Page 71 of Don't Forget Me
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ELIZABETH
Opening her eyes was like waking from a long dream. Elizabeth supposed that was exactly what was happening. It was like a movie—after a particularly tragic scene, the characters wake up to realize none of it had happened, or that it was all a vision. Hello Twilight. She’d never gotten over the movie where everyone died in the battle, completely traumatizing her, and then it ended up being one of Alice’s visions.
But this… there was a difference. Elizabeth knew it had been real, that Nick had been real.
Nothing could take that certainty from her.
“Lizzy?” her dad whispered, sounding like he was scared her eyes would slide shut again. He leaned over her, a tear rolling down his cheek. “Lizzy, we love you. Whenever you’re ready, we’re here.”
The sight of the one man she’d counted on her entire life sent a wave of calm through her.
She was home.
Her lips moved, but she couldn’t force a sound past them.
“You don’t have to speak.” He wiped the tear away. “Honey, you’re at Gulf City Memorial. Don’t panic. Your doctor told me you might. There was an accident, but you’re going to be okay.”
“How long?” Her voice didn’t sound like her own, but she let the words linger.
“You came back to us a couple days ago and have been in and out since then.”
She shook her head and pushed the words out. “How long?”
He seemed to understand this time. His face softened. “You’ve been in a coma for a week.”
A week? No, that wasn’t possible. Her time at the lake house… that had been six months at least. Six months away from her dad and her kids.
Also six months with him.
“Evelyn and Owen are at school. I didn’t like them sitting here waiting for you. It wasn’t good for them.” He brushed hair out of her face, his eyes meeting hers. “They’ve been so scared.”
Scared. Because she’d been in a coma for a week. Guilt wasn’t a new emotion for her. She hated that her kids had grown up under the cloud of her cancer, but this was different. This guilt stemmed from the fact she wanted to fall back asleep again, she wanted to go back to that lake where she’d felt strong and healthy and in love.
Footsteps sounded on the tile floor seconds before Doctor McCoy walked in, a kind smile on his young face. “Liz, it’s good to see those eyes of yours wide open.”
“She spoke.” Her dad straightened. “For the first time since waking, she spoke.”
Doctor McCoy’s smile widened. “Well, that is good news. I’ll alert her doctor here on this floor once I’m through with my evaluation. She’ll have to undergo testing for cognitive function as well as some others. It’ll take most of the day. You’re welcome to stay, but she’s in good hands otherwise.”
“Dad,” Elizabeth wheezed. “Ev… O… Please.”
He seemed to understand what she was asking as he nodded. “I’ll go get the kids and bring them by later.” Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he lingered. “You’re back with us, Lizzy, and I am going to thank God every day for that.”
Tears welled in her eyes as she watched him go. There’d been a time where all she wanted was to get home to her family, and she wanted to be with them, but another part of her remained with Nick.
Left alone with Dr. McCoy, she knew this was her chance. “Nick.” She cleared her throat. “Nick Jacobs. Is he…”
“That answers one question.” He smiled. “At least we know part of your memory is intact. Nick Jacobs is in this hospital, yes. He’s been in a coma for some time now, but he’s in much worse shape than you were.”
He was alive. She pushed out a breath. “He…”
“Liz, you know I can’t tell you more than that.”
She did know that. Doctors couldn’t share patient information with others.
“We were getting worried about you.” He clicked on his pen light and waved it in front of her eyes. “The longer someone stays in a coma, the more we’re concerned with cognitive damage.”
