I'm Only Sleeping

Chapter 8 - He Can't Die!

As Jasmine exits the room, her sisters and John are outside waiting for her. "Visiting hours over for the day?" Asked Gabriella. "Not yet. The nurse said she wanted me to step out for a minute. But she'll let me back in when she's ready." Said Jasmine. "Ah, that's understandable. Giving the staff some space to examine the patients." Said Vivian. "What happened in there, Jasmine?" Asked John. "I was reliving some memories of my time with Paul. Like the day we met, the day we had our first kiss, and the day Paul proposed to me." Jasmine said. "Awww!" Gabriella, Vivian, and John all said.

The nurse returns a minute later. "Jasmine, you may come back in now." She said. Jasmine turns back to the others and they nod. She walks back into the room and the nurse pulls her aside. "I'm afraid I have some terrible news." Said the nurse. "What is it?" Asked Jasmine. "We discovered that your husband has a severe injury in his brain." The nurse said. "What'll this mean for Paul?" Jasmine asked. "Well, some people get out of comas eventually, others don't and they die. I'm afraid Paul is one of those unlucky people, and he'll probably die." Said the nurse.

Jasmine's eyes widened. "What?! He can't die!!" She cried. "Believe me, honey, we're trying to help him, but nothing seems to work. We might have to put him down at some point." The nurse said. "There must be some other way to help him." Said Jasmine as tears fill her eyes. "I don't know if there's any other way. I wish there was, but no luck." The nurse said. "Can I go back and see him again?" Jasmine asked. "Of course. I can tell how much you need him." Said the nurse. "Thank you." Said Jasmine.

While drowning in her tears, Jasmine walks back over to her husband's bed. She sits in the chair and looks down at Paul. His expression is so peaceful as he's still comatose. Jasmine caresses his face and strokes his cheek with her thumb. "I wish you could hear me, Paulie. I know you can't, but I need you to understand that I miss you terribly. I especially miss being held by you whenever I'm scared or sad. Please don't be in this coma forever. I'm scared out of my mind, I want you to hold me, and tell me everything will be okay." She sobbed.

Jasmine leans her head onto Paul's chest. "You said you'd never leave me. I can't spend the rest of my days without you. I want you back, baby. Please don't go." She cried. The nurse appears behind her and rubs her back. "There, there, child. Don't cry." She said. "What'll I do without him?" Jasmine asked. "I'll tell you what, you come back again in a week, and we'll see if we have any better news then." The nurse said. "Okay." Jasmine said.

The nurse leaves her side as Jasmine looks back down at Paul. She caresses his face some more and strokes his hair as she starts singing to herself.

There were bells on the hill
But I never heard them ringing,
No, I never heard them at all
Till there was you.

There were birds in the sky
But I never saw them winging
No, I never saw them at all
Till there was you.

And there was music,
And there were wonderful roses,
They tell me,
In sweet fragrant meadows of dawn, and dew.

There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No, I never heard it at all
Till there was you

There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No, I never heard it at all
Till there was you!

After Jasmine finished singing, she kisses Paul on his forehead. "I love you." She whispered. She stands up from the chair and leaves Paul's side. "Hang in there, Jasmine. Come back next week, and we'll see if we can get some better news." Said the nurse. Jasmine nods before exiting the room.