Be Alright: Somebody To Love #6

11

Justin’s POV

             I woke up at three in the morning because of a noise outside. I went to the window, but it was completely dark.

            “It’s a little noisy tonight, huh?” I sat back down next to Madelyn. “I wish you could’ve seen the kids today. They are heartbroken. And as much as I’d like to think I know what to do, I don’t. I don’t know how to make this any easier on them. You’re the one that is the best with them. You’re the one that always knows what to do.”

            “Stella is probably the most upset. She’s been having nightmares. She’s been even more dramatic than usual. She won’t talk to anyone, except for Selena. Thank God for Selena. And for my mom. Those two have been with me everyday, helping out with the kids or just running errands.”

            I took a deep breath again, wishing at this moment she would wake up.

            “I wish you would give me a sign, babe. Some sort of sign that everything is going to be okay. Some sort of sign that I can do this on my own.”

            Even though I was still hoping for a sign, I had mostly come to terms with what was going to happen.

            “But whatever happens in the next couple of days, know that I will always love you.”

            With that, I picked up her hand and placed a kiss on it. I squeezed it tightly, remembering how many times I had done it before. It was like a private way to say I love you. Whether we were just in a difficult situation or in amidst the paparazzi chaos, squeezing her hand had always calmed her down or relaxed her.

            And then it happened. It wasn’t much. It was barely anything at all. But it happened.

            “Mads? Can you hear me baby? Give me another sign!” A nurse ran in from the hallway, watching her closely.

            I begged her to do it again. “Squeeze my hand again. You can do it. I believe in you.” I had tears running down my face.           

            “It’s probably just,” the nurse began to say. She stopped when she saw it happen again. I saw a mix of emotions on her face. Surprise. Shock. Fear. Anxiety. “I’ll go get Dr. Hinds.” She murmured, running out into the hallway.

I kept squeezing her hand, and she kept squeezing back. This wasn’t just a primordial flinch. This was Madelyn. She was doing this. I kept doing it, desperate that she would open her eyes. She had to.

            Dr. Hinds just watched as she repeatedly squeezed my hand. He had no explanation. He was just as dumbfounded and amazed as I was.

            It had been going on for thirty minutes when she suddenly stopped.

            “Mads, come on.” I urged her, desperately squeezing her hand over and over again with no response.

            “Justin,” Dr. Hinds started to say, but he was interrupted as the monitors started going off. As soon as I heard them I started to prepare myself. This is a sign, I told myself, this is her wanting to die. She is dying again. I need to let her go.

            But before I could do anything Madelyn’s body started moving. At first it appeared to be seizure-like spastic movements, but upon closer evaluation I saw that she was gagging. From the ventilator. Which meant she was trying to breathe, on her own.

Madelyn’s POV

            The lights. The sounds. The smells. It all hit me at once. It was almost too much to take in. I was alive.