Chapter 32: Chapter 32

Just like Lori had told them on their way to Kelly's ward, the patient did not seem to recognize them. There was no way yet to tell, as the patient was obviously still trying to gather herself, her senses, and maybe recall whatever had happened to her. Her voice hadn't surfaced yet, her eyes blinked, and Kate was already overjoyed to watch her mom fight with all her might to regain her consciousness.

"Mom, it's me, Kate," the daughter pitifully sobbed while holding her mom's hand. Nick was right behind Kate, ready to rub her shoulders and back as his silent expression of support.

"Mom, we missed you," Nick did not make his joy hidden. A tear silently fell and landed on Kate's shoulder, but as the latter was too preoccupied with her mom's latest progress, she couldn't care for anything else.

Kelly's tears streamed down from the side of her eyes to below her temples and rolled to the back of her head. Due to the injury needing surgery, her head was clean-shaved, and to freshen her up easily when she was in a coma state, Kate agreed to have her mom's beautiful hair shaved regularly. She can easily grow them back when she gets better, so the daughter was confident her mom wouldn't mind.

The family of three did not notice the time. Kate and Nick blabbered next to Kelly, who appeared to have been tired of being asleep for quite a long time and now is not willing even to shut her eyes. It was as if she was afraid she wouldn't get them to open again if she ever sleeps now.

"Hi, doc!" Nick greeted Doctor Alfred Dion as soon as he saw him walking towards their mom's ward.

"Hi, Nick, Kate!" The good doctor greeted the youngsters as soon as he walked in. He has heard about the news that Kelly has woken up from her coma, but he also heard about the possible fear of memory loss. Doctor Dion walked closer to stand next to Kelly's bed, where he could see her eye to eye.

"Hi, Kelly! My name is Alfred Dion. We have been colleagues for a while now in this hospital where I work as a resident and you as a nurse," the doctor introduced himself in detail to Kelly, trying to jog out her memory of him as he checked her eyes with an ophthalmoscope. He was satisfied to see her retina respond to the beam of light from the medical instrument. "Good." He nodded as he commented, then he asked again. "Do you remember me?"

Everyone around the patient was holding their breath but only Kelly's eyes moved on her face. Her lips only quivers but it couldn't even open. Her fingers and toes were still occasionally moving. Doctor Dion patted Kelly's right hand to comfort her.

"It's okay, take your time, Kelly."

Doctor Dion looked back at Kate and Nick, he winked at the two youngsters.

"See you around," the doctor smiled genuinely at Kelly before he left the ward. He gave a signal for Kate and Nick to have a word with him and the two followed the doctor out of the ward.

"It has been six months of comatose, she might need time to completely regain herself, physically, emotionally, and even mentally. I suggest you keep talking to her, it will help remind her of your connections as a family. You can ask her to do things like blink her eyes when you are asking for a response since that is the most that she could do for now or move her fingers or toes. Check on what way you can ask her to respond but do not give her something too much, like too sad or too happy news or stories, it might trigger something good but it may also do something worse to her. Let us see her progress within the next few days, okay?" Doctor Dion guided the two on how to deal with Kelly's situation for the moment. He was optimistic Kelly would be back on her feet sooner, he is also excited to let his patient know that they have removed the tumor she was too worried about for almost a year now.

"Thank you, Doc," Kate was teary-eyed as she listened to the doctor's orders. She was attentive as it concerned her mom and she was so happy that her tears were actually of joy and not sadness.

Nick also thanked the doctor and watched his back as he walked away, then the two went to stay by Kelly's side again.

The two did everything the doctor had told them to do. After a few days, Kelly could be moved to a wheelchair and get fresh air in the hospital garden area by the back of the building. Kate would blabber about anything and make Kelly smile. Kelly smiles but she doesn't say anything in return, it was like she has turned mute. Kate and Nick asked the doctor about it. They could not explain the exact possibility of such an instance happening but even after a series of tests, Kelly's state did not change.

After almost two weeks, the doctor agreed for Kelly to be sent home. She could move by herself around already, her vital signs were good, although her memory wasn't back yet, she was good to go and just come around for regular check-ups to monitor her condition. Kate was so happy. She was going to spend her whole summer vacation with her mom. That was her plan and Nick agreed. He also returned home to help Kelly and Kate in anything and everything they would need, asked or not.

"Mom..." Kate called out. They were lying on their sides facing each other on her bed, they just got home and Kate wanted Kelly to feel the comfort of her own bed so she asked Kelly if they could lie down for a while.

Kelly did not respond with words but she caressed the girl's hair with a gentle smile. Kate felt emotional. Her mom seemed to have turned more affectionate than she was before. It felt weird at first but Kate wanted her mom to recover soon, she did not mention any of it to stop Kelly from doing so. It felt weird but it also felt good. They had been apart for many years as she had to stay in boarding school. Now that they were together, Kate thought Kelly was giving her the love she was not able to express when she was away.

"Kate...?" Kelly spoke softly. She sounded unsure and hesitating.

Kate closed her eyes, savoring the sound of her mom's voice. But as it was the very first word Kelly said in a few months, her voice and tone were too low and soft, almost inaudible even to Kate who was just right next to her.

"Mom..." the daughter called again.

"Thank you," Kelly uttered softly again.

This time Kate was assured her mom really did say something. Out of extreme joy, the young girl hugged her mom and sobbed in her embrace. Kelly wrapped her arms around Kate and gently rubbed the girl's back. Kate cried her heart out. It was like her emotions were all stored inside and knowing that her mom was now okay and was even speaking to her, Kate felt a dam broke inside and her tears flowed out of control.

"Kate? Mom?" Nick called out from outside Kelly's room. He was about to bring Kelly's bag inside the room from the car when he heard Kate crying. He was surprised to see the two ladies lying on their sides on the bed with their arms tangled around each other's torso. Nick walked closer. Kate's back was to him and Kelly was facing him.

"Mom...?" Nick called out with his heart hanging. He did not know what to expect. He did not know how to prepare his heart to hear what made Kate cry so pitifully.

Kelly looked up to see the young man standing by the side of the bed. She reached out her hand as if asking Nick to join them.

"Nick... Thank you," Kelly softly uttered.

Nick felt overwhelmed. They just got home and Kelly has had another amazing progress. He reached to hold his stepmom's hand and sat next to Kate's back on the bed.

Hearing another word from her mom, Kate on Kelly's embrace wailed even louder.

"Shhhh... Shhhhh...." Kelly hushed the girl's cry as if trying to make a baby stop making a fuss.

Nick comforted Kate like he would always do for the whole time Kelly was unconscious and in the hospital.

"Kate, you will make mom worry too much if you cry so suddenly without telling her why," Nick reached for a box of facial tissue and wiped Kate's tears. He also handed her some to wipe her snoot.

Kelly was keenly watching the two but with amusement. She could feel the pure and honest affection this man has for the girl.