Chapter 13: Hopes and faith.
Everything went wrong on that very day. His head was filled with memories of her. The times they spent together, smiling, laughing, crying and frowning. It was all boggled up in his mind. Tears continue to flow out uncontrollably, it’s almost been an hour since he started crying and he hadn’t stopped. “It not your fault, maybe it’s just an unfortunate accident.” Nikki’s uncle whispered into Simon’s ears. Not long after, Simon passed out from the exhaustion and shock.
He woke up in a bed with white sheets. This was not exactly what he expected, to be in the hospital. He hoped that Nikki’s accident was just a nightmare but no matter what, he couldn’t change the fact. His heart felt so crumpled, his head felt like he just had a concussion. Every single part of his body was aching and he felt miserable. He struggled to sit up and walk to Nikki but what he saw was far worst. His mother came into his room looking very worried and angry at the same time.
He had this mixed feeling, confused whether to tell his mother what had happened. “I know what happened, her uncle told me already. You can go visit her later. For now, sit down and have a rest,” Simon’s mother told him. He instantly felt a sense of relief, because now that family stress is over, he can concentrate on caring for Nikki. He sat down on the plain bed and asked how she was but his mother told him not to worry and he can go look for her after he had a good rest and meal.
He felt a little angry at that time because he was being controlled but he had no choice. He set his hand phone’s alarm in an hour’s time and told his mother to get him something light. His mother agreed and left to the canteen. He laid on the bed, even though his head hurt, he tried to rest. He tried to find tranquillity and soon fell asleep.
He woke up only to find his mother talking with two people whom he didn’t know. “I see you’re awake, I’m Nikki’s father and I know you two have been more than good friends, but I’m terribly sorry. I don’t think this relationship will prove Nikki any good. I’m afraid I won’t allow you to visit Nikki anymore. But I can give you the time to visit her until she recovers from this coma.” said the man who was chatting with Simon’s mother a moment ago. Simon was utterly crushed, and was on the verge of breaking down. He tried to change his decision and even went on his knees to beg him, but to no avail.
He left the room after giving Simon a few words of compliment of being able to take care of Nikki and apologized sincerely. He left after that with his ex-wife who didn’t speak a single word. Before he left, his shadow casted upon the windows of the room. It was late about 10pm, and Simon could clearly remember how it looked like, so dreadful and terrifying, the single person whom tore Nikki and Simon apart. His mother felt deeply sorry for him and sympathised him but Simon couldn’t bother less. He told her to go back home as he wanted to be alone, in solitude.
His mother knew how he felt, and agreed to go home first but not before telling him to sleep early and not to think so much about it. But these words hardly seem to get into him, because his mind was too filled with thoughts to be occupied by others. He faced down on the pillow and cried. He felt so exhausted, on the verge of fainting again. He wanted to lose all his memories, he wanted to go back to the past, he wanted to do everything he could, not to change his life, but to avoid Nikki ever getting into that dreaded accident.
He couldn’t sleep, his tears just keep falling. He sat up and dragged his lifeless body to the windows and looked up into the sky. There were hardly any stars; almost everything is covered in utter darkness. It was almost as if it was representing his hope, of ever getting together with Nikki again. He wanted to see her, at least appreciate this time that her father has given him. He dragged his heavy feet and looked for her room.
Visiting hours were over and he was all that was left wandering around the corridors of the hospital. Everything was pitched black except for the few lights at the side of the walls. It looked exactly like the scene where some zombie will jump out and grab you but that was the last on Simon’s mind. He looked for her desperately, almost as if he was going to die if he didn’t see her tonight. Every single emotion inside of him was falling apart, except for the undying love he had for her, it was growing every second, every minute, every hour.
He searched around for a few minutes but he was getting weaker. He spotted a nurse up in front so he headed in that direction. Not long after, he arrived at the reception counter. He asked for directions to her room at the only available nurse who was station there even though she looked like she hadn’t slept for ages. She looked through her computer according to the name Simon gave him and gave him the directions. Simon trudged on, the nurse advised her to go back to his room but he refused. Simon’s legs were aching but he tried his best to preserve on.
After a few minutes of walking, he spotted Nikki’s room in a distance. He ran there, feelings anxious just to catch a glimpse of her. He opened the door, and sat beside her. He held her hands and gazed upon her innocent look. “Why not you open up your eyes, so I can see you once again?” Simon said. He knew she was never going to open them up but he told her that her dad was never going to let them be together again. He cried silently as he told her what had happened and that everything will be okay. “We could even tell him together that we love each other deeply and we will never let things fall apart so easily.” Simon said with a weak voice.
She looked perfect, even when she had bandages all over her. Simon held her hands even tighter when he stumbled upon the fact that she could never wake up again. But he realise that he needs to give her some faith if he wanted her to ever wake up again so he left his seat and went to the couch. He was feeling too tired to even think about anything now. “I can still think about it tomorrow, and besides, now that I’m here, Nikki won’t be alone anymore.” Simon said, before dozing off with a smile on his face.
