365 Days with the Celebrity

Chapter 59 - Waking Up

[Lost by Within Temptation - sums up Ariel's feelings as you read along. Enjoy!]

Three days passed and no progress in sight. Leon was getting impatient and worn out that he questioned in frustration if Ariel's condition had been wrongly diagnosed and suggested that the doctors may have missed out something.

"We did all we can in our power to keep her stabilised and checked her progress everyday to ensure nothing is left behind. We cannot determine a timeline as to when she will wake up, as it differs for each individual and the severity of the head injury. But rest assured that the day will come when she will wake up," Theo assured.

Feeling homesick by now, Leon decided to head home. He made Beth promise to alert him should Ariel wake up from her coma.

"I'll be back, I promise," he briefly lifted up Ariel's ventilator mask and planted a long kiss on her lips and took one last look at her before departing with his bodyguards.

"My oh my, Miss Beautiful. Our Cody has finally revealed his love for you. Please wake up. I need you at my wedding," Beth said with trembling lips and squeezed her friend's hand, then left the room.

———-

Ariel's fingers began to jolt, followed by a sideway movement of her head and small wriggling of her toes. She slowly opened her eyes to find that she was in an unfamiliar room smelling of medical disinfectant and dried flowers. How long had she been in here? Feeling groggy and weak, her hunger pangs were feeling unbearable. She tried to lift herself up but the pain in her head felt heavy and her hands and legs felt weak due to many days of immobility. The side of her head where the bullet was lodged remained painful. She could feel the uncomfortable catheter tube inserted in the back of hand and the ventilator mask on her face.

Beth walked in with a fresh supply of morphine and squealed at the sight of Ariel fully awake. "Ariel! You're awake!! Praise the Lord!"

"Where am I?" she asked in a soft, weak voice.

"In the hospital. You've been asleep for thirteen days."

"Thirteen days!" she cried out but her voice sounded soft and weak.

"Relax, it's all okay. You were shot but you're alive. We all stood by you. Leon refused to leave your side since day one, you know that?"

"Oh," she was confused for a while before widening her eyes when she remembered the shooting incident. "Evan, how's he?"

"Discharged and well."

"Good."

"I'll call Leon right away."

"No, don't," Ariel begged. "I don't wanna see him now. But I'm hungry."

"Right away, Miss Beautiful!"

--------

Despite Ariel's insistence, Leon flew in through the door with Rita, Camila and Andy faster than she could finish her meal that Beth was feeding her. Beth broke her promise obviously. Andy hugged and kissed his mother, over the moon that she was finally awake. Leon gave her the longest hug, crying with joy and relief that she was awake. She stiffened at his touch, not knowing what to say or do, and even narrowly avoided his kiss on her lips. Assuming she was still disarrayed in her mind, he kissed her on her cheek instead, causing her to be uncomfortable, but she remained silent.

The doctors came in to check on her and had a physiotherapist to help her regain her strength in her limbs for the next few days.

The police came to take down her statement, explaining in detail on what led to the incident.