Sleeping Ivory

Chapter 2

Beep Beep Beep

The sound of the beeping machine enveloped the whole room, reminding Ruth of the frail person that relied on that machine. Rain was still falling. It was mourning with her, Ruth thought.

She shouldn't be sad, No! She should be hopeful instead, not mourning. Her daughter was alive, Ivory was alive. But how could she not be? Ivory had lost two years of her life she might not be able to get back.

Ruth wasn't a stranger to the medical condition, coma. The movie industry had made sure if that. What was the possibility of her remembering who she was when she wakes up. If she wakes up, her pessimistic mind corrected.

The door opened slightly and Ruth turned to see who it was. It couldn't be her husband. Caleb went to work and so wouldn't be coming to the hospital till evening when he would stay with Ivory as she went to freshen up at home.

Her tired sky blue eyes met emerald green eyes, totally contrasting to Caleb's ocean blue's. The stranger entered the room and softly closed the door. Ruth stared at the stranger, trying to remember who the stranger was. She finally remembered as he turned fully to look at her.

Isaac Davies, Ivory's ex and last boyfriend. She didn't know much about the circumstances that led to the breakup but they had ended things two months before the accident. She ran her eyes over the young man's form.

He still looked as handsome if not more as he did the last time she saw him - one of the traits that charmed his way into her heart the time he was first introduced to her.

His dark brown hair was styled and gelled neately to the back, making his emerald green eyes - another trait that made her readily accept him into the family, stand out more against his tanned skin. Thick, full set of eyebrows framed the eyes that showed vulnerability at the moment. His long well defined nose were sniffing, probably from cold or crying, Ruth wasn't sure. His full lips were set in a thin line, probably to prevent them from trembling, and his jaws were clenched painfully bringing attention to his perfectly shaped square, chiseled jaw. All these were fitted in a symmetrical face. He was beauty on human form. With his black Armani suit showing off his broad, lean and muscled back, blue tie and black polished shoes, he looked like what authors would call a Greek god.

He looked smart, just like he had in the past. Ruth stood up as he slowly walked towards her and wrapped her hands around him, giving him a warm hug. He looked like he was about to break down with all sadness brimming in his eyes.

"Ruth..." He let out, sounding close to to tears, the pain in his eyes leaking out to his voice. Her arms automatically tightened around him as he clinged to her like she was his life support. The pain in his voice was enough confirmation she needed to tell her that it hurt him, pained him to see her daughter lying unconscious on the hospital bed. Enough confirmation that he still cared for her.

"Come, let's sit" she said as she led him to the sofa by the window. Isaac followed, his eyes never leaving the frail woman on the bed. Once they were seated, Ruth rubbed his hands soothingly, waring a brief glance from him before her daughter captured his attention again. They sat in comfortable silence before Isaac spoke again.

"How long?" He croaked out, his voice barely audible among the sound of the rain and machine. Ruth frowned, "What?".

She watched in sadness as Isaac swallowed a lump in his throat before repeating the question. She gently removed her hands from his and folded them on her lap. She closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

'Two years now. She hasn't woken up since the accident". Ruth looked up to see Isaac's reaction and what she saw saddened her heart. Pain and guilt reflected on his emerald green eyes as he mouthed "Two years".