Page 49 of Five Goodbyes

As I speak about this, doubt begins to pull at me. When I look at Isaiah, he’s completely different than how he looked a few days ago. How is this possible? One is athletic, goofy, loving, and slightly crazy with a lot of energy. But as I see him standing before me now, he’s almost the opposite of what I remember. Who is the real Isaiah?

I tell them about our wedding on the yacht . . . and then the horrible explosions. Emotions begin to overwhelm me as I replay the scene . . . and then visualize Jasmine’s outstretched arm falling further and further away from me. I stop speaking and close my eyes as tears freely fall at the thought of my wife being gone. I’m not thinking of the nurses or the Andersons as I grip her hand while I try to calm myself.

Silence greets my words after speaking for what feels like forever. I finally look up again to find the Andersons gazing at me with sympathy . . . and compassion.

“Why are you looking at me like this?” I ask, hating how vulnerable I am right now.

“Hunter, this is going to hurt,” Amy says, squeezing my free hand.

“Is it Jasmine? That’s all that can hurt me,” I tell her. I look at the monitor. Her heart’s beating, her vitals look good. She’s here with us. I’d feel it if her soul was gone.

Amy quickly shakes her head. “Jasmine’s in a coma. She suffered severe injuries in the car crash, Hunter. She has a crack in her skull and severe swelling in her brain. The doctors can’t yet predict when she’ll regain consciousness, but we have no doubt she’ll wake up.”

A surge of agony grips my heart, squeezing it tight. My mind races, desperately searching for a solution, a way to bring her back to me right now. The room feels suffocating, the air filled with unspoken fear and unanswered questions.

Lucas places a hand on my shoulder, his voice filled with empathy. “We’re doing everything we can for Jasmine, Hunter. The medical team’s working tirelessly. We are very hopeful.”

I nod, my voice barely a whisper. “I’ll never give up on her,” I promise them.

Joseph steps forward, his presence commanding, yet compassionate. “Hunter, love has a way of defying all odds. I’ve seen miracles happen, and unexpected recoveries. We aren’t even close to this being critical. She just needs to rest. She will wake up. We’ve brought in the best of the best in the country to care for her.”

Tears again well in my eyes, a mixture of gratitude and anguish. “I know what she means to all of you. I have no doubt you’ll go to the ends of the earth for my wife.”

Amy reaches out, her touch offering solace in the midst of uncertainty. “We're here for you as well, Hunter. Lean on us. It’s going to be a bumpy ride. But, together, we’ll face whatever lies ahead.”

“I’m fine,” I assure her.

“Hunter, we don’t know how to tell you . . .” Amy trails off as if she can’t say the words. My head is still fuzzy, and I certainly feel aches and pains through my body, but the longer I’m awake the clearer I’m becoming.

“Whatever it is, tell me,” I beg her. It’s better to get all of it out of the way as soon as possible.”

There’s a long pause. “Hunter, you and Jasmine did go over that bridge.” Another long pause. “You didn’t get out on your own, though. You both received head injuries, and were rescued from the vehicle. Both you and Jasmine have been in comas for two weeks now. You were starting to struggle against your breathing tube, and it was just taken out.” She again pauses for a moment as I try to process her words. She waits until I look in her eyes again.

“You went over that bridge here in Miami. You were rescued. The rest of what you’ve told us has been a dream. You’ve been in a deep coma for two weeks. During that coma, you must’ve created this entire world where you and Jasmine were just fine, jetted around the world, and then got married.” She gives me a slight smile. “I believe you were starting to wake up, started hearing sounds around you, and that’s how your dream ended with an explosion, ended with you and Jasmine getting hurt again. I think you’ve been trying to process all of this. I know it’s a lot to take in, but we have work to do, so we need you to know the truth.

My world feels like it’s crumbling apart. As Amy says these words to me, I feel this life I’ve created begin to shatter. I feel the images slipping away as what I’ve thought are memories begin to dissipate . . . just as a dream does. When we wake, the dream feels so real, but as time marches forward, we quickly lose pieces of our dream.

“No,” I say, trying to grasp onto the visions that are fading far too quickly. “No.” I’m shaking my head as I squeeze Jazzy’s hand. But even as I deny the truth, I know this reality I created was a dream. I don’t want it to be, but the truth is staring straight back at me.

“It was a dream,” I say, partially questioning, and partially admitting the truth.

“I’m so sorry, Hunter,” Amy says. “It’s a beautiful dream . . . and maybe, just maybe, it’s a dream you can make come true.”

I turn and gaze at her, hope beginning to fill the despair trying to rip me apart. “Yes, I can do that,” I tell her, desperation in my tone.

She smiles. “My daughter and I talk daily, and there’s no doubt in my mind about how much she loves you. Make your dream come true, Hunter,” she tells me.

As she says these words, the weight holding me down begins to lift. I find a sliver of strength amidst the turmoil. We may all be facing an uphill battle, but with love and support, perhaps we can defy the odds and guide Jasmine back to us . . . guide her back to me. Maybe I can still have the dream.

We talk for a few more minutes, and then whatever drug the nurses have put into my IV begins to kick in. I fight to stay awake, but it’s no good. My body has been beaten up, my mind has been knocked around . . . and my heart has been broken. I need to heal. I can’t help Jasmine if I don’t become whole myself.

I finally close my eyes, never letting go of Jasmine. I’ll get better, and then I’ll bring her back to me. I won’t ever let her go. I won’t let her drift through the water without me. She’s mine, and I’m hers. That hasn’t changed. If anything, it’s grown stronger even in sleep, even in sickness. We might not have had a wedding, but in my mind she’s my wife. I’ve vowed to love her in sickness and health, through good times and bad. That’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m going to be worthy of this woman I love.

A slight smile rests on my lips as I give into the darkness my body’s begging me to accept. It’s okay this time. I’ll sleep for a while, and then I’ll be whole again to carry Jasmine to our next adventure.

Epilogue

My heart thunders as I watch Jasmine’s eyes flutter. They took out her breathing tube an hour before, and she’s been trying to wake up ever since, but it’s a slow process. I’m standing beside her, in between her mother and father. Joseph, her Gramps is on the other side of the bed beside her brother, Isaiah.

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