Page 45 of Bound By You

Damian clears his throat, and rasps, "She's finally awake. I've called for a nurse."

I hear Sergi sob, then he shouts into the hallway, "Nurse! Nurse! She’s fucking awake!"

I hear several footsteps as Sergi comes toward me, grabbing me, but I don't want to let go.

He whispers, "Let them take the tube out, brother."

I nod into her neck and pull back, looking into her beautiful eyes, glistening with tears. I wipe the tears away, kiss her forehead, and whisper in Greek, "S'agapó.” She taps her heart then points at me, making my tears fall faster.

She's awake.

I step back as the doctors come in to remove the tube. I look toward the door to see my parents, Basil, Selene, Juan, Sofia, and Abby, all standing there with panic radiating from them, but it's Juan who speaks, "What's happening?"

Damian answers, clearing his throat again, struggling with his emotions, and reaches out to his heavily pregnant wife.

"She's awake."

Sofia bursts into tears as Abby collapses to the floor. Juan heaves a massive sigh in relief, while both my wraps their arms around Sergi and I as we watch the medical team do their jobs. I don't bother looking at Phoebe’s father and sister; I can hear Basil sob, probably with regret, since he was trying to switch off her life support. They remove the tube, and I hear her cough. My whole body trembles with the need to get back to her, but my father keeps a strong grip on me while my mother is in Sergi's arms, silently crying.

We all stand back while they start their assessment.

The doctor comes to me after he's finished. "She's doing good, a lot better than we could have ever hoped. She remembers everything, including the incident. She has a long recovery ahead of her, but she's breathing on her own, she's talking—a little slower than normal, but that's expected after being in a coma for so long. She's going to be ok.

I will come back in a little bit to check on her again, do some X-rays, and order another MRI and CT just to make sure everything is as it should be. If everything goes as I suspect, she could be out of here in a week or two." He squeezes my shoulder, and then walks out.

I look back at my girl and see she's already watching me, and there's pain and sorrow in her eyes.

My love.

She lifts her right arm, extending it to me, and I go to her willingly. I grab her hand, and she gently pulls me to her. I lean down, place my head into the crook of her neck, and silently sob, not believing she's really awake.

I hear Damian and Sergi telling everyone to give us space. Most protest, but they give in. I then hear shuffling, and the door shuts, and I know we've been left alone. I hold her tight while she wraps both arms around my head, holding me just as tight.

And finally, after four long months, I heard her voice again.

"I'm okay,agapi mou, I'm okay."

I just shake my head and whisper into her neck, "Four months—that's how long I've had to live without you. For four months, I was petrified you would leave me forever. If you'd left, I would have followed."

She holds me tighter, and I feel her tears on my neck. Then her grip loosens suddenly, and I shoot my head up, worried, ready to call the doctor back, and she smiles slightly.

"Just tired," she rasps, her throat still scratchy from the tube.

I nod and lean my forehead against hers, and I slowly close my eyes, then open them when she cups my cheek and whispers, "I'm still mad at you for everything...you did, and you still have a lot of groveling to do, but I love you so much that I never…want to hear the….pain you were in ever….again. My soul is bound…by you, and I heard a lot while...I was in a coma. Your pain was killing me.... I knew I had to fight to come back to you and take your pain away. I-I love you."

Tears fall from her eyes, and a sob catches in my throat. I love her words but hate how raspy she sounds, and how much she struggles to speak.

"I'll spend a lifetime making up for my mistakes; you'll be treated like the queen who holds my heart, because you are," I whisper while staring into her eyes.

I place a gentle kiss on her lips, and then climb onto her bed. I lay her head on my chest, holding her carefully but tight, and whisper, "Rest,moya lyubov," then place a gentle kiss on her head while she holds onto me tight. I wait until her breathing evens out, then fall asleep, peacefully, for the first time in so long, because I finally have my woman back in my arms.

twenty-four

Phoebe

I don't knowhow long I sleep, but when I wake up, the sun is setting. At some point, we must have moved because now Alex is holding me tightly, his head in the crook of my neck. I can feel the warmth of his breath as I run my fingers through his hair.

Hearing his pain on and off while I was in a coma destroyed me. I meant what I said—he has a lot to make up for, but I cannot live without him; I need him, and losing me would end him, and that would destroy me.

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