I don’t know how much time had passed but when the thoughts of Dana and our past relationship faded I was back in the room at the hospital and without even thinking about it my eyes began to flicker open. I was confused as hell as the light poured in and my retinas tried to focus. It was blinding, exhilarating and plain fucking sore at the same time. I was constantly blinking to try and cope with the brightness of the room, right then I could have used a pair of ray bans like never before. I tried to move my head but my neck seared in pain and I was to be content with the current horizontal position whether I liked it or not. From the corner of my eye I could make out the shape of Dana hunched and what appeared to be asleep in the chair next to me. For some reason I started to panic. I couldn’t get her attention or anyone’s for that matter and I wanted them to know I was awake but couldn’t yet find my voice. Tears had formed and already stinging my newly awakened features as I tried in vain to move my hand again in a bleak attempt to bring attention to myself. It must have worked because a nurse emerged in the room pretty quickly. I think it might have been coincidence but I was grateful for her appearance anyway. For the meantime, panic was averted. Her smile was bright and her exterior inviting and warm and as I looked at her I was immediately drawn to this older woman. She told me how very good it was to see me awake again and how my friend would be so happy when she herself woke up. She seemed to sense my urgency to see Dana and smiled at me as she walked over to the slumbering beauty in the corner and gently tapped her shoulder.

Dana jolted awake and turned to me in an anxious fashion, clearly concerned that I had taken a turn for the worse. I can’t describe her expression when we made eye contact for the first time in what felt like infinity. Her eyes welled up immediately and she grinned so hard I’m sure her mouth must have hurt as she swept my hair from my face and greeted me. The nurse politely excused herself and left the two of us alone.

‘You gave us such a huge scare Al, can you see me ok honey’?

Her question was general but I could not fail to notice the honey at the end of it and tried to smile back at her, I think I managed as she chuckled a little and shifted her weight over on the bed to get closer to me.

‘I know you probably can’t talk right now Al but you don’t have to, just to see your eyes open again is just…’

Dana never finished the sentence as the emotion took over her body and she started sobbing on to my chest. I have to admit I was a little taken aback as it was so un-Dana like to let herself go like that and all I wanted to do was pull her down on to me and kiss her head. I wanted to stay awake, I pleaded with my body, made deals to any god that would listen and yet I felt the familiar state of sleep wash over me and knew it was time to leave the reality that had enclosed me for a few short minutes. However this time I knew it would not be long until I returned.