Holding Onto You

Ch. 35

Demi's pov

Eight incredibly long weeks have passed since Maya's arrival at the hospital. She's made a lot of small improvements like getting over strep. Being able to breathe on her own again. Last week even showing a bit of higher brain waves than she has in previous weeks. Yet, she still hasn't woken up or even moved a muscle.

"Still not anything yet."

"The brain activity is promising, when you speak and ask something she is showing slightly more brain activity then when it's quiet."

"Yeah, she's fighting. She just needs a bit more time. She's doing really well. She's showed enough for us to keep her here."

I look at Maya as the doctors continue their daily morning tests hoping to see the finger move, but she's just not able to do it today either.

"We'll try again later."

The doctors leave the room leaving us with Maya alone, "What if Bailey holds her hand?" Ava asks.

"Why would that do anything dipshit?" Emilio asks.

Ava turns her head to him and looks at him as if he's stupid, "Because sometimes when you care about someone an insane amount then your body just reacts. Maya's obviously trying, but maybe if Bailey did something then her brain would send the signals to do something and Maya be able to do it. The brain controls your movements, or brain signals do at least." Ava says.

"We already tried your stupid idea with Bella."

"It wasn't stupid, it was a good try. Bella is the one who was able to keep Maya here. When Bella touched her, she had brain waves which proved she had brain activity to the people who wanted to move Maya somewhere else. So it wasn't stupid. It did a lot." Bailey says.

I kiss Bella's cheek as she looks at her sister, "MayMay doing her best." Bella says.

"She is, she's doing really good right now. She's trying so hard." I say.

"I vote Bailey, but we all leave the room and see if it does anything." Ava says.

I look at Wilmer to see his thoughts on it and he just raises his eyebrows questioning me. I know we're both desperate to see Maya improve and I'm willing to try anything. Ava's first idea did something, so maybe this one will as well.

I give him a small nod, "Let's let Bailey have a few moments with Maya." Wilmer says.

"Ok this is so stupid." Emilio rolls his eyes.

I send him a glare and he just walks out of the room. Wilmer follows behind him and I look to Ava who makes eye contact with me, "Stay." I mouth and she nods.

I walk out of the room with Bella and listen to the door close behind me, "I can't believe you guys really think this will work."

"You said the first idea was stupid and you have your sister to thank as to why she is still at this hospital. Stop." Wilmer snaps.

He stands against the window with this arms crossed as he look at the wall in front of him, "Whatever."

Ava's pov

I watch Bailey walk closer to the bed railing before turning her head to me with a look of uncertainty, "Just start talking." I mouth.

Bailey delicately reaches for Maya's hand and rests hers beneath my sisters. I stand at a distance wanting to give Bailey her own space right now. It just feels like the right thing to do right now. Or I think it is at least. Nothing feels right anymore.

"I'm going to try not to cry because I know you'd only wipe my tears and tell me you're not worth crying over which is so far from the truth. I can't even begin to tell you how much you mean to me Maya. I love you so fucking much and more than I can even begin to put into words or even show. You're one of the most important people to me and someone I need so much. So fucking much. You make everything better without even trying. When you're not here, everything's so dark. Like everything." Baileys voice cracks.

"I just really need you to wake up. Just to prove that you can do that and you'll be ok. Because the longer you're not here, the more painful it is. The harder it gets to do anything or want to do anything. Like what am I supposed to do without you?" Bailey asks before the tears begin.

I bite my lip to keep silent. It's hard to hear your friend talk like this and not do anything. But I know I need to just let her have this conversation with Maya. She's wanting to have it with Maya, not me.

I watch her tears fall onto Maya's arm and I see Maya's finger move once before all the sudden her eyes open. I run to the other side of Maya's bed and push the nurse call button and look at Bailey who only sobs more seeing Maya awake.

I don't have time to process what's happening before the doctors run into the room which causes my parents and siblings to come into the room as well. My mom stands beside me and pulls me into a hug as I watch the doctors surround my sisters bed.

"Ok Maya, if you can hear us can you give us a blink?" The lead doctor asks as he shines a light into her eyes.

Maya gives a blink in response as she stares up at the hospital ceiling not moving a muscle, "Can you move your finger for us? Can you give us a blink for yes and two blinks for no?" He asks.

Silence fills the room for a few moments until Maya gives a single blink. Her eyes manage a squint before opening wide again, "Ok we'll take that Maya. Good job." A nurse says.

"Can you speak Maya?" The lead doctor asks.

There's several more moments of silence before Maya gives a slow blink and making another squint. The questions continue for a while before the lead doctor makes eye contact with my parents and motions for them to follow them.

"Holy shit, it actually worked." Emilio says dumbfounded.

Bailey wipes her tears with her free hand as she continues to hold Maya's left hand. I give a weak smile at the sight. Love does a lot in the brain. I guess there's no denying the amount of love Maya truly has for Bailey.

Demi's pov

"So Maya has woken up which is absolutely incredible, but she does have a long way to go. This is just the very beginning of a long road ahead. We can not see what damage the accident has caused long term right now. I do want to say it is not abnormal for patients who come out of a longer coma to not be able to speak, move, or even move their eyes. This is fairly common. Her being able to blink is huge. Most patients aren't even able to do that when they come out of a coma from something this traumatic. Maya is alert and is responsive and that's a very exciting thing. However, we do have to keep peace around her. Stress can cause a regression in recovery, as can sadness. It's very important to keep things positive around her right now." He says.

"So you can't see what long term effects this would cause? What long term effects could it cause?" Wilmer asks.

He looks up from the clipboard and looks between Wilmer and I, "Head trauma can cause many irreversible things. It can cause her to be permanently paralyzed. It could cause her to to be unable to speak as well as paralyzed. It could cause her to be unable to even understand really anything. Or it could just lead to chronic migraines. It could lead to random seizures. It could lead to dizziness and light sensitivity. Or Maya may be able to pull through and have none of the above. It's far to early to tell right now." He says.

So we might not ever get our daughter back is what he's telling us right now. To basically prepare ourselves in case that is a possibility.

"What would Maya have to do to prove that she'll be ok?" Wilmer asks.

"If I'm being honest with you, I don't think Maya will be paralyzed. She's blinking and we have seen her fingers and toes move a couple times. That is a really good sign and something we are relieved to see ourselves. Time is the only thing that will tell us Maya's condition." He says.

I believe in my daughter. She's already done a lot more than they thought she'd be able to do through all this. I have faith that she's going to pull through and come out on top. Maya's an incredibly strong girl and I'm not going to underestimate her or doubt her now. I can't.