Save Me From Myself

Watching You

  Rylands POV

  The days came and went. I spent the the first two weeks never leaving her side. I slept at the hospital, did my work online, ate at the hospital and only left to shower and change. Finn and the others would come to visit. Sit and talk to her. Tell them stories about their days. Then eventually would say goodbye and leave. But I always stayed.

  The day finally came where they were going to bring her out of the coma. We were all there waiting expectantly. They administered the drug and we watched. Watched for a twitch in her face, body, anything but after 20mins still nothing came.

  I asked the nurse what was happening and she said sometimes it takes a day to come out of. That was 3 weeks ago now and Dani is still asleep. I come everyday. I sing to her and read to her. Tell her stories about the others and beg her to wake up.

  There's never any change. She lays in the bed still, hooked up to various machines and tubes. Today is no different.

  "Good morning Rachel. How's she doing today?" I ask the question though the answer is never different.

  "Hello Ryland. She's the same but she's healing well." She looks at me sadly but with a smile as I take my seat beside Dani's bed.

  No one has been able to find the contact information for Cole or her grandpa. Not even the school had their information. Adley tried an online search but even that came up empty. We were the only ones who knew.

  Sitting down I watch Rachel as she finishes checking the various monitors and lines. She changes out the Plasmalyte drip before waving goodbye and shutting the door. Rachel is my favorite of Dani's nurses. She's an older women and very sweet.

  When she's gone I turn my attention to Dani. Her face is peaceful and her breathing even. She looks like relaxed.

  "I brought your favorite today. I know how much you love when I play for you." I say as I bring out her guitar from its case and pull it into place in my hands.

  I spend the next 20 mins playing and singing different songs. When the last song ends I place the guitar against the side of the bed and grab Dani's hand.

  "I miss you Dani. The others do to. They'll be here later to say hi. You should surprise them by waking up." I smile and laugh sadly

  "Your side of the room is still set up and ready for you to come back. I clean the room everyday. I want it to be nice for when you get back"

  I turn to a knock at the door. I see Finn through the little window on the door. I wave him in.

  "Hey man. How's she today?" He asks taking a seat next to me.

  "She's the same. I'm ready for her to come back man. I just wanna see her eyes again, hear her voice, I wanna watch her play." I say gripping tighter onto her lifeless hand.

  "I know dude. But you know what the doctor said. Her body will wake up when it's ready. She's healing in there." He puts his hand on my shoulder squeezing it.

  "I brought you some food. I know you haven't eaten yet." Finn says holding up some MickyD's.

  "Thank you. I appreciate it." We eat in silence for awhile and then talk about random things.

  Sloan stops by a little later with Adley. We give them the room to talk to her privately. Stepping into the hallway I decide to grab a drink from the vending machine, Finn taging along.

  While putting in the money I overhear someone frantically yelling at the nurses desk down the hall.

  "Her names Dani. Dani Shey!" I've never heard that voice before. Both me and Finn go walking towards the source of the noise.

  We find a brown haired guy that looks distinctly like Dani frantically pacing by the nurses station. I walk up to Rachel "is there a problem Rachel?"

  "He claims to be Dani's cousin but we have no record of family members on file." She tells me.

  "Hey guy what's your name?" I question and he snaps his head towards me.

  "My names Cole! Cole Michaels and I'm looking for my cousin Dani. Ive been calling her for days but she hasn't answered, I went to the school and heard she was here! I just want to see her!" He nearly ripps his hair out he's tugging so hard.

  "You said your names Cole?" I look at Finn and he nods. That's the name Dani said was her cousins.

  "Rachel" She turns towards me "thats her cousin. She said his name was Cole."

  "Thank you! Thank you- umm" He questions

  "Ryland. Ryland Taylor." His eyes widen and a knowing smirk takes shape on his face.

  "Oh you're Taylor." That's what Dani calls me. So she's talked about me to him.

  "I am. I can show you to her room. We're headed back there ourselves." I offer and his eyes light up. He nods and hurries to our sides.

  When we get to the room Sloan is sitting on the bed and Adley is in my chair. She gets up when I approach her, giving the seat up to me but instead I offer it to Cole.

  Hes standing by the door, shock on his face, taking in Dani for the first time. His eyes begin to water and then he's by her side in a flash.

  "What happened." He asks calmly.

  I tell him everything I know. About her being missing for two days, about her phone call, finding her in the woods, the decision to keep or lose her arm, and the coma.

He thanks me for opting to save her arm. Then we introduce ourselves. He smiles and says he already knows us, he's heard a lot about us and he knows Gage is the only one not there.

  "While you're here you can have Dani's side of the dorm room, if you don't mind sharing with me that is." He thanks me again and then Finn takes him to the campus to unpack his bags and get settled. Sloan and Adley kiss Dani's cheeks and then they leave as well.

  It's just us again. So I take a seat next to her in my seat. Grab her hand, bring it to my lips and kiss it. Tears streaming down my face.

  "Dani, you need to come back. Coles here to now. So many people are waiting for you. You still have to finish your song with Finn, teach me the piano and so many other things."

  "I need you to come back to me, because.. Well because I love you. I know you don't believe in that word but I will try everyday to prove to you, that you can. Come back, I still need you."

  "You came into my life, fucked everything up-" Chucking sadly "- and I'm so happy you did. So please Dani, please wake up. I don't wanna let go."

  I put my face onto the mattress still holding her hand in mine. And slowly drift off to sleep. I wake to a subtle squeeze to my hand and a soft "Ryland?"