Tangled Love
CHAPTER 90

CHAPTER 90

I'm unsure on how many days have passed.

Is it even days? Maybe it's been weeks.

It feels like long dragged out years.

I sigh heavily and rub my eyes forcing them to stay awake. I haven't left her side, only to shower andget a change of clothes. I spend every night clutching her hand tightly and making do with theuncomfortable chair next to her bed. I'd been sat on it for so long, my arse has definitely left an imprinton the murky brown leather.

My eyes are heavy, hours of spending long nights and days awake by her bedside praying for her towake up. The dark circles underneath my eyes are obvious and my face is drawn in, pale and ghostly.

I can't eat and I definitely can't sleep. I'm a living zombie, watching the world go by whilst my ownseemed to be one big blur.

How could I possibly sleep when every time I close my eyes the gunshot would echo loudly?

It would play continuously on a loop like some sick horror movie that's purpose was to torture. The dooropens and Emily's doctor, Doctor Green walks in. He nods in my direction, giving me a warm smile ashe usually does.

"Any more news?" I ask the doctor as he does his usual daily checks. Every day I ask the samequestion and every day the response would be the exact same. . . No change yet.

The doctor looks at me sympathetically and shakes his head causing my disappointment to deepen.

"It's up to her when she chooses to wake up Mr Melvin. The coma that she's in is caused by theamount of blood she lost. She'll wake up when her brain is ready to do so." Dr Green says, writing

something down in his files.

Will she still be the same Emily?

Will she be able to walk, talk and laugh like she once did?

If I had just moved an inch and stood in front of her shielding her from the bullet, things would havebeen so different. It would be me lying in the hospital bed, completely unresponsive. Dr Green glancesin my direction —

"Why don't you go home and get some rest Jake?"

His words are spoken softer this time, holding more sympathy. I shake my head in response.

"I need to be here for when she wakes up, I can't leave her."

Dr Green nods, knowing he's wasting his time convincing me to go home. He clears his throat beforeleaving the room, shutting the door softly behind him. I'm left alone with Emily once again.

Just me, her and the steady beeps of her heartbeat.

I stand and lifted her arm up gently before tucking myself in beside her. I drape my arm over herstomach and breathe in her warm scent, the only thing that has calmed me down these days. I lie nextto her when I'm feeling desperate and right now, I'm desperate.

Guilt is eating me up alive and seeing her lie here day in, day out only makes me feel worse. I feeldefeated watching her knowing I can't do anything to help. I sometimes talk to her, when I'm feelinglonely and miss the sound of her voice. I talk to her about silly things, the football or her favouritecooking show. She'd lie there unresponsive but I'd like to think she's listening to me, absorbing mywords slowly.

I tenderly kiss her cheek, letting my lips linger on her soft skin. The longing to have her own lips reactand kiss me back is too much and I inhale deeply, blinking away the tears. It becoming harder andharder to keep myself together and I'm worried that when she does finally wake up, I won't be strongenough for her. My hand clutches hers and I squeeze

it before burying my head closer to her.

"Muffin, please wake up." I whisper, my tone begging and desperate.

"I'll let you eat out of the Nutella jar every single day if that's what you want. We'll both watch TheTitanic together and I won't make fun of you when you cry. I'll take you out to the fanciest restaurant intown and we can have a proper date. I won't ruin it this time, I promise. I'll wear a suit and we'll takeyou shopping to replace the most beautiful dress because you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen.Maybe we'll get you one of them ones with a split up the side, you'd look so good Muffin. I don't thinkwe'd even make it to the restaurant." I smiled warmly, knowing if she was awake, she'd be blushingright now.

"Afterwards I'll take you dancing to that fancy place downtown, you know the one with the live band?I've got to admit though. . . I have two left feet, I'd probably end up tripping over every second andleave because I'd get annoyed at the fact I can't dance."

I imagine all the places I'd take her, all the things we'd do together. Just silly little things like lying in bedwith our arms and legs all tangled up, me annoying her so much she'd eventually stop talking to meuntil I apologised. My smile fades as I realise we may never get to do any of those things.

"I've never felt this strong about someone. You understand me like no-one else, when I'm around you, Ifeel amazing. I feel like I'm on cloud nine, you're my drug Emily. I can't get enough of you."

She doesn't respond, her heartbeat beeps back at me instead, filling in the silence.

"Please wake up Muffin. Squeeze my hand, move your arm, leg, anything. Just show me you'relistening, please." I beg her. I hold my breath and wait, feeling hopeful that she'd obey. Minutes passand the silence in the room becomes unbearable. She lies completely still, not moving an inch. I sit upon the edge of the hospital bed and swallow the thick lump in my throat.

My hand loosen from hers and I feel completely deflated, like all the life has been drained from me.This is it, I can't pretend anymore that she's going to be completely fine. I have to face facts even if thefacts would completely break me apart.

That's when I feel it, the slightest movement in my hand. I immediately stare at our hands intertwined,my breath caught in my throat. I didn't imagine that, did I?

I don't dare blink incase I miss it. Nothing happens for a few moments and my hopes begin to fall until Ifeel it again, the slightest squeeze.

It's so faint and if I didn't have hold of her hand, I would barely feel it but it was definitely there. I cry outin relief and joy as it finally hits me that she's responsive. . . She's listening to me.

'"Emily, Muffin, I'm here." I say quickly, the joy in my voice clear as day.

"You're going to be okay" I add, holding my breath once more. My eyes never leave her hand and I seeit move once again, the force of her squeeze more stronger this time. A grin breaks out on my face andI wipe the tears away with my free hand. She's fighting for her life, I know it. She's showing me thatshe's getting stronger and my heart swells in pride.

"Do that again, squeeze my hand." I say quickly and she almost immediately repeats her actions. Shesqueezes tightly before letting go, letting me know she's listening. My shoulders slump in pure reliefand all the days of sitting here is worth it for that one squeeze.

I'd remember this moment for the rest of my life, the moment she finally responded to me.