Forever N ever (Book 13 in the Forever Series)

Chapter 18

Nick

Hearing doctors tell you that your son may never wake up or if he does he could have severe memory loss is arguably one of the worst things a parent can go through. It's almost as bad as burying a child because the quality of life your child would have is close to nothing, so it's like they're dead but you can't bury them because they're not technically dead. Demi didn't handle the news well at all & after the doctor told us that Jerry's chances of waking up grew slimmer as the days went on, I had to practically hold her up, in the hall outside Jerry's room.

The doctor walked away, leaving me to hold onto Demi & try to console her, as best as I could. I was hugging her, then she looked up at me with her eyes filled with tears & choked on the words, "He has to wake up, Nick. I can't lose him."

I put my hand on her cheek, rubbing away a tear with my thumb as I stared into her weepy eyes. "He's a fighter." I whispered, nodding my head, slightly. "Just like you. He's going to wake up, Demi."

"What if he doesn't?" She asked in a heartbreaking murmur.

"Don't think about that. We need to stay positive. Our son has got this."

Demi blinked away her tears after hearing me say the words we used to say about ourselves, in reference to our son. We stared at each other for a moment, then Demi's gaze softened, her eyes flashing something I hadn't seen in a while & she seemed to be moving closer to me. I saw the way she had her lips slightly parted & the way she was now eyeing my mouth. She was going to kiss me, so I licked my lips in anticipation.

The moment my mouth was about to touch hers, we heard Mercy yelling for us, from Jerry's room. Demi wiggled out of my arms & hurried into the room, leaving me standing in the hall, dumbfounded that we almost kissed. I composed myself then went into the room to see why Mercy had been yelling for us.

When I saw Jerry's eyes open, staring at Karleigh who was lying next to him, my heart soared. "Jerry." I said in a breath.

Jerry turned his head to look at me as Karleigh got off the bed & Demi approached it. "What happened? Why am I in the hospital?" He wanted to know. It worried me that he didn't remember the accident but it also left me feeling relieved because I imagined it wasn't a good memory.

"What's the last thing you remember, Jerry?" Demi asked, brushing the hair on his forehead to the side, a little. I could hear the relief in her voice but I also heard the fear.

Jerry's forehead creased & he looked like he was trying to think, but I got concerned because he looked like he was getting upset. "Mercy will you go get a doctor." I said in a low voice, glancing at my daughter. When I looked back at Jerry he looked worried. "You've been unconscious for a few days so we need to get the doctor since you're awake now."

"What day is it?" My son wanted to know.

"November 8th." Demi replied in a quiet breath.

"November?" Jerry asked in an alarmed tone. "It's not summer anymore?"

"You remember the summer?" Demi looked over at me.

"I remember going to New York & I remember... you & Mom divorcing. That's a memory I wish I didn't have." Jerry mumbled as he looked around the room. "Where's Gianna? Why isn't she here?"

Demi & I looked at Karleigh, all of us showing our confusion. "Uh, she's at home. Why would she be here?" Demi was the one to ask.

"She's my girlfriend. I figured my girlfriend would be here."

"You think Gianna is still your girlfriend?" I stepped closer to Jerry's bed but glanced toward the door, hoping the doctor would come quickly.

"She's not? Did we break up?"