Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Nick and Kate snuggled in her bed until they fell asleep but got awakened by a phone call. Kate would always make sure she sleeps with her cell phone unmuted ever since Kelly was brought to the hospital. The two, Kate and Nick, asked the nurses to let them know anything, progress or distress, anytime it may occur regarding Kelly's conditions. At school, Kate made sure her phone was in her pocket, silent mode but with vibrations to notice calls as soon as they arrived on her phone. Nick did the same, and whoever of the two of them gets the ring first, they have agreed to let the other know and meet at the hospital if not halfway going there.

Nick had no difficulty reaching out his hand to grab the phone on the bedside table to his side. He softly removed his other arm beneath Kate's neck and sat leaning his back on the headboards. He did not even check who was calling. He had an idea already.

"Hello?"

"Yes, okay. We'll be there right away," was all he said before ending the call and turn to see Kate already jumping off the bed.

"Is she awake?" Kate asked without looking back at Nick as she answered nature's call without even closing the toilet door in hurrying.

"I am sure, but the nurse said we need to get there," Nick replied before he headed out to his room and got himself ready. He got the car keys, his phone and was about to check on Kate, but she was also walking out of her room already.

"Ready?" Nick asked.

"Yeah, let's go," Kate answered as she tied her hair up in a messy bun.

The two hurriedly walked out of the house, and as they could turn on the lights inside the house, they did not bother checking what time it was. But darkness welcomed them as soon as they opened the door to step out.

"What time is it?" Kate asked mindlessly. She had her phone in her pocket, but she did not check. She was more eager to get into the car and see her mom as soon as she could.

Just like Nick, who sat behind the wheels and with swift moves, he started the engine and drove out of their garage. Kate saw the digital clock on the dashboard. It said 4:38.

She was trepidatious, the feeling of fear that something may have happened to her mom made her feel anxious, but the hope that her mom must have gained her consciousness and was awake from her coma state made Kate nervously excited. She couldn't tell which of the two were for her eyes to witness based on Nick's reaction. This man never shows his emotions to Kate when it comes to her mom's conditions. But he is always ready to comfort her when something goes wrong, and she needs one and to celebrate with her when positive news comes around.

And right now, he was unreadable like he always is.

Nick noticed Kate fidgeting, so he reached out his right hand to hold her left. Kate turned her head to look at him.

She felt Nick squeezing her hand gently in his, but he did not say anything. He did not even glance at her as he was driving cautiously on the dark road with only faint lamp posts, and their car's headlights were illuminating their road path.

Kate felt braver. His silent expression clearly told her that he was there with her, that she was not alone and she could count on him. Kate took a deep breath, and an affiliative smile showed up on her face.

"Thank you," Kate uttered with a return of gentle squeeze of his hand clasped with hers.

Nick just nodded in response. He did not want to say anything to avoid adding to Kate's trepidations. What he heard from the nurse over the phone was something they both wished and had been waiting to happen, but unless they see the situation with their own eyes and made sure of everything to be as they hoped them to be, Nick did not want to alarm Kate and disappoint her. In all honesty, he could admit he was more nervous than Kate right now. He was hoping this was the day they could start counting for a different reason from what they had been doing for more than six months now. He was hoping that Kate would mark the calendar, not for the days her mom was unresponsive, but the days when they could bring her home safely and healthy.

Nick wanted to be optimistic. He has got to be. He did not let go of his hold on Kate's hand until he was about to park in front of the hospital building. It was too early that there were empty spots that would always be quickly occupied during the daytime due to visiting hours.

Kate stepped off of the car and headed to the door right away. She was sure Nick would know the way and would catch up with her. Nick was right behind her, and he caught up with her as soon as the elevator doors opened to take them where they were going.

"Hi, Kate, Nick!" the nurse attending to Kelly greeted the two as soon as they arrived at the floor of Kelly's ward.

"Hi, Lori! Did you call about my mom?" Kate walked side by side with the nurse, walking towards her mom's ward as she asked.

"Yeah, she must have tried to move her fingers that she pressed the call button," answered Lori. Kate and Nick felt nervous. The nurse's voice doesn't sound so positive like they expected it would be hearing the patient called for a nurse all by herself.

Wasn't it good?

"And...?" Kate could not hold her tongue. She was scared to hear whatever answer the nurse may give her, but she had to bite the bullet and ask away.

The nurse stopped walking and turned to face the two families of the patient.

"I suggest you wait for the doctor to explain the details," Lori paused. "But as it will take time till he arrives for today, you should prepare yourself. It may just be temporary or not. No one can tell," she paused again.

Kate was starting to get hints of what the nurse was trying to say. She felt weak and a bit dizzy. But Nick quickly got a hold of her and embraced her in his chest.

"Lori, what do you mean?" Nick asked instead of Kate.

"I'm so sorry, Nick, Kate, but as I've said, it might just be temporary, because as of now, she doesn't seem to remember anything. She doesn't remember us, not even her name," Lori answered.

Sympathy and regret filled her voice as she had seen how Kate and Nick had been waiting for the day Kelly would wake up. Now that she did, they are facing another situation, a loss of memory.

Kate sobbed in Nick's chest as soon as Lori's words sank into her understanding.

"Kate, it's okay. At least she is awake now. We can help her remember and regain her memory back," Nick alleviate her worries. "She is a brave woman. She survived a car wrecking crash, she survived a brain tumor, she woke up from a coma, she can get her memories back, okay?"

Kate nodded her head as she sobbed. Then she wiped her tears and smiled. A smile of mixed pain and hope that just like Nick has said, her mom will get through this one, a well.

Nick was glad to see his motivations and encouragements worked for Kate. Lori was also teary-eyed, nodding her head as she also agreed with Nick's words.

"Yeah, we just have to be there right by her side to remind her. If not, we can make new memories together. What matters most is that she is alive!" Kate was breathing deeply as she calmed her heart down, and with her arms clinging on Nick's right arm, she started to walk towards her mom's ward again.

"It is common for patients to have a PTA (Post Traumatic Amnesia) when they wake up from a coma. Let's just hope and pray it's not severe, considering she also had a tumor removed," Lori consoled the two as they walked.

Soon they arrived at the room where Kelly was lying in an elevated bed to almost like sitting on the bed. She was blinking her eyes and slowly trying to move her fingers. The patient looked so determined not to sleep and froze again. She tried to make soft and slow movements of her fingers and toes as well as her facial muscles.

"Mom!" Kate blurted aloud in joy to see her mom differently from how they left her last night.