."

Jade smiled sadly. "You should take better care of yourself. Stephanie is going to need you once she wakes up. Don't let yourself waste away."

"I won't. I'm just too worried to leave her side. I'll go home to take a nap once we know for sure that she's going to be alright."