Sinking through time (#Wattys2014)

Chapter 21 - Memories past

John was growing impatient. They had circled the hospital car park three times and still hadn't found a spot to park.

"There!" he cried, pointing to a man walking towards a parked car. John's mum quickly manoeuvred their car over to the man before anyone else had a chance.

"Excuse me," she questioned out of her open window, "are you leaving?"

"Yes, I am. It's all yours," he replied.

"Thank you," she said, waiting for him to get into his car and reverse out of the spot.

"Finally," John said, barely able to contain himself waiting for his mother to park their car.

"Where to?" he asked his mum as he opened the back door and reached in to get the bunch of flowers out that he had purchased earlier in the day. They were peonies, Lucy's favourite. They had cost John a small fortune but he figured Lucy was worth it; anything to bring a smile to her face.

"She's still in intensive care so we'll check out the map when we get to reception," his mum answered.

"Okay," he replied heading towards the main entrance of the hospital.

John was becoming more and more optimistic that Lucy would wake from her coma. He knew she was strong. He didn't want to imagine the alternative.

Five minutes later John and his mum were walking through the sliding doors into the intensive care unit. They were told by the nurse that Lucy was in bed 17 which was in room six. After handing over the flowers so the nurse could find a vase to put them into, they made their way along the corridor and looked tentatively into the room when they came to it. Lucy was still in a coma. Mr and Mrs Lawson were standing beside the bed and Doctor Little was fiddling with the machines Lucy was hooked up to. He was taking her off them and administering something into Lucy's drip.

"If Lucy's going to wake up, it shouldn't be long now," he was saying to Mr and Mrs Lawson.

"Hi. How is she?" John asked, making his way into the room and taking in the sight of Lucy lying still and helpless in bed. Lucy's skin was pale and her lips were dry. Her dark hair hung limp over her eyes. John's heart leapt and broke at the same time. He'd never seen her like this and he felt helpless. Once again he kicked himself that he hadn't gone down to meet Lucy at the beach when he'd seen her heading down the road yesterday morning.

"Hello John," Mr Lawson said, heading over to John to shake his hand. "We're glad you're here," he went on.

"Thanks for allowing me to be here, I'm really grateful," John replied

"Hi Keith, Sonja, how are you both? Hi Doctor Little," John's mum said, addressing everybody else and moving towards the Lawson's to hug them. "How is Lucy doing?" she asked.

"Hi Sarah", Lucy's mum, Sonja, said returning her hug. "Doctor Little has just taken Lucy off the machines. Her temperature should come back up to normal now and that will hopefully help Lucy wake from her coma. Now it's just a waiting game," she finished.

"Please, take a seat. It might be a while yet. I'm just going to go and do my rounds. If Lucy starts to wake, please press the alarm here," Doctor Little said, pointing to a switch on the wall behind Lucy's hospital bed, "and a nurse will page me straight away. I'm on this level so it won't take long for me to get back to Lucy," he finished.

"Thank you doctor," Sonja said.

As there were only three chairs in the room, John went into the hallway and picked up a chair from there and moved it into the room. Lucy's parents and his mum had already sat down so he put the chair down close to Lucy and took a seat.

Lucy's left hand was lying on top of the covers so he enveloped it into his own hands, cupping it gently. Her hand was cold and he rubbed it to warm it. Tingles shot up into his arm. Just touching Lucy made his heart race. He wondered why he'd never felt like this before. Confusion played across his face as he continued to rub Lucy's hand. All the adults had stopped talking and were watching him. He became uncomfortable and his face turned a light shade of red. He wondered why he was so embarrassed about touching Lucy. He'd been around her all his life and had never been embarrassed before.

John looked down at Lucy. Memories of time spent with her ran through his mind like a movie reel playing. He remembered the first time they had met. It had been their first day at kindergarten. Lucy had been the shy little girl with pigtails in her hair, tied off with green bows. Another little boy had come up behind Lucy and tugged at her pigtails. He had tugged them so hard he made Lucy cry. John had stumbled upon the scene just as all the action was happening and immediately went to Lucy's aid, pushing the other boy to the ground and telling him not to pick on girls.

Another memory replaced the school yard scene. John and Lucy were ten years old and were collecting tadpoles at the local creek. John had been first to go down into the creek bed and disturbed a black snake that had been sunning itself on a rock. It stood up, alarmed and ready to strike. John fell backwards, trying to get away from the snake and landed on his behind in the creek bed, splashing Lucy and the snake in the process. It was enough to send the snake slithering off the rock and back up the creek bed, out of sight. Lucy laughed so hard she ended up peeing her pants. That, in turn, made John laugh so hard, that he too peed his pants. They both had to present themselves at John's house, as it was the closest, and explain why they both needed fresh underwear at the same time.

John's memory reel was suddenly stopped as Lucy moved one of her fingers enclosed in John's palms. He wasn't sure if what he felt had actually happened or if he was just imagining it. He stayed still and watched Lucy intently.

Twenty seconds ticked by and, once again, he felt her finger move. At the same time her eyelids flickered.

"Lucy? Can you hear me?" John said, leaning down to talk quietly into Lucy's ear. "Lucy?" he sang to her. All the adults looked over at John.

"Lucy just moved her finger and her eyelids flickered," he said to them in explanation.

Lucy's parents made their way over to the other side of Lucy's bed and leant over her to watch her face for movement.

"Lucy sweetie, can you hear me? It's mum. Lucy?" Sonya said, trying to get a response from her daughter. Her dad joined in.

"Lucy. Are you awake, honey?" her dad questioned.

Again, Lucy's eyelids flickered.

"Quick, press the alarm Keith," Sonya directed her husband.

Keith leaned over the headboard and pressed the button to alarm the nurse's station.

A minute later a nurse poked her head around the door and into the room.

"Yes? How can I help?" she asked.

"We think Lucy is waking up," Keith answered. "Can you page Doctor Little for us please?" he continued.

"Certainly," she said, making her way into the room to check Lucy's vitals. Again, Lucy's eyelids fluttered. "I'll page the doctor now," the nurse said, heading out the door quickly.

Within seconds the doctor was making his way into the room.

"I was only two doors up," he said upon entering. "I understand Lucy is moving her eyelids and fingers. Is that right?" he asked.

"Yes, a few minutes ago I felt her finger move and then her eyelids moved slightly. She's done it again a few times now," John answered.

The doctor went through the same routine the nurse had just done and checked Lucy's vitals. He then took out a small neuro torch and opened Lucy's eyes, shining the light into them as he did. Lucy's pupil's reacted to the light.

"That's a good sign," Doctor Little said.

Lucy's face twitched. Her eyes moved under her eyelids. Her fingers also twitched.

"Please give Lucy a little room," Doctor Little said. "I think she's coming out of her coma."

Everyone took a little step back and watched Lucy. Seconds later, Lucy opened her eyes.