Chapter Nineteen

 

A week went by, and Wendy hadn't come out of the coma. But Sam was there every day. He took books to read to her, he took music she liked to listen to. He talked about the plans they never made, and for the first time in his life he prayed every day for her to heal.

He exercised her legs and arms too, so that her circulation would be good.

He was with her almost all the time.

And he vowed to stay with her until the trial started.

One day, as he stared down at her, he nearly broke down again. "I'm scared of this trial. I mean…I know why I hit him so hard. I know that if I hadn't he'd have hurt you even worse. And I just couldn't let that happen, no matter what. And even though you might not be there, I know your heart will be with me, Wendy. I know that for certain."

He kissed her on the forehead and sat down. He opened up a book by Robert Newton Peck, called Clunie.

As he read to her, he mimicked the voices.

He heard his voice echo in the room.

And as he was about to get some water, he saw a finger move.

He stared at the finger for a long time. Then it moved again. His heart practically jumped out of his chest. He wanted to shout to the world. Wendy was alive and she was going to be alright.

He buzzed for the nurse. A young nurse came running in. "What's going on?"

"She moved a finger," he said as though he couldn't quite believe it.

"She did…Good. That's a good sign. I'll let the doctor know." The nurse left and he flopped back into the chair, his smile spreading slowly, like a flower blooming in the sun. She was going to be alright.

He pulled out his cell phone and called Letty.

"She moved a finger," he almost yelled into the phone.

Unaware that tears ran down his face, he kept repeating it. "She moved her finger."

"Oh God…I'm so glad."

"I know…the nurse went to get the doctor. I'll let you know what they say…"

"Please do, and thanks for letting me know. I'll call Julie and Sandy," Letty was almost shouting now.

"Thanks…"

When the doctor walked in, he examined her and then sighed. "That's a good sign. It might take her some time to make a full recovery, but she should be coming out of it soon. Will you be here all night?"

"If you'll let me stay."

"Of course. Here's my number. Call me if anything else develops. This is definitely a good sign." He grinned at Sam.

The nurse was smiling too, as she plumped her pillow and checked all her vitals again then recorded them.

"Let me know if anything happens, right away."

"Do people come out of it real quick, or does it take a while?"

The nurse shrugged. "It depends. Sometimes they sit right up and snap out of it, other times they slowly begin to move and open their eyes and talk. There is no one way. But moving her finger means she's trying to come out of it. I don't know what you said, but it must have had some impact." The nurse smiled and left the room.

Sam took her hand and squeezed it.