A New Beginning

Chapter 16

Shiloh –

I'm looking out the window of Orion's hospital room, staring up at the night sky trying to put into perspective all that has happened today. So much information has been provided to the both of us and it just wore poor Ori out.

With all of the excitement from earlier in the day I worried for his mental health.  I was finally satisfied when he fell asleep earlier this evening but I just can't seem to slow my own mind down enough to rest. I still can't believe that he's awake.

Starting with Gran's arrival, Orion seemed to have been apprehensive at first but like the very first time she met him over twenty years ago, she charmed her way right into his heart.  Bless her for that because I know she did it for me.

She spent the better part of this day dealing with the details of Orion's care and medical expenses and insisted that the moment Orion gets moved to a regular hospital room, it is to be a private one. 

Money has a way of making things happen quickly with no questions asked.  However, being a member of one of the most influential families throughout most of this world affords you certain privileges and some perks.

Orion went through a battery of tests including an MRI showing some of the extensive damage done to his head. Everyone continues to marvel at just how lucky he is to be alive. 

This damage is a direct cause of his memory loss which he may never recover as some of the damage is permanent.  He also has a lot of physical therapy to look forward to in order for his body to get stronger again.  He is physically weak and his mobility is a bit limited.

Dr. Yuri explained that three months of being in a coma can weaken the body's muscles. Imagine the meltdown he had when he realized he had been out cold for three long months. He looked so lost then.

As always with every new revelation, I was there by his side holding his hand. The most disturbing part of the day was the look on his face when it was explained to him in every gory detail every part of his body that was, battered, bruised, cut and broken from the accident.

Then it got much worse when he finally took a look in a handheld mirror one of the nurses provided for him when he asked to see what he looked like. I was so tempted to snatch it right out of his hand.  His bald head made that long ghastly looking scar on it look so much more pronounced causing him to call himself a freak.

At this point, I had requested that everyone leave the room for a moment so he could acclimate to the wealth of information he was given in such a short amount of time.  I tried to explain to him that he was not a freak but a survivor and every scar on him was a reminder of the battle he won to get here.

How my hand is not broken from the continuous squeezing it suffered with each revelation laid out before him is a mystery to me.  I just continued to provide him with some solace in this very confusing and uncertain time of need.

On a better note, Dr. Yuri did allow Orion to begin eating semi solid foods and he was a bit excited over that.  Gran quickly enlisted Cook to prepare his meals as she concluded that hospital food could kill you.

Once he is moved, Orion will begin physical therapy in a couple of days with the end result hopefully being him coming home within the next two to three weeks.  He will continue therapy services from there.

He will have to continue to see a neurologist since his head injury was so bad that he has these sudden painful headaches that just take it right out of him. I feel so helpless at times when these episodes hit him.

Through all of these events, I remained by his side ever diligent, supporting him and letting him take his comfort from me.  I know that my presence keeps him soothed somehow and all I want is for him to get better.

I have already noticed some differences in his demeanor. He is different somehow but I guess that only time will reveal it all. For now, my only immediate concern is once he leaves the hospital, where do we go.

I can't go back to that condo. My heart can't take it right now.  I haven't even explained how all of this came to pass and being there with him will flood me with memories and emotions I'm just not ready to explain to his already fragile mind.

I think it may be best if we go to Gran's estate. Everything will be taken care of there and I can really concentrate on just him. He seems to need all of my attention right now and I'm more than okay with that.

He keeps telling me how he could feel me near him, hear my voice inside of this foggy haze he was in while unconscious and not knowing anything, the only comfort he felt was when I was close to him.  I think I feel the same comfort when I am close to him too.

I keep thinking that eventually I will have to tell him what occurred between us but for now, that is not something he can mentally handle. I need to decide what I want from him. The hurt from his betrayal is still sitting inside of me simmering on low.

I will say this. No matter what, I cannot be without Orion. Almost losing him has brought me a clarity that I don't think I have truly had in our relationship. There seems to be a lot to look forward to in the future but for now, all I want is for him to heal.