broken dreams-a seaycee story

five

Sean

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I could barely contain myself as I sped to the hospital. My mind was a blur. Over the years, I'd practiced every single scenario, playing them all out in my head. What I'd say to her. How she'd feel. What she'd say. How we'd both look. But right now? I couldn't see anything. All my brain was thinking about was the fact that she was awake. My hair was a mess, disheveled from sleep, my eyes were still half shut, and I was wearing blue and black checkered flannel pants, a black tee shirt, and my jacket. Not how I had planned, but I really didn't care. I pulled over rapidly as I got to Checkers, a 24/7 market outside the hospital, and dashed inside. I sleepily stumbled to the aisle of flowers, where there were some leftover bunches for Christmas. I pulled a bouquet of red roses, lilies, and carnations out, and threw a 20 on the counter to the man, who slowly started ringing me up. "Keep the change," I muttered to him, and I was out the door before he could object. I didn't bother moving the car, I ran across the parking lot, up the stairs, barely flashing my visitors badge. "She's awake! She's awake!" Marie and the other girl at the desk shouted excitedly, jumping up and down. I was down the hall and up the stairs, not bothering to catch the elevator. 

Floor 6. I stopped and threw open the door, and in my frantics, I forgot where I was. Holly rushed up to me, latching onto my arm. "Sean!" she cried, her eyes wild with a renewed vigor, a spark I hadn't seen in a while. "She's awake, Sean! We did it!" In my happiness, I lifted her up and hugged her. "Thank you, Holly," I said, tears in my eyes already. "Thank you for all you've done." As she was about my mom's age, and I'd seen her about as much as I had my mom over these past five years, Holly had basically adopted me. "I'm so proud of you for sticking this through," she said as she hurriedly escorted me to Kaycee's room. If she hadn't, I'm not sure my brain would have worked enough to get me there, even though the steps were imprinted in my head better than any combo I'd ever learned or class I'd ever taught.

As we got right outside her room, Holly stopped and placed her hand on my shoulder. "Now Sean, it's going to be a long road. There's some....things she hasn't come to terms with yet," she said, notably choosing her words carefully. I shook my head, confused. Five years and there were still going to be complications? I tried not to look disappointed, but I tried to calm myself by telling my brain that it wouldn't be practical to expect nothing to be wrong. 

"Like....what kind of things?" I asked, unsure of if I wanted to hear the answer. 

"Well," Holly sighed, flipping through her chart. "We're lucky she remembers anything at all. That kind of impact, combined being gone for that long, it can do things to a person."

"Holly," my voice rose. I was wide awake now, even though it wasn't even 4 in the morning yet. "What doesn't she remember?" Five years of my life had come to a screeching halt in the span of an hour. 

Only difference between now and five years ago is, there isn't a crash at the end.

"Sean," Holly said, staying calm and professional as usual. "She remembers a lot of things. Her family. Dance. You guys. There's just....a few complications," she sighed. "She knows about the time gap, but not a lot of what exactly that means. And the accident..." her voice trailed off. "You can't ignore it and act like it never happened, but she just....isn't fully processing some of the consequences."

"What do you mean?" I asked her. She brushed her hair out of her face and fanned it, trying to get some of the tears that were ebbing in the corner of her eyes away. "You'll see. Don't let me keep you. Just wait one second, let me go in first."

She ducked into the room and I heard the swish as she pulled the curtains back. "Hi, Miss Kaycee," her gentle tone floated out in the hallway. "Someone special is here to see you?" I found myself straining, leaning forward, trying to catch a glimpse of her voice. "Wh-who?" Kaycee's sweet, angelic voice rose from the bed. My heart....everything I'd been wanting to say, flew out of my mouth, along with the breath from my lungs. Tears filled like hot springs in my eyes, and my hand covered my mouth as I found myself, as strong as I'd been this whole time, truly breaking. My angel, my rock, my saving grace. She was awake.