Chapter 21: Pain

Harvey couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. He looked over at Cole, his best friend, and could see him struggling. Looking over at Kira, he could see the tears running down her cheeks but she soon became distorted by his own watery eyes. He and Kira hadn’t started trying for kids yet, but this sure felt like they’d lost one already. “She’s in a medical coma because she wouldn’t be able to handle all the pain right now. We’re going into another surgery in 10 minutes. I’ll be back with the results then.” With that, the doctor walked off, leaving them to cope with their own emotions.
Two hours later
The doctor returned to the waiting room. Emerald was asleep in Kira’s lap. Kira and Harvey were in a state of shock. Cole looked like his soul left his body. The doctor cleared his throat, “She’s out of surgery.” “So she’ll make it?” Harvey asked. “We hope. It’s too early to tell.” “Can we see her?” “Yes, but she’s still in a coma.” “That’s fine; we still want to see her.” “Of course. I must warn you that the bruises are pretty bad.” “As expected.” Cole was eternally grateful for Harvey because at the moment he couldn’t speak. How had today gone so bad? He had everything planned out. Today was supposed to be one of the happiest days of his life. But no, his fiance was fighting for her life and his child was dead. But the hollow, dead feeling inside was soon replaced by heartache when he saw her, all wrapped up. She looked peaceful in that bed: too peaceful, like she had given up fighting. NO, he screamed in his head. If he lost her too, he wouldn’t be able to live with himself. You have to keep fighting baby, he thought, hoping that she heard that by some miraculous power. He spent the night in her room, or that’s what he planned to do.
Around 2 in the morning, he heard a weird beeping sound. Harvey and Kira had taken Emerald to their hotel room so couldn’t be them. He barely had time to register what was happening when doctors poured into the room. They pushed him aside and began working on Harper. Cole was a soldier, military life didn’t scare him, but this did. What was happening? Then he heard the word “clear” followed by a thump. The last thing he remembered was seeing a flat line on the heart monitor. Then he passed out.
He woke up what seemed like an eternity later. In the bed lay Harper. On the heart monitor was nothing but a flat line. The doctors looked remorseful. “No, NO!” he shouted, pushing them aside to get to her. Her body was motionless, her eyes lifeless. Tears now ran unceasingly down his cheeks as he cradled her face in his hands. He knew what this meant. It meant Emerald wouldn’t have a mother. It meant he’d never get to call her his wife. It meant he didn’t have a reason to live anymore. An anguished cry was torn from his throat. Why him? What had he done to deserve this? Regret instantly came to him. If he hadn’t walked away from her for two years, that would’ve been two years they had together. If he had done so many things differently, maybe she would’ve been here today. Lifting her still form from the sterile bed, he hugged her to him. He wanted to feel her skin against his one last time. Her forehead pressed against his, and for a moment, it gave off heat. Then he awoke.
Kira’s hand was pressed against his forehead. He squinted against the sunlight pouring into the room. Kira’s eyes were red-rimmed and puffy. He sat up with a start, causing a wave of dizziness to wash over him, “Harper?!” Harvey stepped in with coffee, “She gave us a scare earlier but the doctors revived her.” Cole sagged back onto the bed he was on. Bed? “Where am I?” Harvey and Kira exchanged worried glances. “You’re in the room next to Harper,” Harvey said. “Why?” “You passed out. No one caught you and you hit your head on the hard floor. You needed some stitches but other than that you should be okay.” Cole groaned; great. “Is Harper awake?” Kira shook her head, “Not yet. The doctor said to give it a day or two. If she doesn’t come to then, she could be in an actual coma-then it would be anybody’s guess.” “Where’s Em?” “Your brothers arrived shortly after we left. She’s with them.” Cole nodded and closed his eyes. If he could just block out the pain for a little while longer.