Inside the Asylum (Book 1)

Chapter 17 - Hope for Grace

It had been three weeks. Three weeks and Grace was still in hospital. I haven't heard anything from their mum, but she kept Max up to date every day or at least every second day. She said that Grace is stable, but no-one knows if she will ever wake up. Poor Max is really struggling. He wants her to be okay but has no way of helping her. They are best friends. It is so cute! I really hope Grace gets better soon so that Max can see her. I think he misses her more than he admits. I'm pretty sure seeing her was the best part of his day. He seems a little more happy when his mum comes to see him but sometimes he makes himself stressed out while he waits to hear if there's any change in Grace's condition but he calms down a bit once I get him talking about what we are going to do the next time we go outside or what he wants to do when he finally gets out of here.

Distractions. That's what Max needs. What we both need.

Luckily, we got just that. Jack. He decided to come visit us. To be honest I think it was as much for him as it was for us. It was nice to see him. He hadn't been around much as he has been working full time and now with Grace in the hospital, he is being stretched thin. To distract themselves he and Max were talking about some sports team that they liked and new video games that had been released. I decided to just listen, I didn't understand most of it.

Max's mum didn't come today but I hope she comes soon. I hope Grace is okay! I miss her and her happy, bubbly personality! I know for a fact that Max and Jack miss her too.

A few days later

We still haven't heard any updates about Grace. Max is beyond worried about her and nothing I say or do is able to calm him. He just sits and waits. He hasn't said much the past few days, too busy thinking or over thinking, I'm not sure, but I don't want to interrupt him.

We've been sitting here in silence for a while. It feels like an eternity. I hate silence even now, even after all these years. However, if Max needs silence I'm not going to argue.

The door clicks open pulling me back into reality. Max is up like a shot and is across the room and giving his mum a hug before I had even moved three steps.

"Mum. Is there any news? How is she? Can I go see her? Is she awake?" Max asks so many questions so quickly he's basically forgotten what breathing is. His mum sits down dragging him with her and waves me over. I quickly sit beside them and wait for the news, any news, any good news. She takes a deep breath.

Please let it be good news!

"The doctors say that Grace is in a deep coma. They are not sure if or when she will wake up." My heart dropped. I take Max's hand and squeeze it. "They say the best thing for new is to keep talking to her. To try and communicate with her as she is likely to be able to hear us. So, the hospital has arranged that both of you are allowed to visit her every few days. Starting today So...I am going to start the paperwork now. I hope you are both ready. Don't be worried." She says trying to reassure Max. "She is in the best place for her and is getting the best treatment and care possible. With that said let's get going." Max and I jump to our feet. We head out of the room to the main reception. Once all of the paperwork was done, we went to the car heading to the hospital. I felt so nervous. What if she never woke up? I would never be able to thank her for everything that she had done for me.

The reality hit me, and I had to stop myself from crying.

The sickly white walls reminded me of the Asylum, with the constant buzz of the lights, a slight yellow tinge cast across everyone and everything that moves along the halls. The blue carpet beneath my feet felt slightly springy like you could just jump on it instead of walking.

The walk to Grace's room felt like it took forever, I felt like I was being pulled backwards instead of moving forwards. As we walked up to her door, I felt Max grasp my hand, his shaking slightly, and squeezed it ever so gently. I squeeze his once to let him know I was there and wasn't going anywhere. I see a small smile reach his face out of the corner of my eye and smile knowing he feels a little better.

Their mu leads the way in and sits in the chair to the right of the bed while Max and I sit on the left. Grace looks so peaceful lying there. The beep of the heart monitor (I had to ask what it was) was the only noise in the room for a long while. No-one knew what to say. Then suddenly their mum speaks up.

"Gracie. It's mum. I want you to listen to me ok. Max is here. He brought 'H' with him. Please baby girl. Please wake up! You have so much to live for. We are all here supporting you and we will be until you are ok again. Please baby please! You have to try! For me, for Max, For H and for Jack." She sobs. I feel the tears well up in my eyes and quickly wipe them with the back of my hand to stop them from falling. I look at Max and see the tears falling like a stream down his cheeks. I wrap my arm around him, trying to comfort him. He takes Grace's hand and just holds on; I wish she would wake up! Max needs her! Her mum needs her! Please Grace! They need you. I think to myself pleading with her in my head.