I shook my head, confused. I didn't understand. How did she even end up here? And what was happening to her?
"Katie, I don't understand! What happened?"
Katie pulled herself up. She tried to curl her fingers and winced. "I don't know. We were talking and just about to head inside when she stopped moving." She tried to extend her fingers and winced in pain. She curled her fingers back. "I said her name a few times, but she never answered, so I reached for her. And a painful shock of electricity went up my arm."
I stared at Sam, taking in her frozen state and the pain on her face. "What's going on?"
"I'm thinking she's stuck in a vision. I've been trying to talk to her, but nothing seems to break her free from it." Katie frowned.
I leaned closer, aching to reach out and cup her face. She looked like she was in so much, and I wanted to fix it. I wanted to take it away. I frowned. "Sam, if you can hear me, you need to pull yourself free. Bring yourself back to us."
Nothing. There was no sign that she even heard me.
I grew nervous and wondered what would happen if we couldn't break her free. What would happen if she couldn't pull herself back to reality?
It seemed off. Sam's visions have never lasted longer than a minute, let alone to physically hurt someone. Something had to be going on. I didn't know what it was, but I knew it was something serious. We were missing something.
"Have you seen this before?" I asked Katie, hoping she knew what to do.
Katie shook her head. "No, this is new to me. I thought I could get her back, but I wasn't able to."
I reached for Sam, and a painful zap stung my skin. I quickly let go, and Katie moved closer to me. "I warn you. I wasn't joking when I said it."
I frowned, curling my hands into fists. I disliked not being able to touch Sam. I'd grown so used to being able to reach for her, being able to hold her. And if I couldn't free her….I could lose all of that.
I didn't want to imagine a life without Sam. I had already spent so much time without her, and I felt I had lost time. I couldn't picture going back to that, not when I knew what it felt like to have her.
"Sam," I bent down, growing closer to her. "Sam, I need you to break free from whatever is holding you like this."
Still nothing. Her eyes remained hazed over, and her body was still frozen.
I felt my heart twist. "Sam, I need you to try. I know this is probably hard, and I can see the pain written on your face, but I need you to do this. I need you to do this for me. I can't lose you."
I loved her so much it hurt. I searched my mind, trying to think if we read anything about this. But nothing came to mind.
I had spent years thinking I was happy, only to find out I was just living. It wasn't until Sam came along that I realized I was missing out on so much. She had brought so much joy into my life, and she didn't even know it. I hadn't told her how I felt. I never got the chance to tell her that I loved her.
"Sam, please….I love you, and I can't lose you. I need you to look at me. Pull yourself back and look at me. Listen to my voice and come back to me. I need you. I can't imagine life without you. I don't want to either."
I had pictured everything. I pictured her getting bigger during this pregnancy. I saw myself at her side during the birth. I pictured us painting the baby's room and finding her sitting with our child in a rocking chair.
I pictured late nights curled up together and early mornings sharing coffee. I pictured other children and a house filled with laughter. I saw us growing old together and watching our kids accomplish so much in life. A daughter who wanted to be an artist. A son who wanted to be a scientist.
It was perfect, and I wanted it so badly. But I wanted it only with her. No other woman would fit. No woman would be worthy to be with me.
"Sam, I love you. I'm so deeply in love with you that it hurts. I can't imagine life with anyone else. So, please, I'm begging you...whatever you are fighting, whatever is holding you away from me, please fight it. I know you're strong enough. You're the strongest person I know."
I leaned closer, wanting to press my forehead against hers. "Please, my love, come back to me."
Nothing happened, and the magic stuck to her like glue, but after a moment, I watched Sam's eyes start to shift. The scent in the air changed, and her eyes began to grow back to their natural color.
I reached for Sam, feeling her sag against my arms as I caught her. "Sam!" I pulled her tightly against my body, and her entire body shook. She was cold as she clung to me.
"I'm here…" she whispered as she clung to me. "I heard you….I'm here."
I felt tears build up as I held her closer to my body. I felt Sam shake under my arms and held her even tighter.
Katie spoke up, scared. "Are you okay? What happened? I've never seen you like that before."