I stood there looking at her for probably ten minutes before I started to feel really stupid. I walked over to her as softly as I could, which was stupid since she wasn’t sleeping, she was in a coma. I guess it was because she’d always been such an insomniac. Due to this she was never able to get much sleep, and whenever I’d found her sleeping I tried to be as quiet as possible so as not to wake her up. I couldn’t seem to shake the habit even when she was comatose. I knew she’d find it funny and ridiculous, though, and that made it less sad in my head.

I took her hand and held it when I got to her, happy to feel its warmth. I suddenly realized that I was cold, and little wonder; I was still in the clothes Helena had brought me the day before, and they were nothing more than jeans and an old t-shirt of Al’s. I’d have to ask Shane or one of the kids to run by the house and pick me up something warmer.

“Hi, baby,” I whispered, squeezing her hand. “Everything’s all right. You just went back in the coma for awhile, and the doctor wanted to do surgery to help you. It went fine; you’re just in recovery now. They’ve got you hooked up to a million different monitors and things, so they’re keeping a good eye on you. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I’m here. The nurse is making me a bed in a little room off this one, so I’ll be really close by. I don’t want you to worry about a thing, all right? I’m gonna go try and sleep a little bit while you are, okay? It’s really late, so just relax and don’t worry about anything. I’ll be right outside,” I told her, choking up toward the end. I hadn’t been expecting a response, but it still hurt a little when there wasn’t one. I leaned down, moving the mask, and kissed her cheek before saying goodnight and leaving the room. By that time the sofa was made up for me, and I gave the nurse a quick thanks.

She’d been telling the truth; the room was small. Still, the sofa converted to a bed, and there was a small table, several chairs and a television, which wasn’t too bad considering I was in a hospital. The privacy was nice, too, and I was happy to see the small adjoining bathroom. The nurse had brought in a shopping bag with some of my nightclothes and toiletries in it, which I assumed one of the kids had run home and packed for me. I changed gratefully and got into bed, falling asleep the instant my head hit the pillow. That was the last thing I knew for about ten hours.