Issues

Need

Alison's POV

"Baby, please... please come back to me... I need you. I need to see those beautiful eyes looking back at me." I can't seem to fight back my tears as I hold her soft, limp hands. No matter how much I will her to be mine once more, there's no movement, no reaction, just nothing.

It's been almost 4 months since my life... our lives changed forever. How much longer till Emily heals and opens those dark brown eyes again? How much longer till we can pick up where we left off? So much has happened to us. We've been apart for so long that it's painful. My heart aches for Emily. My heart longs for us to be together like we were before a monster came into our lives. My heart longs for so many things.

I've spent almost every waking moment by Emily's beside in order to ensure that I'd be the first face she saw when she came out of her coma. No matter how many times people suggest that I go home and get some rest, I always refuse. How could I possibly leave my other half alone just so I could get some rest? She's suffering so much and it's all because of me. She's been through hell for me. If that isn't love and the definition of sacrifice, I don't know what is. Sometimes, I wonder what good I have done in this world in order to deserve a woman like Emily. The times that I've left her side to work a 12 hour shift have felt like torture. I work the bare minimum to pay my bills and keep my employment status for medical benefits. Thankfully, I have a wonderful relationship with all of Emily's nurses who always text me with updates when I'm away from her bedside.

As I stand and look outside Emily's hospital room, I see the sun is about to set. I imagine the cool, gentle breeze on my skin just like the moment of pure bliss that I spent with Emily at the beachouse.

"Alison" says a familiar voice behind me.

"Oh hello Dr. Campbell. What can I do for you" I ask politely.

"I wanted to have a talk with you about Emily's status" he continues as we sit down. "Emily appears to be completely healed from her injuries except for the two biggest hurdles. We still don't know if she can feel and move her legs. We also don't know when or if she is going to come out of this coma. We keep doing challenge tests to see if she can function without the machines and we quickly realize she can't. Alison, you need to prepare yourself for the fact that she may never come back to you. She should be awake by now and she's not. I know this is very blunt of me, but you need to know all the correct information in order to make a decision".

"What decisions are you talking about" I ask while feeling like I'm in the verge of tears.

"Moving her to a long term facility mainly. We can't keep her here forever" he continues.

I feel anger begin to build within me as the words flow out of his mouth. "So you all are just giving up on her aren't you" I say as I lash out with anger, frustration, and desperation.

Sensing he'd said enough, he leaves the room and leaves me to my thoughts. I turn back around to watch the sunset turn the evening sky bright to now dark and somber. I begin to think that Emily really should be awake by now. He's right, she's not progressing as she should be at this stage on her recovery.

A knock at the door catches my attention. Turning around, I see an unfamiliar, older man carrying a briefcase at his side.

"Are you Alison", asks the older man.

"Yes, that's me" I reply uneasily. "You are?"

Clearing his throat, he extends his hand for a handshake and says, "I'm James Kingden. I'm here to give you something.... ".  Looking over to Emily, he continues, "from Emily".

Feeling confused, I ask, "What do you mean something from Emily? She's been in a coma for months now".

Pulling out a large envelope, he hands it to me and says, "I received this from Emily while she was at the beach house. She wanted me to work on a few things for her and so here they are".

I cautiously take the envelope and thank him.

"You're welcome my dear. My card is inside the envelope if you have any further questions for me" he replies as he gathers his suitcase and leaves me to open the envelope in privacy.

As I open the bulging envelope, I pull out the papers and begin reading. It's a handwritten note from Emily.

My sweet Alison,
Sadly, if you're reading this right now, I'm probably dead or in a coma. That's why I had my lawyers set this up for me.
As I sit here on the shoreline, in the exact spot we shared our first sunset together, I can't seem to keep you away from my thoughts and my heart. I know you're confused and angry with me so let me explain.
Someone was after us. I tried to do my best to find this monster, but I've failed miserably. They are just too connected, too sophisticated, and too lethal. I failed you and that's what kills me the most. This monster threatened to kill you, Hanna, Aria, Spencer, and Jared if I didn't break up with you. The God awful ways this person described how they could kill you all and frame me was purely sickening. So I had to leave you. I had to break your heart. It was the only way to keep us all alive. I'm so sorry I hurt you Alison. If this evil person hadn't entered our lives, we would still be in love and carrying on like we usually do. Alison, I never meant the awful, poisonous things I said to you. I do love you and that is why I had to do this. I know that I will never be able to forgive myself. I know that I will never love again. I just hope one day you will move on and find someone that can love and protect you.

With All My Love,
Emily

Tears fall from my cheeks and onto the paper, causing the ink to spread. I feel awful for Emily. I can't imagine the pain and the burden she carried through all of this. She loved me enough to give me up and keep me safe.

Roaming through the rest of the papers in envelope, I gasp when I realize what they detail. Emily changed her will and gave me half of her wealth and the deed to her apartment. The other 10 million is to be split evenly among Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Jared.

"10 million dollars" I say loudly.

"Oh Emily, baby this is too much" I say taking her hand as I continue reading the legal documents.

The final document names me as her medical power of attorney. I get to decide when to stop treatment, where to treat her, everything. It feels like such a responsibility but I feel so blessed and honored that Emily trusts me enough to take care of her when she can't make decisions for herself. This all just feels like too much to handle. It's overwhelming and I'm feeling anxiety boil inside me.

I can't think too much about this tonight. I'm far too exhausted to think about the next steps for Emily.

"Baby please wake up. Every second that I can't kiss you, hold you, or see your smiling face, I feel like I'm dying a little more inside" I say to Emily as I begin to cry tears of desperation. Feeling the need to be closer to her, I crawl into the hospital bed with Em. I curl up on her chest and listen to her heartbeat just like I used to do when we were happy and in love. A smile forms as I close my eyes and hear slow and steady beats. They remind me of the many times we used to fall asleep in each other's arms, perfectly content and at peace.

In that pure moment, I could feel her love for me. I could feel her fighting her way back to me. Her heart was beating for me. I just know it. Placing my hand over her heart, I say in a soft tone, "Emily, prove them wrong. Prove to them that you will escape the clutches of this coma and fight your way to recovery. You've overcome so many hurdles already. You can do this. I believe in you and I believe in us. No mind of man, no circumstance, no force against us can keep us apart. What we have is something everlasting, timeless, and unbreakable. Emily I'm done searching. I know with every fiber of my being that you are the one for me. I've found the other half of my heart in you. I'm never going to stop loving you".