Page 16 of Painting Her Fate

I inhale sharply at the word ‘unresponsive’.

Her hand squeezes my knee, “I am optimistic that isn’t the case. This

could have been so much worse my dear. God will help him pull through.”

As he lay there, I can’t help but to think how traumatic that day was for him. I can’t keep my emotions in check anymore. The longer I’m in here, the harder it is.I need out. Get out. Get out!

Claire touched my shoulder breaking me out of my trance. That is when I felt the tears streaming down my cheeks.I hastily wiped them away, ashamed to cry in the presence of another.

Christ Lili, quit being a cunt. Your father is alive, he is in good hands here.I usually have more control than this.

“However long it takes, I will be here for him. I’ll be here - to see him well again.” I say, my emotions taking over.

How could someone knowingly get behind the wheel and not care about who may be in their path? It’s unthinkable, reckless, and, and downright selfish. I clear my throat and shift on the bed, my agitation must show on my face because Claire sighs, silently asking me to let it go.

A nurse stops in the room to make her rounds.

Can I let it go? After all, the damage is done. My dad is here, broken, but he’s still alive. We need him to wake up to see if he has any lasting damage.

Claire speaks with the nurse like nothing is wrong and it’s a happy, sunny day. I despise every fucking bit of this. It’s too cheerful. How can she go on, so happy while her son is this way?

The nurse’s next words draw me out of my silent ranting.

“His doctor will be in shortly.”

As she leaves the room, I’m quick to lose the hold on my tongue, “How can you be so calm?” The words were out of my mouth before I had the chance to think.Damnit to hell. I tensed, readying for the worst. I do not know Claire enough to see if she will take this as an insult. Claire calmly slid her hand atop mine. No fighting words were thrown my way.

“Lili dear,” her tone is light, “Of course I am upset about the ordeal, but Dan is still here with us, God didn’t take him. It wasn’t his time. For that, I am beyond happy. I still have my son; you have your father.”

I was quiet as I allowed the words to sink in. When the silence stretched, she continued.

“Maybe this will make him slow down and relax, take time to find a few hobbies. He spends too much time at that damned brewery of his.” She scoffs, “I’d like to see him settle down. If I see him too much longer without a lady friend, I may as well start calling Mack his husband.” She grins and I can tell she’s trying to lighten the mood. I do not have to force this smile.

“They sure do bicker like a married couple.” I nod then catch her stare. We laugh softly and tell a few tales of Daniel and Mack’s antics.

A half hour later a young male doctor walks into the room with a tablet in hand.

“Good morning, everyone.”

Is everyone always so chipper this early?Ugh. Maybe I should’ve slept instead of painted, maybe then I’d be in a better mood. I can hear Tamara now, saying ‘I told you so, now you’re miss grumpy, and we have to deal with you all day like this.’

“Good morning, Doctor, happy to see you again.” Claire stands to greet him. “This is Dan’s daughter, Lili, the one I’ve told you so much about.” I paste on a smile at the Hispanic man in the lab coat. He is thin, of average height, around thirty years old, and seems to have a nose that was broken before.

“A pleasure to meet you, I’ve heard a few stories from Claire about the two of you. It sounds like you’re rather close. That is excellent to hear.” He glances at the tablet, “Speaking of excellent, we have some good news.” He walks to the monitors and taps a few times on his device. “His vitals all look good, and his surgeries went well,” a few slides of his finger ensues as he checks over the charts, “His EKG and brain activity look normal compared to when he was first admitted-” He lifts his head then glanced our way, “we did find that he had a severe concussion as well as a perforated eardrum in his left ear, possibly an old injury from his service days that the accident may have re-triggered.” Dr. Winters smiles, “With all signs going in the right direction, I feel we have given his body enough time to heal without hindrance. We can wake him up.” He checks over his device and nods, “I will have one of the nurses take care of that right away.”

“Oh!” Claire claps, “that’s wonderful news!” She shouts, placing her hands together as in prayer.

Doctor Winters continues, a little more somberness in his tone, “We will have to keep him here for a bit, but if he responds well, we should be able to move him to a more comfortable room within the week.”

Does he feel that dad could take a turn? Is there something he isn’t telling us?Damn my overthinking brain!

“So glad to hear! How soon might we see him awake?” Claire asks then takes my hand in hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“If all goes as planned, he may be awake by this evening.” He taps a few more times on his device as a different nurse comes into the room. The nurse plays with the IV bags and switches on a machine, then checks over his bandages and walks out of the room.

“I will not sugar-coat things, he has a long road ahead of him, but from

his history in the military, I think he will pull through just fine.” He smiles at the both of us and talks with Claire a bit more as I sit there, lost in my head again. Next thing I know he is taking his leave.

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