His Only

Chapter Three Coma

~Jake's Perspective~

"Oh, Emily," I said weakly staring at her face.

Every day for the past three days she has been more and paler. I even noticed her lips started becoming pale as well and peeling. I looked up at the hanging x-ray of the cracks on her skull that kept her sleeping. I held her hand knowing I had done this to her and I didn't want to hurt her anymore. The door opened while some officers came inside slowly greeting me with solemn smiles on their faces. 

I recognized one of them so I moved to face them starting to stand, but one stopped me. The officer I recognized sat down on the nearby couch pulling a notebook from his pocket gesturing for his men to leave him alone.

"Hi, Jake right?" he said.

"Yes," I said.

"I know it must be difficult for you right now, so if you are comfortable we'd like to know what happened. Just a couple questions for today," he said looking up at me with a pencil in his hand.

"Emily and I were walking together through the forest. Emily loved nature, she wanted so badly to walk through the forest and go camping," I said. "It was her sixteenth birthday, so as a celebration we.."

"Take your time, Jake," he said sympathy in his eyes. "I have a daughter at home. If she ever got hurt I'd be in the same position."

He smiled patiently at me.

"So take your time," he said.

"We were sharpening sticks to catch some fish for some lunch. She was so happy and when she stood up she stumbled and I tried to stop her from falling, but she slipped. And I.. I..She.." I stuttered remembering her body laying on the ground.

"She hit her head and landed on the knife," he said finishing my story for me.

I put my face in my hands not wanting him to know I couldn't cry forcing a few sharp intakes of breath. I heard him stand to put his hand on my shoulder.

"She'll be awake soon, Jake," he said. "Stay strong for her. I'll be back I just have a few more questions, okay? This will be enough for today."

I nodded not moving my hands. I heard him leave and footsteps of them departing. A nurse walked inside and placed her hand on my shoulder softly.

"Hey, Jake," she said softly.

I looked up at Nurse Sarah. She has been personally helping Emily and explaining things to me understanding that things were not that advanced in our village. I noticed she enjoyed teaching someone something and I assumed she's a mother.

"Hey Sarah," I said my voice coming out pretty hoarse.

"Tell me something, Jake," she whispered kneeling down near me bringing her voice down very low. "Its just a hunch and I swear I won't tell anyone else, you aren't just her guardian are you?"

"I," I said feeling uncomfortable. "No, but I'd never do anything to her."

"Hey I know," she giggled softly keeping her voice low. "I think you two make a very cute couple. I won't tell anyone I understand your apprehension and it is just. It'll be our little secret. I think they can be over judgemental on that anyway."

I looked up at her admiring her features. Her face was rounded and she looked young, but heavy bags lined her eyes with her hair turning grey giving away her true age. She stood up her brown eyes looking at Emily a sad smile on her face.

"What's wrong with her lips?" I asked looking at her.

"Her lips are getting dry and the result is that they are chapping. I think I might have a spare chapstick in my purse, I'll give it to you and show you how to apply it okay?" she said moving towards her.

She went to the other side of her bed looking at monitors gabbing the clipboard writing down some numbers. She left coming back a few minutes later with a tiny tube. She opened it moving a small gear on the bottom showing me the contents moving up. I moved closer and watched her slowly take it over Emily's lips once and putting the lid back on.

"Apply it as needed, preferably when they are dry again," she said leaving me the chapstick.

"I know how it feels seeing her health declining like that. My son didn't like taking care of himself growing up and that drove me nuts," she said thinking back. "She will wake up soon, just be patient, Jake."

She patted my shoulder telling me to rest before walking out. I looked at Emily holding her hand again.

~Emily's perspective~

I heard some sounds around me and movement. I determined that I was in a bed with wheels being moved. Two sets of footsteps around me told me two people were moving me. A door opened and I was moved into the move. The sheet under me was pulled and I heard a third person standing up to help to pick up the sheet moving me to the side onto a softer bed.

"How is she doing?" The male voice said to my left.

"Well her wound has healed up well," one voice from my right sad it was female.

Movement and I felt something being removed and replaced. A beeping filled the air again.

"Don't worry," a different voice said near my feet also female. "She is recovering very well. She just needs more time."

"She's just recovering right now and she will wake up on her own time," the other voice said. "It's important that she rests."

"How long do people usually," he started, but his voice sounded worried.

"She is going to be okay," the girl said.

I heard them moving around the bed to my left.

"Stay positive," one of the girls whispered.

I heard footsteps and they walked out closing the door. I heard him moving next to me and a pop as something was being opened. Then I felt something soft being moved against my lips moving all over my lips before being moved away.

"There, soft as a peach," he said closing the lid. "Its the least I can do."

I felt his hand on mine and noticed a small tremble in his hand.

"I need you, Emily," he said softly. "I want you to take your time and wake up quickly at the same time."

I felt him moving the chair closer and resting his face on my pillow. I felt his breath, but I started to feel myself losing consciousness again just as he caressed my cheek with his thumb.

I don't want to sleep. I thought sadly knowing I had no choice.