The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Chapter 4

Two weeks later, I had hardly left her side. I barely slept, barely ate. I was a mess. The nurse, whose name I learned was Taylor, brought me a couple blankets to sleep on at night and bland food from the cafeteria. The only saving grace was the chocolate pudding she got for me. I ended up telling her the whole story. I told her aout how I became friends with Alex all the way up to where we were when she got in the wreck. My mom came in a few times to check on me. I wasn't doing very well and she became worried about my condition.

"You need to go home," she stated sternly.

"No. I can't. What if she wakes up? I need to be here for her," I said.

I could tell my mom didn't want it to be but that was the end of the conversation. She saw there was no point in arguing with me. I was determined to be there when she woke up. I stayed for a long time. After a while, the sterile smell stopped bothering me. Doctors and nurses passed through often and I got to know a lot of them. My story made its way around the hospital. Soon people from all over the floor were coming down to tell me how strong I was. But honestly, my resolve was weakening. I started to wonder if she would ever wake up. It was hard. It felt like forever.

It took two months, two months, for Alex to wake up. I was there everyday. when she woke up, I was talking to her about a call I had gotten a few hours earlier. My mom had called to tell me that someone from the US Women's National Team had called and asked about me. It was my dream to play soccer for the USWNT. My mom said she gave them my number. It was just a waiting game. I was just starting to talk to Alex when my phone rang again. The person on the other side said that the USWNT had reviewed my records and they wanted me to play on the team. I got the call-up. I got the call-up!

"Hey Alex! I got the call-up! Isn't that great? I'm gonna do this," I said to her, not expecting a response.

I watched her eyes flutter open. She let out a groan. She tried to sit up.

"You're awake? You're awake! Doctor! Nurse! Somebody! She's awake," I loudly called out into the hallway.

I called her mom as the doctor came in to check on her and talk to her. Her mom started crying over the phone. I heard the sound of muffled, frantic talking and shifting papers. She got to the hospital shortly after I hung up.

"Hey," I said to Alex slowly, "how do you feel?"

She looked me dead in the eye and stuttered "Who... who... who are you?"

That's when I totally lost it. I started crying harder than I had ever cried before. I went home after that. I was so heartbroken I felt like I had no reason to stay. I hoped that maybe next time she saw me, she would remember me.

She didn't. I went back. I went to her house. I tried my best to retell the stories. It was no use. Eventually, I couldn't stay anymore. I couldn't help. She didn't even remember my name. I left. There was USWNT camp I needed to be at. So I packed my stuff and I got on a plane for San Diego. I couldn't stay anymore.