Page 9 of Love Me Again

"I think she's in shock," Joshstates, standing next to her. He kneels beside her and turns my face so that I could look at him. "Shay, say something."

"He's so broken," I whisper, tears of despair rolling down my face. "He doesn't...he doesn't look like... Cole." I look into Josh's blue eyes and sob. "He doesn't look like Cole!"

"Hey, listen to me." He lifts my gaze to him when I hang my head. "What did Cole hate more than anything when it came to you?"

"To see me cry," I whisper, and Josh nods.

"Exactly, so you're going to pull yourself together for him and your baby. Do you hear me? Because when he wakes up and sees the state of you, he's going to beat the shit out of me for not looking after you." I close my eyes and shake my head with a heavy sigh. "Let's go get you some air and something to drink. All right?"

"I'm not leaving him." I refuse, shaking my head. "I promised him I'll wait out here, and I am till he wakes up."

"Shayla, Josh's right. Get some air. It will do you some good, Sis. We're all here, don't worry." Sam assures me. I look at Josh and the girls, who nod in response.

I sigh and allow them to walk me down to the cafeteria. We got some coffee, and I had a hot chocolate while we sat outside. "He's going to make it, right?" I ask no one in particular while staring down at my plastic cup.

"Of course he is," Aimee reassures me while taking my hand into hers. "You heard what the doctor said. He's fighting to stay alive."

I close my eyes. "I keep picturing Cole in that plane all alone. How terrified he must've been. I should have gone with him. I should have been there by his side."

Josh takes a seat next to me and rubs my back supportively. "Shayla, don't blame yourself. Ifyou were there, all three of your lives would've been in danger. WhenI spoke to air control, they said the pilot reported turbine engine failure mid-flight just as they were crossing the North Sea and flying over Germany. The pilots had no other choice but to crash-land in an open field just over Germany to avoid colliding into the city and harming more people. Both pilot and the co-pilot died on impact, but Cole is so remarkably lucky to be alive right now."

I shake my head, "I would have rather been on that plane with him and died than live with the fear of losing him and having to face being without him." I tell him glumly. I wouldn't be able to bear going on without him. It sounds selfish, but it is what it is. I understand now more than ever how my mother felt after losing my father and why she couldn't face the world without him. You genuinely feel like a big part of yourself dies right along with them.

"Shayla, don't talk like that. What about your baby? No matter what, even if the worst happens, you will always have a part of Cole with you through your baby." Jo says, reaching up and wiping my tears away. "You conceived her through that fierce love you and Cole have for one another."

“Andhow am I supposed to look at her and not see Cole or remember what I've lost?" I cry, looking down at my stomach.

"Shayla, stop talking like you've already given up hope that he will pull through. Cole is in there fighting to stay alive for both of you." Aimee states and I sigh.

"Aimee, I'm scared." I sob, shaking my head. "I have this feeling of dread deep in my heart, and I can't seem to shake it."

"It's all going to be okay. You'll see. Cole's going to wake up, and you're both going to be blissfully happy again." Jo soothes me, and I exhale heavily.

“Oh God, I hope so.”

* * *

Over the next twenty-four hours,Cole's parents, myself, and Josh stayed at the hospital. We sent the girls and my mother and brother home to get some rest after sixteen hours of no sleep. My mother tried to convince me to go back to hers and rest too, but I refused. There was no way I would leave Cole when he's in such a critical state. I'd worry even more being away from him. We all waited with bated breaths for the next forty-eight hours.

Thankfully, he was out of the woods, and the doctors told us that he would make a recovery physically, but they were still concerned about the slight swelling of his brain, so they kept him in an induced coma till the swelling goes down.

Cole was out of the ICU and in a private ward where I was allowed to stay with him. I refused to leave his side for ten days straight. I was only going home to shower and change and coming back to the hospital again.

Cole started to look like himself again, the wound on his head beginning to heal, and the bruises were clearing up.

On the eleventh day, Cole finally woke up. I was asleep in the chair beside his bed and jump awake when I hear him cough. His eyes were still closed, but he was moving his head and groaning. "Oh my God." I reach up and push the red button to get the doctors.

"Cole?" I say, moving over to his bedside. I take his hand in mine as he tries to peel his eyes open and blinks a couple of times. "Oh baby," I cry, kissing his hand when he looks at me. I heave a sigh of relief and brush my fingers through his hair as he blinks up at me, still disoriented. "Thank God you're okay." I declare, pressing my lips to his forehead.

The doctors come rushing into the room a couple of seconds later, along with Cole's parents and Josh. "He's awake." I sob, and his mother comes hurrying over to him.

"Oh, my baby." She whimpers, and Cole looks around the room, wincing. "It's so good to see you. You had us all so worried, sweetheart." Elaine tells him, brushing her hand delicately over his face, and he closes his eyes.

"Ladies, we'll need to examine him. Ifyou could step aside for a couple of minutes, please." The doctor states, moving over to Cole. I let go of his hand and stand back as the doctor examines him.

"Welcome back, Cole. How are you feeling?" Dr Bennet questions and Cole shakes his head.

"Water." He croaks, wincing. I pick up a cup with a straw and move over to him.

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