STAY

Forty

Finally after what seemed like hours the doctors came out and began explaining what was happening. I was only half paying attention to what they were telling me, I just wanted to go in and see her and be with her. As soon as I walked into the room I just stared, willing her to open her eyes. It felt strange to be back at the hospital where I'd first met her, my mind drifted back to those first few days. She had been so vibrant and happy, caring for me uncomplainingly. I'd never imagined I'd be back here, again, in this situation. She had IV tubes coming out of her arms, her neck. She had breathing tubes in her mouth and nose. She'd had an MRI, CT scan and X-rays. They showed that she had a broken right arm. Some fractured ribs and her shoulder blade was fractured as well. She had a gash on her leg that had been stitched up. But amazingly despite the severity of the impact, everything else seemed fine. I was afraid to even touch her, scared I'd hurt her. The doctor had explained she was in a coma, she had some swelling of the brain, but they were hopeful that there was no permanent damage. She was just, recharging they assured me. Shannon stood against the wall, looking ashen. He was devastated, I couldn't be angry at him, even though I wanted to be. He already blamed himself. But I was as guilty as he was, I hated that I had yelled at her before she left, it was my fault she took off upset. I had to get a fucking grip and stop being such an asshole. "I need to ring her parents, they're going to flip" I turned to say to him. He nodded, "I have her phone here, it fell out of her jacket when they took it off so I grabbed it". "It's fine, I have her dads number" I said, recalling briefly messaging him at Christmas, she'd been so angry with me, but it had been a huge learning curve for the both of us. I realized with a pang of guilt, she was forever forgiving me. It was the hardest call I had ever had to make. He was initially confused, wondering why the hell I was calling him. "Ah, Mr Taylor, it's Jared speaking" I'd said, there was a pause from him. "What can I do for you?" he had replied, businesslike. When I explained what had happened, he was momentarily silent. When he finally spoke again, he sounded composed. He told me he'd call her mother and he'd get the next available flight. A half an hour later I got a text to tell me they would be there by 7 pm. It all seemed like a nightmare, I kept looking at her, stupidly wondering why she didn't wake up. Why wouldn't she open her eyes and give me that beautiful cheeky smile. I wanted to shake her in the hopes of waking her up, but sadly I knew how futile that would be.  I'd never forgive myself if ... no she was going to be fine. So I sat and held her hand and waited.
*
I sat quietly listening to the doctor explain it all again to her parents. They had barely acknowledged me when they'd arrived. Her mom was quiet as he spoke, she looked a little dazed, her dad was stone faced and I could sense anger brewing. As soon as the doctor walked out he turned on me, "what the hell possessed her to get on a motorcycle?" he asked me furiously. Obviously he was laying the blame directly at my door. Thank God I had forced Shannon to go home, he would never have lied. He would have admitted it was him and dealt with the consequences. There was no way I was throwing him under the bus. "It was something she wanted to do, I couldn't stop her, believe me I tried. She wouldn't listen" I said, at least that was the truth. Her mom had stood on the other side of the bed silently, she had barely said a word since she'd walked in. "And who are you? Why are you here?" she finally snapped at me. I was shocked, I didn't realize that Gigi hadn't told them we were together, though I shouldn't have been, she wasn't close to either of them. "I'm her boyfriend, she lives with me" I said calmly in explanation. "You were her boss the last time we met" said her father sarcastically. I gritted my teeth but remained calm, "things changed" I said simply. They both glanced at each other, shooting curious looks. Then they walked out, whispering to one another. Hours passed, nurses came in and out, checking on her. Looking over the machines. One came back in shortly after, with what I knew was stuff to wash her. I stood up and went over to the bed. "Uh, let me help you do that, please" I said firmly. She looked at me about to object but I stopped her quickly. "No buts, I need to be here with her, I know she'd do the same for me" "okay then, could you excuse us please?" she said directing this to her parents. Her father stood up and nodded, closing the door behind them. I remembered how tenderly she had washed me. I gently started around her face, wiping everywhere I could reach, wherever there wasn't a tube. The nurse busied herself untangling the tubes from the gown and putting on a fresh one. I softly kissed her forehead and cheeks, whispering to her as I did, begging her to wake up. The sight of the bruises around her ribs and stomach made me cringe. Her hips and thighs were also blotched with big purple bruises, I was almost glad she was asleep. The pain would have been excruciating otherwise. We slowly made our way down her legs, I held her to me while the nurse washed her back, then we finally finished. "Thanks for your help, it's much easier with two" she said. "It's okay, I'll help anyway I can" I replied. I looked at her intently, looking for a sign of movement, anything. But nothing, there was nothing. "Everyone is so upset, she's just the sweetest girl" she explained. I nodded, "yeah she is" I said quietly. "She'll be okay, just give her time" she said gently as she walked out. I heard voices outside, Jamie had arrived, she was talking to Genevieve's parents. I had called her to tell her what had happened. She walked in slowly and stopped immediately. Staring at the bed in shock. "Oh Genevieve ..." she whispered. Tears running down her cheeks, she glanced over at me and shook her head. "That fucking bike! Fuck your brother, giving her that bike! And, and, she's so stubborn, she has to prove she's good at everything!" she whispered angrily "that's their fault" she hissed pointing at her parents who were outside the room, "always making her feel like she needed to prove herself!" I frowned, Gigi had never shared that with me. There was so much about her I didn't know. "She's going to be okay, she is" I said firmly, willing myself to believe it as well. She nodded firmly, wiping away her tears. Her father walked back in, "we're leaving, we'll be back tomorrow" he said curtly, her mother just stood at the door looking annoyed. "I'll ring you if there's any change" I said, trying but failing to keep the contempt out of my voice. He looked like he was going to say something but stopped, turning on his heel and walking out instead. "Good riddance" I muttered. Jamie nodded in agreement. So we sat, watching her. She didn't make a sound, didn't move. Her chest rising and falling silently. The only sound coming from the beeping of the machines. I must have fallen asleep, I had no idea how much time had passed when I felt a hand shaking me. "I'm going, you should go home and rest" said Jamie. "I will, I'll just stay a little longer" I said nodding, running my hands through my hair. She walked over, kissing Gigi on the cheek "I'll come back tomorrow" she said softly, heading to the door. I nodded and with that she left.
I watched and waited.
*
They sat quietly, speaking in hushed voices. My mom, Shannon and Jamie. Emma had come to visit for a little while as well, but had left, she had taken over a lot of my work which meant she was very busy. I would sit for a while then I would pace, around the bed, to the window, back to the bed. Jamie and Shannon had called a truce, she'd chewed him out for buying Gigi the bike. But when she saw how devastated he was, she took pity on him. She told him she'd forgive him, but don't buy her anymore presents she'd warned, trying to lighten the mood. Her parents had hung around for a while, her father spending most of the time outside the room on the phone. Her mother, stood near the doorway, not talking to anyone but her ex husband. My mom had tried to chat to her, but she'd been aloof, not interested in conversation. I avoided going outside the room too much, people kept snapping photos. I knew it was probably public knowledge now. I didn't care, I just wanted her to wake up.
And so another day passed.