Our Hourglass (Sequel to Perfectly Photogenic)

Chapter 24

Two days later and everything with Brianne's condition stayed the same. Doctors and nurses came regularly to check on her, nothing out of the ordinary.

Brianne's parents were still here of course, her mother still giving me a hard time. Her father told me to just blow her off, but words are more damaging then he thinks. Ricky and Jaime were currently visiting Brianne as I was sitting beside her, fighting off sleep.

"Ryan, go home." Jaime suggested.

"No." I refused, shaking my head. "I can't leave my wife."

"I'll sit with her, so you can get some rest and a proper meal."

"This is all my fault." I said, staring at my wife.

"Don't say that." Ricky said.

"If I just fought a little harder, put my arms around-" I broke down, hanging my head as I cried. "This wasn't su-supposed to happen." Jaime put her arm around me, trying to comfort me. I wiped my face and stared at Brianne, placing my hand on top of hers. "Brianne, please for gods sake, wake up."

I knew my pleas for Brianne to automatically wake up wouldn't work. I'm not God or anything close to it. I'm just a typical guy, an average person. A horrible husband, look what I did to my wife. A vow that I broke, I promised I would support anything she did, stand and support whatever she did and said and I destroyed that.

"Come on." Ricky said, standing up with me. We walked out of the unit and started going down the hallway towards the elevators.

"My wife's going to die, she's gonna die, Rick."

"No she's not! You can't predict the future, Ryan." Ricky said, stopping us. "Brianne isn't here because of you. She's in here because of a drunk driver, who is mentally kicking himself in the ass."

"I could've stopped her, but I didn't. I threatened to lock her out of our house, what's wrong with me?" I sighed, sliding down to the floor. "Maybe her mother is right, maybe I do cause Brianne grief?"

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Ricky asked, sitting down beside me. "Do you know how much happiness you bring that girl, Ryan? Brianne loves you to the moon and back and same goes for you. Fuck what her mother says, you didn't marry Brianne to please her mother, you married Brianne because you love her and want to share a future with her."

I looked down at my wedding band with a small smile on my face. It was like a piece of Brianne's heart was wrapped around my finger and I loved it.

"I know you said I can't predict the future, but what if?" I asked, looking at Ricky with tears in my eyes. "What if Brianne doesn't make it, what am I going to do?"

"Live. She would want you to live your best, Ryan."

"I highly doubt that I'd be able to do that. That's my whole world in there, Rick."

***************

After a decent meal, some rest and a shower, I was back at Brianne's bedside, waiting. Waiting for literally anything to happen.

I bent forward in my chair, placing my elbow on my thigh and rested my chin in my hand. I sighed, looking at Brianne, my Brianne. "Baby, please open your eyes, for me. You know how sorry I am and you know I can't live without you."

"Mr. Sitkowski?" My face turned completely red as I saw Brianne's doctor approach her bed.

"Uh, yes?"

"I just want to stop in, check with her and go over a few things with you."

"Yeah, absolutely." I said, sitting up straight. The doctor went over to Brianne and gently lifted her eyelids, shining a light in them.

"Brianne, can you squeeze my hand?" He asked, loudly. Nothing, she just laid there. The doctor sighed and examined her out a bit more. "As you saw there was no movement at all. I'm afraid f there's no signs of improvements soon, then there's not much left we can do for your wife."

"So-so what you're saying is.."

"We'll turn the machines off and let nature take over."

I placed my hand over my mouth, attempting to silence my sobs. No such thing as success, I was bawling my eyes out at this point. "Ther-there's nothing to help her or-or something?"

"We're still being hopeful and we'll keep examining her, but I'm just telling you what might be expected with these types of patients."

I nodded my head, rubbing my head. "Okay, okay."

The doctor left the room and I broke down again, crying and hanging my head. "Brianne, please." I wiped my face and stood up, leaning over Brianne. "I will be right back, I promise." I gently kissed her cheek and walked out of the unit.

I got on the elevator, taking it to the second floor and stepped off, walking to the hospital chapel. I stared at the stained glass windows before opening the door to walk inside.

It was small, covered with red velvet carpeting, the usual pews and religious figures. I wasn't much for religion and couldn't remember the last time I stepped foot in a church for mass, besides my wedding. I took a seat down in front, taking in the silence as I stared up at the cross on the wall.

"I know I haven't been in a church in some time, other than my wedding. I know I'm not no bible thumper and don't invest much in religion, but if there is some higher power listening or even seeing this, please help me. Please help my wife make it through this. I know I haven't been a model husband to her and I know our marriage isn't perfect, but please don't take her. Yeah, that's a selfish thing to say, but Brianne is just more than my wife. She's a daughter, a sister, a best friend and hopefully one day get to be someone's mother. If I have to give her up just to get her back, then so be it, I'll take anything to see Brianne's smiling face. But if you think she's endured enough with me, her family or whatever, just don't let her suffer. Take me instead if you have to if it means bringing back Brianne." I sighed, leaning back in my seat.

I don't care if it means losing my life so my wife can have hers back. A world without Brianne Sitkowski is a dark place, a very dark and lonely place.

Post Malone- I Fall Apart