Previously –

“Dane, I don’t know if you could hear me or not but I hope so.  I don’t know if I will ever have the courage to say any of this again to you.  I hope you at least hear this.  Dana Fairbanks I love you with all of my heart.  You are my first thought in the morning, my last thought at night, and the only one I want to spend forever with.  I may never get the chance to be your girlfriend again and love you the way you deserve to be loved.  But that’s okay because I will always be your best friend and love you will all my heart anyway.  You are the strongest, and most beautiful loving, caring woman I know.  Without you I would be nothing.  You are my everything.  I love you!”  Alice bent down and gave Dana a lingering kiss on the lips.  She then sat down in her chair kissed Dana’s hand and drifted off into a peaceful nights sleep.

Chapter 9 –

As Alice lay awkwardly asleep in her chair holding Dana’s hand Dana laid in bed.  Dana’s eyes began to flicker open and closed rapidly and her heart monitor began racing.  Alice began to stir when she felt a light squeeze on her hand.  When the nurse rushed in to examine Dana Alice shot up out of her chair unsure of what was happening.

“What’s going on?  What’s wrong?”  Alice asked looking back and forth between Dana and the nurse. 

“I’m not sure” replied the nurse as she checked Dana’s vitals.  “I think she may be coming out of the coma.”

“Why is she shaking?  Is she having a seizure?”  The panic in Alice’s voice was obvious.  “Dana.  Dana.”  Alice hoped saying her name and rubbing her cheek would calm Dana down.

“Alice.”  Dana’s voice was faint and hoarse.  Then Dana’s entire body jerked once and she lay motionless.  Her eyes quit twitching and her heart rate slowed to a steady beat again.

“Dana?”  The tears started to flow down Alice’s cheeks.  She was not sure what happened, but she had a feeling it was not good.

Dr. Kelly rushed into the room to find out what was happening.  “Send her for some tests and page me as soon as the results come in.”  Dr. Kelly then turned to speak to Alice.  “Ms. Pieszecki we believe Dana is coming out of the coma.  We are sending her for some tests, checking her brain activity to be sure she is waking up without complications.  As soon as I know something I will let you know.”  Dr. Kelly then left with Dana to start the tests.  Still scared and knowing she could not go with Dana while they ran the tests, Alice did the only thing she could think of and called Shane.