Page 100 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

“Mr Meyers?” A middle-aged female nurse with a tired smile came up to our group. Uncle David jumped to his feet, hands clenched tightly at his sides and wearing an expression of fear.

“You can come through and see your wife now.” she advised in a kind voice. I glanced at Matt’s watch. A twenty seven minutes wait. Dr Yanic, like most people, wasn’t immune to Matt’s forceful character.

“I want to come,” Jenny pleaded, already pulling away from me. “Please, Dad.”

“Me too.” I spoke up right after. I didn’t know the exact amount of visitors allowed in ICU but I had a sinking feeling it numbered around two.

“I want to see my Ma.” Jamal said, trying to eyeball Jenny and me into submission.

Screw that shit. Jenny and I stood up.

The nurse regarded us all sternly. “I’m sorry but there can only be two visitors a time per ICU patient and visiting hours haven’t officially started for the day so you’ll have to be quick.” She glanced at Uncle David’s drawn face. “Of course, you’ll be allowed to stay with your wife, Mr Meyers.”

“Daddy.” Jenny called in her little girl’s voice, the one she brought out whenever she wanted to wrap him around her finger. It had an 85% success rate. The odds were not in mine or Jamal’s favour.

“Jenny,” Jamal’s face was set. “I’m going to see Ma.”

Uncle David stood indecisively between his children. I didn’t want to add to his hassle but-

“I’m going in.” I informed my cousins, stalking over to stand in front my uncle. “I. Am. Going. In.”

The nurse, sensing trouble brewing, rolled her eyes in exasperation before glaring at us. “Two minutes. You can all come but only for two minutes.”

Jamal, Jenny and I shared a relieved look. A showdown in the ICU waiting room would not endear us to the people working here.

“This way, Mr Meyers.” The nurse motioned Uncle David toward the brightly lit corridor, like a robot he moved forward. Jamal and Jenny started after him and I looked over my shoulder to where Matt remained seated.

“Aren’t you coming?” I asked.

He tried to mask his obvious reluctance with a quick nod as he raised his tall frame from the chair. “Of course, poppet.”

I watched as he made his way over to my side. “Thanks, hon.” I meant it.

Matt gave me a brief kiss before we followed the members of my family. When we entered the room where my aunt laid unconscious I couldn’t stop the soft gasp that fell from my trembling lips. The vibrant, outspoken Cleo Meyers nee DuMont was not present; instead a shadow of her lay on that bed, hooked up to beeping and clicking machines.

That was the moment shit got real. Uncle David moved slowly towards the bed. His shoulders shook and I knew although his back was to us all that he was crying. Something inside me broke in that moment as Jamal and Jenny joined Uncle David by the bed.

“Two minutes.” the nurse said in a hushed voice as she backed out the room, leaving us to face the enormity of the situation in private.

“We need to hold her hand.” Jenny whispered fiercely, taking her mother’s hand in hers. She looked back at me for a second before turning her attention to her father and brother. “So she knows we’re here.” Jenny looked at me again, her eyes pleaded for support.

In that gaze we shared I knew her deepest fear. She was scared she would lose her mom as I had all those years ago. The arguments from my last visit were long forgotten, it didn’t matter. Our glue, the thing that held our family together was on the brink of being taken from us.

“We’ll take turns,” I said, walking towards the bed. “Someone will always be here holding her hand until she wakes up.” I nodded once at Jamal. “Uncle David is staying tonight-”

“I’m staying too. I’ll sleep in the waiting room.” Jamal hissed.Jenny was nodding in agreement.

I sighed and finally let my gaze wander over the silent man staring at his unconscious wife. Uncle David was coming apart. I knew he wouldn’t us around.

I took a calming breath and gingerly touched my aunt’s covered foot before narrowing my eyes at the siblings. “You’re all exhausted, you need to rest. You can’t stay in here, only Uncle David can tonight, I mean, this morning,” I shook my head to clear the jumbled thoughts. “We take it in shifts. Ok?” I glared at them both, glared at them until Uncle David spoke.

“Madi’s right, kids. Go home get some rest. Jenny you have classes later, you should go home.”

The sadness in his voice caused another part inside me to crack. I took another deep breath and continued. “Then we’ll come back in a few hours so you can go home and rest. Someone willalwaysbe here. Agreed?”

I shared a look with my cousins and they both nodded in agreement. The door opened and the nurse stuck her head in. Two minutes were up already? I noticed Matt stood near the door, expressionless and patiently waiting.

“Go on, kids.” Uncle David said, pulling up a chair and taking Auntie Cleo’s other hand.

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