Page 42 of A Brilliant Spring

Rhys: Riley and the baby are okay. But Elissa is in a coma. I’m not sure if anything else is wrong.

My heart drops to my toes. Elissa was in an accident? She’s in a coma? What the fuck happened?

I rip the blankets off me, and they flutter in the air before falling to the floor in a heap. Rushing around the room, I find random pieces of clothing to toss on — a pair of dark grey sweats and a black tee. I zip into the washroom and brush my teeth quickly, run my fingers through my golden-brown hair, and dart to my nightstand to grab my keys, wallet, and phone.

Normally, the hospital is a thirty-minute drive from my place. Today? It takes me all of fifteen minutes, as I swerve in and out of traffic, honking my horn and getting honked at back. I pull into the parking garage near the hospital, park, and sprint as fast as I can. When I reach the lobby I’m panting as I slam my hands down on the information desk. “Elissa…Black’s…room,” I huff. The lady at the desk looks me up and down like I’ve lost my mind, and I feel like maybe I have. My clothes and hair are dishevelled, and I’m probably looking like every bit of the mess I feel.

When I finally get an answer from the nurse, I book it to the ICU, trying to get to Elissa as fast as possible. I was such a dumbass for letting anything get between us. How could I have pushed her away? What if I lose her? Like, lose her for good? I can’t bear to think about that, so I push the thoughts aside and mash the button for the elevator, wishing it would come faster.

As I arrive at Elissa’s room, I hear the soft beeps coming from the machines she is hooked up to. She looks fragile and broken. She doesn’t look real. Tubes run out of her nose and mouth, and wires are tangled all around her, hooked up to multiple monitors. Her skin is pale, and there are dark circles painted under her eyes. Angry bruises and welts are prominent on her forehead and temple. My heart shatters into a million pieces as I stand there, looking at the love of my life. She’s broken, and there’s nothing I can do.

I step into the room and a hushed, weak voice calls my name.

“Brandt?” I turn around and it’s Elissa’s mother, sitting in the corner of the room. She looks like hell. Her bronze hair is greasy and unkempt, her eyes are bloodshot, her nose is red, and her clothes are wrinkled and mussed. There are tissues balled up in her hands, and she sniffles as she stands and walks over to me, wiping her cheeks. “Thank you for coming. I’m so worried.” She breaks down, collapsing into my arms and sobbing. I do my best to try and console her, but I’ve only met her a handful of times, and she’s always been distant.

“What happened?” My voice betrays how I feel. It’s calm, collected, and confident. Her mother pulls out of my grasp and shuffles over to the chair sitting beside Elissa’s bed. She takes a seat and leans forward to link her hand through Elissa’s.

“Apparently, there was a driver on the road that cut them off and Elissa hit a patch of black ice. They started spinning out and crashed into the wall of the exit ramp.” Her voice wobbles as she speaks. “I…I don’t know what to do. I can’t lose her, too, Brandt. I just can’t. After Harold died, I realized how selfish I’ve been all these years. I pushed Elissa away to make Harold happy because he never wanted a girl. I know it’s not right, but —” her voice breaks and a strangled cry leaves her. “It’s no excuse. I was a shitty mother. And I only hope I get a chance to make it up to her now.”

I’m floored by what Collette is saying. Never would I have thought that she’d admit to her neglect of Elissa. I guess dire situations really make people think. Just like how I could lose Elissa for good if she doesn’t wake up from this coma. How I spent the last month-and-a-half apart from her, when I could have been with her, loving her. I’ll never forgive myself if I don’t get a chance to apologize to her. To see her smile again, or hold her, or kiss her.

I walk around the other side of the bed and take the other seat. Collette’s blue eyes are so familiar, so much like the woman I love. It’s hard looking at Collette because Elissa is a younger version of her mother, and all I see is the woman I let down. That I let go.

My hand slips across the bed and finds Elissa’s icy hand. I wrap mine around hers and the familiar buzzing between us ignites. It leaves me hoping that she can feel me, and that she knows I’m here. I’ll do anything to have her with me again. To have her wake up. I’ll never leave her again. Please, just let her wake up.

•••

The week stretches on, and I’ve spent all my time here at the hospital. I’ve left a few times to catch a shower and a change of clothes, and to grab my laptop to work from here. Riley and Rhys have stopped by almost every day to check in on Elissa. Riley is a complete mess, but the baby is healthy and she’s doing fine physically, other than a few bumps and bruises. She was actually just released the other day and cleared to go home. No more worries about preterm labour, as the doctors were able to stop it. She still has to take it easy and be off her feet as much as possible for the rest of her pregnancy though.

When Riley rolled into the room for the first time since the accident, the little green monster inside me raged to break free. I immediately noticed the ring on her finger, and every part of me was jealous and angry. How the fuck could Rhys do this to me? Make a happy situation out of something so terrible? How could he get his happy ending when I’m fucking drowning in sorrow? When my heart is constantly in a state of being ripped out of my chest and stomped on? But, over the last few days, the little green monster inside me has simmered down, and I am happy for them. Truly, I am. I’m glad Rhys came to his senses, because Riley deserves to have the father of her baby beside her, and have love in her life. I just wish my love would wake the fuck up.

Friday comes and goes, and I get an infuriating email from the board of CGC. They’re expecting me in the office on Monday for the board meeting, and I want to throw my phone across the room. The thought of leaving Elissa right now is inconceivable. I can’t just go back to work and focus, not when my mind is here, wondering if she’s going to be okay and wake up.

Later in the afternoon, I’m reading the business section of the Toronto Star and catching up on a few emails when a man walks into the room — the same guy from the restaurant who had his hands all over her. My blood boils and I see red. What the fuck is he doing here?

“Oh, Theo!” Collette exhales in surprise. “How wonderful to see you!” His Adam’s apple bobs in his throat as he looks at Elissa like he’s going to cry.

“I heard the news from my mother this morning and thought I’d stop by and see how she’s doing.” He raises his hand and I notice the bouquet of sunflowers and gerberas, Elissa’s favourites. He hands them off to Collette and stalks over to Elissa’s bed, gently running the back of his knuckles down the side of her face. Gritting my teeth, I clear my throat and Theo steps back, a little shocked. “Sorry, I didn’t notice you there,” he says, his voice velvety. He walks over to me, hand stretched out. “Theo Greenbelt.”

I stand, stretching my hand out and grabbing his with a firm grip — almost too firm, apparently, when I see him squirm from the pressure.

“Collins. Brandt Collins.” Theo’s eyes widen with recognition.

“Oh, no way! The tech guy? That’s awesome. How do you know the Blacks?” What the fuck does this guy think he’s doing? Are we really having a “bro” moment right now? I clench my jaw and try to let my anger subside.

“Business partners,” I growl.

“Cool, man,” he says, dropping my hand and turning back to face Collette. “I’m so sorry about Elissa. We were supposed to get together this week and have dinner. I guess that won’t be happening now,” he chuckles lightly. Collette’s eyes light up at his words like it’s Christmas fucking morning. Theo beams at Collette and takes a side glance at me, and I see the smile turn into a smug smirk. I thrust my hands into my pockets and my fingers curl into hard fists. It’s taking every ounce of strength I have not to pummel the guy into next week.

Theo takes a seat beside where Collette was sitting, and she grabs a vase from the side table, fills it with water, and arranges the flowers, smelling them as she does, with a cheerful look on her face. She shouldn’t be so happy right now with Theo bringing flowers. I’ve been beside Elissa this entire week. Sure, I didn’t bring flowers. But I’ve been here.

An hour later, Theo still isn’t leaving. As he chats away with Collette, his glances at me become more frequent and curious. I try to block him out and focus on my work, but it’s getting increasingly harder to ignore this guy.

“Yes?” I snarl, finally snapping at his constant looks. His face feigns innocence, as his brows quirk curiously. When he realizes I am, in fact, talking to him, he clears his throat, sits up a little straighter, and leans forward onto his legs.

“So, are you and Elissa…a thing?” I grind my teeth, thinking of what to say. We’re not anything anymore. My eyes shift to Collette and she’s perked up as her eyes shift between me and Theo.

“No,” I grumble. A smug smile stretches across Theo’s face and he relaxes back into his chair.

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