Page 50 of Five Goodbyes

The majority of the Anderson family has overtaken the lobby of the hospital as everyone waits to see Jasmine, to hear her voice, to know she’s going to be okay. She’s been in a coma for three weeks. That might as well be three years in this family. I’ve never seen a clan so dang close to one another. The love is real.

“There we are,” the nurse says in a gentle voice as she checks Jasmine’s vitals and leans close to the woman in the bed, her eyes now open, confusion shining in her deep blue depths.

Jasmine opens her mouth and tries to speak, but her voice is raw and scratchy. She shuts her mouth and looks panicked. I’ve never seen this look on her face before, not even in the scariest of situations that we’ve been placed in.

“It’s okay, Sweetie. You were in an accident, but you’re okay now, and you’re safe,” Amy says as she leans down. Jasmine’s panicked eyes go to her mother’s face, and I see calmness enter her expression.

“Mama,” she chokes, her voice not sounding like her own. It’s breaking my heart, but at least she’s awake, at least she’s speaking.

“Yes, I’m here, Sweetie. So is daddy, Gramps, your brother, and Hunter,” Amy says.

Jasmine gives her a shaky smile. “Wh . . . wh . . . hap . . .” She closes her mouth again in frustration. She’s trying to ask what happened but can’t get the words out.

“You were in a car accident which caused you to be in a coma, but you’re doing great now,” Amy tells her. Tears fill Jasmine’s eyes and spill over, but she gives her mother a wobbly smile.

“We’re going to bring you home, Sweetie, where you can recover,” Amy says. Jasmine nods.

If the woman I love is heading to Seattle, then I’m following. There’s no way I’m coming this close to losing her, then watching her fly away from me. I’m no longer checked into the hospital, but I haven’t left since I’ve been discharged. They’ve been kind enough to allow me to sleep on the couch in her room now that my hospital bed has been removed. I squeeze Jasmine’s hand and she turns and looks at me. I smile down at her, so happy she’s awake.

“Hello, Love,” I say.

She flinches as she looks from my face to my hand, then back to my face. I feel her tugging on her fingers. I’m in shock as I let her go and she pulls her hand back. She then looks next to me at her father, before her head turns and she gazes at her grandfather.

“What’s wrong, baby girl?” Joseph asks.

“Thirsty,” she croaks.

The nurse places a straw to her mouth. “Just small sips. We have to take it easy,” the nurse says. Jasmine takes a little sip before the cup is pulled away. Jasmine turns and looks at me again, confusion in her expression.

“Who?” she says, the word barely audible.

“What?” I ask, trying to reach for her again, but she pulls away. I don’t understand what’s going on.

“Don’t know,” she says, the words stilted.

Amy takes her free hand and rubs my back. She looks at me with empathy. “Hunter, I don’t think she knows who you are,” she whispers, fear in Amy’s eyes. I try not to panic as I look at Jasmine. My fears don’t matter. This isn’t about me.

“Jasmine, what’s the last thing you remember?” I gently ask. Her brow furrows as she looks away from me back to her mother. Her pulse starts rising, making the monitor beep.

“It’s okay, Jasmine, take your time. We can wait,” Amy assures her daughter. I want to demand answers, but have to remind myself this isn’t about me, it’s about the woman I love.

It doesn’t matter if she remembers me or not. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she’s okay. I don’t reach for her again, but it takes all I have not to grab her, not to pull her close to me, not only to assure myself she’s okay, but to help her heal. Everything within meneedsto make sure she’s fine.

Whatever road is before us, we’ll travel it together. Nothing and no one can make me break this vow . . . I will stay at her side, and if she doesn’t remember me . . . well, then I’ll just have to make her fall in love with me all over again. There is no other option.