3,000 Miles

Chapter 7

I was shaken awake in the middle of the night.
"Miss, we're gonna need you to exit the room." I rubbed the sleepiness from my eyes and looked up
"Someone call the doctor!"
"We need help!"
"We're loosing him!" A thousand voices rang out as I sat up trying to analyze the scene before me.
"Miss? Did you hear me?" A nurse shook me again but I couldn't hear her over the beeps coming from the machinery.
Beep.
Beep. Almost in time with my heart.
Beeeeep...
The final beep rang out like a chilling whisper. No more pattern. No more rhythm, just a continuous ring.
"Wes?" I asked pushing past the nurse.
"Wesley?" My eyes stinging with salty tears. "No Wesley! No!" I yelled now hovering over his bed. Two male nurses grab my arms and drag me away. I fight them back.
"No Wesley! Wake up! Look at me!" I cried. I gave in and fell limp into the men's arms as they dragged me back. I was forced to watch through the window as they sent electrical shocks through wesley. I put my head to the glass and closed my eyes.
"Please Wesley please." I whispered. "Please Wes, I'm not loosin you, not here, not like this." A chilling moment of silence made me think my prayer had not been heard. Then I heard it.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
The familiar pattern returned.
"Oh thank God." I said to myself, returning though the door. Wesley looked confused, sitting up in bed.
"Don't you ever scare me like that again." I cried wrapping my arms around him.
"I won't, I won't" he whispered into my neck. I sat back down in the recliner and he laid back tiredly.
"What was it like?" I asked. His eyes followed the nurse until he was sure she was gone.
"Well." he started. "It was bright, much to cheery for me." he smiled, dimples pitting his cheeks. "I think I'll stay here for a while." he laughed.
He sighed again and closed his eyes.
"Im very tired." he said. "I just wanna go home." His eyes won the battle he was fighting with sleep and he drifted off.
I looked over at the clock on the wall.
4am. There was no getting back to sleep now so I slipped on my shoes and shuffles to the hallway. I followed the signs down the elevator and around the twisty hallways until I found the cafeteria. I made myself a small coffee and paid for it. I began to wonder back down the halls looking at pictures and pamphlets on the walls, just wasting time. I think of my mother, she must be worried. I mentally remind myself to call her in the morning as well as Wesley mother whom didn't seem to concerned when I called the first time. While wondering the halls I stop when I see a familiar face.
"Hey Sandra." I waved. "What are you doing up?" She shrugged.
"Sandra!" A voice called. A lady who looked about thirty turned the corner and scooped Sandra into her arms. she looked at me and gave a soft smile.
"Pacing the hall at night can get pretty lonely." she laughed though I could sense a seriousness behind it. "God knows I've done it enough." I smiled back. "I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself, I'm Katrina, I see you've already met my Sandra. She's a bit of a social butterfly." I laughed.
"I'm Annabeth." I said extending my hand to her. "Sandra told me about your husband, I'm very sorry." I said.
He gave turned serious and she sat Sandra down. "Go back to the room honey." she smiled at her and she skipped back around the corner.
"It was a work accident." she whispered lowly. "Kent worked in construction. One day a metal beam went right through the building and knocked him out." she stopped and looked at the floor while fiddling with her fingers. "He's been in a coma ever since." she said looking up to meet my gaze again. "There's nothing they can do."
"Um ma'am, your friend is asking for you." a nurse says peeking her head out of Wesley's room.
"I'll see you later then I guess. take care." I give a small wave and return to the room.
"Hey Wes" I smile when I walk in and see him sitting up.
"Hey, they started me on new medication. Hopefully I'll be better soon." He sighed.
"I sure hope so." I laugh.
"Anna, can I tell you something?" He asks, his face now serious and stern. I nod and he waits until we're the only two in the room.
"Umm well I don't really know how to say this so I'm just gonna say it." he takes my hand in his and my heart sinks. A thousand things fill my mind. What could he want to tell me, what's the bad news.
"When my heart stopped for a while there I..i don't know what it was actually. It's like I saw you and I saw myself." He looks frustrated and I give his hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Right then I realized I didn't want to die, but not because of me. But Because of you. You made me want to fight. I wanted to live to be with you."
"Wesley what do you mean." I stumble over my words.
"Anna, I..I think I love you."
The words surged through my veins like a bolt of lightning. I felt numb all over. I tried to open my mouth to speak but only muffled stutters came out.
"Please say something." he whined, but his eyes are what really pleaded with me.
"Wesley I..."
"What" he waited patiently.
"I think I love you too."