Page 38 of Sparking Sara

“Me? I told you?”

She nods. Then her eyes close and the ventilator machine beeps.

Krista reconnects her to the ventilator. “Almost five hours this time. She’s really improving.”

I lean over the bed and whisper in her ear. “Did you hear that, Sara? You’re still a rock star.”

Sara doesn’t open her eyes, but I could swear I see a little smirk turn up the corners of her mouth. Then her hand opens and searches around for something on the bed. I don’t know what she’s searching for. The call button maybe? I put it in her hand, but she immediately lets it go and grabs my hand instead. Then she relaxes her hand in mine.

I turn and ask Joelle, “Did she do this with you?”

“No. I could tell she recognized me, but it was nothing like the reaction she had when she saw you.”

“That’s because she thought I was her boyfriend.”

The nurse nods to our entwined hands. “But now she knows you’re not, yet she’s still drawn to you. Could be she remembers you from the accident. Or at least, her subconscious does.”

I sit with Sara for hours. Even in sleep, she doesn’t let go of my hand. After Joelle leaves, I get out the book and read Sara a few more chapters.

She wakes up again before I leave, and the nurse asks her some more questions, which only confirms what they told me earlier—she lost three years of her life.Three years.Gone—the instant the car rammed into the side of the bridge.

I think back to where I was three years ago compared to where I am now. It would be devastating for me to have lost all that time. I can’t imagine what Sara must be feeling. I pray she will soon be able to use her voice. Dr. Miller assured us there is a speech therapist coming tomorrow. Sara’s in for a busy day. She’ll have physical therapy tomorrow and every day after that, and while the doctor is hopeful she’ll regain the ability to speak, eat, and walk, he never fails to remind us that with brain injuries, you just never know.

At the end of the day, I find myself hesitant to leave, but I know I can’t sleep here. I’m no one to Sara. Not a relative, not a boyfriend, not even a friend. I have no right to sit and hold her hand, yet I do. And she seems to want me to.

She opens her eyes again before I walk out of the room.

“I’ll be back tomorrow if that’s okay with you,” I tell her.

She nods weakly, as if the events of the day have worn her out completely.

“You’ve got this, Sara.”

Before she falls back to sleep, her thumb points to the ceiling. That small gesture—that tiny movement—lets me know just how strong she really is. And as I walk out of the hospital, I do something I haven’t done in days. I smile.

Chapter Ten

I called Oliver again last night. And this time, I didn’t hold back. I told him everything. I told him about her brain injury. The coma. I even told him she doesn’t remember anything from the last three years—including him—and that the doctor says those memories are likely gone forever. I told him I don’t care if he’s in the middle of the Australian Outback, he needs to get his ass back here and help her.

When I get to the hospital this morning, there is a therapist in Sara’s room. I stand in the doorway and watch him try to get Sara to play cards. Sara’s muscles still aren’t working properly, and she has a hard time following commands. I watch her get frustrated when the guy asks her to find and flip over a certain card.

Then he sees me watching and waves me in. “I’m Neil,” he says, standing up to greet me. “We’re just finishing up here.” He puts the playing cards on her side table. “She’s making progress, aren’t you, Sara?”

She doesn’t answer. She just stares at me the way she did yesterday.

“How long before she has more therapy?” I ask.

“I’ll be back this afternoon.” He looks at Sara before he leaves. “You’ll be beating me at poker in no time at all.”

Sara’s eyes follow me around the room as I make my way to the chair Neil vacated. It doesn’t take me long to realize something is different. I smile at her. “Your fever finally broke,” I say. “Thank God. It was like Siberia in here. I’m not sure if you remember, but they tried to turn you into an ice cube, Sara. I’ve never had ice packs in my armpits, but I don’t imagine it feels good.” I drape my coat over the back of the chair. “Guess I won’t be needing this anymore. It’s June, you know. And June in New York can be hot.” I laugh. “I probably look like a nut carrying around a coat.”

My phone vibrates and I look at it, happy to finally see Oliver’s name show up.

“I’ll be right back, Sara.”

I hop up and leave her room before answering.

“This is Denver,” I say.

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