The Royal Contract

Chapter 1023: A fighting chance

He entered the room, finding her still sleeping, just like the way he had left her earlier. She hardly moved from her position, seemingly in deep slumber, with the few beeping sounds of the machines that filled the room with its reassuring sound.

As long as they kept the machines plugged in, it meant the patient was still alive. In the meantime, he was satisfied with that condition. It was better than declaring her dead and losing her for eternity.

“There is still a strong brain activity.” The neurologist explained to him, giving him hope that she would eventually wake him from her coma state.

However, when? That was the question. The doctors could not assure him that it could be anytime soon. It could be later, tomorrow, or a year after. They could not even guarantee that she would wake up at all.

All he had been holding to was a possibility, a slim chance that she might still come out from this alive. “Her body incurred several internal injuries. We repaired them. But her body still needs time to heal.”

Therefore, her coma might be a blessing in disguise as it gave her time to get well. Or, it could be the opposite. They only made it worse, prolonging the agony, but she would never wake up and open her eyes again.

Still, he did not care what the doctors said. He could only focus on the slim chance. No matter how small, it was a possibility that she would wake up. He would take it and wait for it.

.....

David walked towards her side, sitting on the lone chair he had occupied as he watched her sleep. He never wanted to leave her side, but Roseann convinced him to go home once in a while to shower, sleep and eat.

He managed to do the first one, but the rest could wait because he needed to return to her side. He could barely sleep or eat when he was away from her. He was afraid every second he was not at her side was crucial,

“What are you doing here? I thought I said to...” A woman in a white suit walked into the room.

“I took a bath.” He said, but that was it. At least he managed one.

“David...” The woman looked exasperated as she continued forward into the room. She stopped to check on the monitors before facing him. “It was not a request when I asked you to leave my sister’s side.”

“I can’t stay away, Roseann.” He would not even look at the doctor, knowing she was about to talk some sense to him. He understood what she was saying, but he knew he would not be sleeping at his home without her.

And eating would be like pushing some papers and sand into his mouth and forcing it into his body. He just had no appetite for anything at the moment.

“You are not helping my sister if you become sick.” The younger sister of his fiance reprimanded him. Then, when she finished checking her sister, she turned to him. “Come. You are going with me.”

She pulled him out of the chair and dragged him outside the room. He wanted to pull his hand away from her, but he did not want to offend one of the people who were nice to him. He knew she only wanted to help him.

“Where are we going?” He asked as she finally let go. They entered the elevator, which was empty of occupants, and she pressed a number.

He saw the elevator move upward instead of the lobby as he shared the small space with her. He initially thought she was throwing him out of the hospital.

She did not answer him immediately as the doors of the moving cart opened. He followed her on the hallway of the hospital floor, wondering where she was taking him.

Truthfully, he would rather stay with her sister in her room instead of roaming this place. She might wake up and find herself alone and disoriented about what happened to her.

“I am going back...” He was about to threaten her when she stopped him.

“We are here.” She showed him a room for doctors. At least, that was where doctors rested and waited till they had another schedule.

“It is the doctor’s lounge.” She guided him inside. “I want you to sit down.” Pulling a chair for him and waiting until he obeyed her command. Her face said that she was not taking no for an answer.

He would like to protest, but what was the point as he sat quietly on the chair and watched her move around the room? She opened a private refrigerator and pulled out a plastic container and a juice box from inside.

She placed them before him. “It is a sandwich and a cold salad.” She pointed at the food she placed before him. “I need you to eat before I allow you back to my sister’s room.”

He could tell that she was not joking. Her serious expression told him she was not ready for another argument. Then, he realized that maybe she was right. He was not helping anybody by going on a hunger strike.

He would be a burden to Rosella if he got sick because of his stubbornness and stupidity. She would need someone healthy who could take care of her.

“Thanks.” He finally acknowledged the food she gave him.

He grabbed the sandwich as he watched her move to the other side of the room. Then, she went back, sitting right next to him. “I am sorry if I need to force you, but you need it.” She also told him.

“I understand. I guessed I needed it to wake me up.” He admitted he had been living like a ghost for the past few days. He passed through the day without any other thought going through his mind than her.

He had barely thought of work and other responsibilities, thinking his only obligation was to stay at her side. He wondered how Evan and his work colleagues handled what he left behind.

“That is perfectly normal. I am also like that, but Mom and my friends pushed me to work so I would not think about her condition.” Roseann confided in him.

“I know you love her, but this is not the way to show her.” Her future sister-in-law continued. “We need to continue living for her. You need to go back to your life, one way or another.”

He wished he could deny her words, but it was the rational thing to do. Staying at her fiance’s side was more counterproductive. First, there was nothing he could do to wake her up. He could sit all day at her side, and nothing would happen.

Then, he neglected the people who also depended on him. Evan was supposed to get married. Now, he realized that he had buried his friend under a pile of paper works, unable to do anything else.

“We all love her and do what is best for her. But we have to remind ourselves that she will not like to see us ruining our lives because of her. She will hate it if she wakes up and finds us mourning her condition.” The young doctor made a point.

Her sister was still alive. And yet, he was acting as if he had already lost her. He could only imagine his appearance since he had refused to look in the mirror. He could feel it in his body how her situation zapped out all the energy in his body.

He must also lose a few pounds from lack of food and sleep, feeling the sagginess of his body and the tension in his muscles. He had lost sight of reality as he buried himself in his misery.

“I think you are right.” He began but stopped. “I know you are right.” He corrected his statement. “I already mourned for her when she was still fighting for her life.”

His mindset was not someone who still had hope, but he was someone who had already given up on her. She was still alive, as Roseann reminded him. She would not want to wake up to a man who looked like him.

“I know you are concerned about her. But you can do nothing if you keep sitting at her side.” Roseann pointed out again. “But you can be more helpful to others if you go back to work.”

Then, she reached out to him, placing her hand on the top of his knuckles, resting on the table. “I promise that any sign that she is about to wake up, you will be the first to know.” She squeezed his hand to assure him he had nothing to worry about or fear.

“I will do my best not to let anything happen to my sister.” He knew that was the best she could do while he had to leave her to face his other responsibilities.

Did he wish to leave her side? Of course not.

However, he had to face the truth that she might not wake up anytime soon. But it did not mean that he was giving up on her. He was only putting his faith in whoever was listening that she would eventually wake up when the time was right.

Nonetheless, Roseann could never guarantee that her sister would be ok, but she would be there to give her a fighting chance. And that should be enough in the meantime.