Emerald Eyes

50 - Right in the middle of your life.

As I watched Martijn fall asleep, I grabbed his phone and unlocked it. He had trusted me with his phone code from early on in our relationship. I opened his message app and started to craft a message for his team:

Hey guys, this is Line!

Martijn has asked me to let you guys know that everything went fine with his surgery. He is back in his room now, taking some rest and recovering. I'm sure he'd be quite happy though to see some of you guys in a bit. Text me if you need some directions to his room. I'll be here with him for a couple more hours.

Line

Next, I texted Menno and Emilio, before I got out my own phone to call Julian. "Hey Line, how are you?", Julian asked as he picked up the phone. "Hi Julian. I'm fine, what about you?", I answered. "Me too, thanks for asking! Have you heard anything from Martijn yet?", he said. "Yes I have! I am actually in the hospital with him right now. I just wanted to let you know that he's back in his room now and that everything went fine regarding his surgery.", I explained. "That's amazing! I'm so glad to hear that!", Julian said, "Do you think he would mind if Anna and I came to visit him? I was planning on picking her up after her classes and we could come by for a little while. Or would that be too exhausting for him?" "I'm sure he'd be happy to see you.", I answered, "You know, Martijn hates being in the hospital, so everything that makes him feel a little more like at home is a good thing I guess." "Okay, amazing. Then we'll make sure to come by in a bit!", Julian promised, "I'll see you in a bit! Thanks for letting me know, Line!" "See you, Julian!", I answered and hung up the phone. I put both of our phones away and then turned my attention to Martijn again. I gently took his left hand into mine and started to caress it. Just watching him lay there made me once again realize how much he meant to me. Martijn was sleeping for at least another half an hour, before he woke up again. "Line? Baby, you are still here.", he whispered. "Of course I am. I promised you.", I answered and squeezed his hand, "How are you feeling? You don't look too good to be honest." Martijn sighed: "To be honest with you, my ankle hurts like crazy ever since I woke up. I guess my anesthesia is slowly fading." "Oh I am sorry to hear that. Maybe you should have a nurse or a doctor check in on you...", I suggested. "No, it's alright, baby.", he said, "I can take it. I'd much rather get some painkillers for the night than right now when I still have company that can distract me from the pain. But I'll let you know should it get worse, okay?" "Promise?", I asked. "Promised.", he smiled, "You know I keep my promises." "You indeed do keep them.", I remarked, "Oh and by the way: I've texted your friends and your team. A couple of people have promised to come by in a bit." "Thank you, baby.", Martijn smiled and pulled me over into a kiss, "You're literally the best, do you know that?" "Yep, I know. But I don't mind you telling me that every other time.", I smirked. "I might say that sometime again.", he smirked back, "But seriously: Who said they'd be coming over?" "Okay so Julian and Anna will be here first probably, they just texted me they're on their way. And then there's Gabe, Watse and Menno who promised to come by after the STMPD meeting. Oh and your mom just texted me that Laura and your dad will come to visit you tomorrow morning!", I listed. A big smile took over Martijn's face: "You know, honestly this means so much to me. All you lot caring so much about me. And you especially. You spent your whole day here in the hospital so far, just for me." "I know you'd do the same for me.", I just said quietly. Martijn made a little space for me in his bed and asked me to sit on it next to him: "Baby, is anything wrong with you today? You seem sad." He wrapped his arm around my body and instantly I felt safe once more. "It's nothing you would need to worry about right now. I want you to use all your energy to recover from the surgery, honey.", I got out. Martijn pulled me closer and said: "You know how stubborn I am. What If I want you to tell me?" "But Tijn, I don't want to bo...", I said, but he interrupted me: "Don't you dare say you don't want to bother me. Just cause I have torn ligaments, it doesn't mean I can't be here for you." I sighed and cleared my throat: "It is just... this is the hospital in which my mom was treated during her final therapy. I can still see myself in a bed like yours, preparing to donate some of my stem cells to her, and then how the nurses came in together with my dad... And how they said that it was too late. And then my mom laying in another bed like this... I just... It brings back so many memories just to be here again." "Oh baby, I don't even know what to say right now...", he whispered and pressed a kiss on my forehead. I shrugged: "Don't worry, it's alright. Being here with you makes it so much more endurable." "That is good to hear baby. But you have to promise me one thing as well, alright?", he asked. "Sure, what is it?", I wanted to know. "Well, I know all you're trying to do is to protect me, but you seriously have to tell me things like this. I don't want you holding back just to protect me. We talked this through after the whole incident with Toby. I can be honest with you and so can you with me. You don't need to be scared, okay baby? I just really need you to be honest with me. Promise me that?", he said gently and squeezed my hand. "Okay, I'll try.", I answered. "No, I want you to promise it to me.", he insisted, "This is really important to me." I let my head rest on his shoulder and cuddled up a little, then I said: "Okay, I promise. It's just a little too much for me at times. Can you understand that?" "Of course I can! But I'm here, right in the middle of your life, to go through it with you okay?", he smiled. "Wouldn't want you to be in any other place!", I answered, now also with a smile.