By Indu Kumar
It had been nearly a year. A very long year. A year of roller coaster feelings.
Bailey gazed out of the large bay window.
The lazy clouds moved patiently in the deep blue sky.
The early birds had already performed their dawn chorus ritual to the early risers. The morning mist was clearing leaving dew drops in the long grass blades in the nearby fields. In the distance the woods had new buds and leaves sprouting from the branches. Spring was here!
Bailey had watched the four seasons come and go.
Spring had turned to Summer with tulips and daffodils giving way to Summer glory and flowers in full bloom. When that ended the vibrance was replaced by the colours of Autumn. She had watched the leaves dry and fall. Then the ground was covered with a carpet of clean untouched snow.
And now she was back with Spring. Full circle. Twelve months. A whole year. A year of ups and downs.
Her eyes drifted to the room.
The large bay window was amassing with pots and vases. There were flowers of all shapes and colours all fresh and bright, reds roses bluebells pink tulips yellow daffodils and purple hyacinths.
There were elegant fresh house plants trailing along the window.
The whole room was filled with the rich aroma that nature brings.
Bright flowery curtains were gently blowing with the slight breeze at open windows.
But none of the seasonal colours was enough to lift Bailey’s spirits.
The floor was spotless and gleamed
Inside the room everything was white.
A single large bed occupied the middle of the room. The clean crisp white linen covered it and the sides were tucked in professionally.
The only sounds were that of machines.
On the bed lay a young man. Bailey’s husband Ryan.
Not moving, eyes closed. No smile on his face.
He was in a coma.
They were married a year. A year and 7 days exactly
Was it just last year they had the happiest day of their lives.
They had flown to Paris for their honeymoon after a lavish wedding. The unforgettable week was like a dream. They were in fairyland. Every day was paradise.
Then it was time to pack and back to reality.
Get back home.
It was on the way to the airport that it happened. The taxi picked them from the hotel with an English-speaking driver who was genuinely interested in these two love birds.
Then out of nowhere a truck overtook them.
After that it was all a haze. They were blocked between 2 lorries with heavy traffic on all lanes. Suddenly unexpectedly a car ahead stopped. They had nowhere to move. The driver tried his best but with the speed of the traffic they stood no chance. They were crushed between the lorries.
Bailey heard a huge bang. She saw people in a fog rushing to help, blurred faces, soothing reassuring voices peering over her. She tried to move.
“Ryan Ryan “ she struggled to say his name . The words were hardly audible.
That was when she felt the excruciating pain in her leg.
She woke up in hospital with her leg in a plaster.
It was her parents who told her about Ryan.
They came into the room with grim faces.
“Is it Ryan “ her voice faltered .
“Is he …….”
She couldn’t’t even say it.
Her mother shook her head and firmly held her hand.
“No love .
He is not dead.
He survived the accident.
The doctors saved him “.
“He is in a coma love “
It was her Dad who broke it to her.
“The doctors are waiting for him to wake up “.
Bailey did not know how she felt.
In the weeks that followed Baileys injuries slowly healed. She was soon up and walking with crutches.
Ryan was in the intensive care unit.
She visited him as often as was allowed. Sometimes in a wheelchair and later with crutches.
The first time she saw him she couldn’t’t hold back her tears.
There he lay with tubes coming out from everywhere, monitors beeping with lights flashing.
He looked so peaceful.
She held his hand and willed him to wake up.
The doctors said they were baffled. The scans and all the tests were normal but Ryan wouldn’t’t wake up.
We have seen patients like him who wake up after months even years they added.
After a few weeks Ryan did not need any support for his breathing. He was feed with a tube.
But he was still not awake.
After discussions with the Consultant the family decided to move Ryan to a private nursing home at the seaside.
Bailey left her job and sold the house.
Her parents too helped her financially.
Bailey recovered from her physical injuries but the memory of that crash remained with her. Sadly, the taxi driver had lost his life. She often woke up in the middle of the night in a sweat reliving her nightmare.
She spent all day with Ryan. The staff encouraged her to talk to him. “We are sure he can hear you “they reassured her . Bailey liked to believe this as the alternative was too bleak.
She had good days and bad days. But every time she was low she tried to remember what the doctors said before they left ICU.
“It may take days weeks months or even years. We have seen cases “.
That kept her spirits and hopes up.
It was hard. Very hard to see Ryan lying there helpless. An active full of life Ryan lying on this huge bed so dependent on the people around him.
There were a few false hopes.
One afternoon she was watching him while she played his favourite music when she thought she saw him move his fingers. Everybody came rushing into the room. But he did not do it again.
There were times when Bailey nearly gave up. But after a good cry she was back at Ryan’s bedside.
She spoke a lot him.
She told him about the days in Paris, the wedding gifts and all the kind messages from his work mates who often came to see him.
Every day as she drove Bailey hoped. “Today is the day . Today is the day he will wake up “
But it did not happen. Not for nearly a year. But Bailey did not give up. She always paused at the entrance and hoped a staff member would come running to her with some good news. Could this be the day? She always hoped.
It was a rotten week for Bailey. The bills were piling up, the rent was due and to top it all her best friend who had been a great moral support was emigrating to Oz.
Having said her final goodbyes Bailey silently drove to the nursing home.
“Ah well “ she thought picking herself together “life goes on and people move on “. She tried to reassure herself. She would make new friends!
But even as the plane lifted off she couldn’t’t get rid of the hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach for the loss of her best friend.
It was a bank holiday and the car park were full at the residential home which was very unusual.
Bailey hurried to check in at the reception. The lobby was crowded with loud chatter of relatives waiting to go in to see their loved ones.
She saw Samantha who was Ryan’s carer walk briskly towards her. Her heart skipped a beat. Had something changed? Was it good news? or had the worst happened?
It was too noisy. Samantha beckoned her. Bailey silently followed. If only she could read her mind.
They reached Ryan’s room. It was wide open which was strange as Bailey normally had to knock and wait to enter.
Bailey couldn’t’t believe her eyes!
Lying on the huge white bed was Ryan with his eyes wide open.
All sorts of thoughts started swimming in her head.
Would Ryan recognize her?
Would he speak?
Could he see her?
All her questions were answered at once.
“Hello Bailey my love .
You look as beautiful as ever “
The man said with a big smile on his face!
Author Bio:
I am a retired doctor and worked in the emergency department in Yorkshire which is where the famous Bronte sisters wrote their memorable stories, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.
I always loved reading and writing stories and poems even in school. After retirement the passion returned . I published my short stories last year on Amazon “Every reader counts”.
I am in a creative writing group with talented writers and we write and listen to the work of all the writers .
I love participating in competitions and sent work online like this one . I see this mainly as an opportunity to read the winning and other stories and occasionally win .
Contact Author:
Email: indukmr7@yahoo.co.uk
