Bits

The Woman I Love

PENELOPE

"How are you holding up?" Amelia gave me a hot cup of coffee but she continued to stand. We were outside the hospital's intensive care unit. Jasper ordered me out to go home and rest but I can't go home while my Red still laid unconscious for days.

"You look awful." She said.

"Good to know how I feel inside shows..." I did not mind the sting of the hot coffee on my tongue and throat, I took a sip.

Samantha was on the same boat that brought the dead woman back to the main island. They, along with the crew of the boat and a few passengers, were found starved in a tiny island. One was unlucky and two others injured. Samantha was one of the injured two.

She hit her head when she fell from their boat and was thankfully rescued by a boat crew before she drowned. The unlucky woman, however, had her shoulder hit by the propeller; the wound was extensive that she bled to death even though she was saved from the sea. She died on the island while Samantha remained unconscious.

Samantha's superficial head injury was slowly healing after the infected wound was closed and treated. However, her internal injury was a lot worse. The doctors had to induce a coma until they treated the inflammation of her brain.

Everyone visited her regularly. Selena and Gabe came too. Even Austen dropped by every now and then to check on Samantha. I am not sure if she knew everything about what happened on our vacation but one thing was sure - Austen was blaming me for what Samantha was going through. She made it very clear with scathing looks she threw my way.

I deserved it!

If only I could, I would gladly trade places with Samantha. I could not stand seeing her suffer so much. Though this has been the longest weeks of our life, Samantha was steadily recovering. And that is all I was wishing for right now–her recovery. I could wait forever, as long as she survives this.

"Everything will work out for the best, Hensen. Hold fast." Amelia said. "Now go get showered and cleaned up, Samantha will not like the way you smell in that."

Yeah, I have made the hospital my home for the duration of Samantha's stay. I stood vigil for two days after the scare we had when Samantha suffered a seizure. I was terrified to leave her then. "I don't want to go and leave her here alone. I don't want to go home."

Not without Samantha with me.

I am not going anywhere this time.

A couple of days later, the infection was under control and the swelling was subsiding. the doctors were now trying to bring her out of the coma by reducing the anesthetic gradually. At any moment, Samantha could wake.

I want to be here for that.

"I was not telling you to go home but merely saying you need a bath and get your stomach full with something else other than coffee." She pointed to the paper bags she placed near my foot and then handed me a keycard. "214. The hotel's two blocks away. A chauffeur is waiting for you in the lobby. He'll drive you back and forth. Tessa brought food too. Eat. Go. Come back as quickly as you can."

"But..."

"How could you take care of her if you can't take care of yourself?"

Reluctantly, I followed Amelia's words and left. But not before, I glanced at the door through where Samantha rested.

I'll be back in a few, Red.

Don't go anywhere, I'll be back soon.

. . .