I could’ve sworn I felt Eva’s fingers twitch in my hand.

I called for a nurse, and told her what I had felt, she basically told me I was imagining things, fuck that, I knew what I felt. I was told keep being hopeful and to keep talking to her more. Well what the fuck did they think I was doing in the first place. I had been doing exactly that for two days now, but I was beginning to run thin with my patience, why couldn’t they both just wake up.

It was killing me, talking to the two people I cared about most in this world and they couldn’t give me answers or reply. I was stuck with hearing the beep of their machines and it was slowly driving me insane.

Climbing from the seat next to Eva’s bed. I started to pace the room, pulling at the strands of my hair in frustration. Shit, I was desperate to hear her voice, desperate to hold her, kiss her, fucking touch her. This was bullshit.

The door opened, and the doctor came in.

“Why won’t she wake the fuck up doc?”

“Kaden,” he breathed heavily. “We’ve been through this. I understand you are upset and are going through a tough time right now b—”

“You don’t understand shit,” I glared at him. “You have no fucking idea what I am going through. Seeing her in that bed, is tearing me up and there’s nothing,” I raised my voice. “Nothing I can do.”

“Sit down.” Doctor I looked at his name tag, completely forgetting what his name was. Roberts, Doctor Roberts said in a no-nonsense kind of voice.

Feeling defeated, I listened and sat down. He grabbed a chair and pulled it in front of me and sat down facing me. He didn’t look to be much older than me, maybe thirties, he also looked tired as shit, which made me feel guilty for losing it with him, he didn’t deserve my crap, it wasn’t his fault.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled. “It’s not your fault. It’s just fuck.”

“Look,” he placed his clip board beside his feet. “I do understand what you’re going through, I may have not felt the way you do, or act the way you are. Because we all deal with traumatic experiences differently,” he rubbed his hand over his chin. “My wife was in a car accident a few years ago,” yep I was a piece of shit. “She was badly injured and like your partner she was in a coma. I had only been a doctor for a few months then, I was on shift when one of my nurses came and grabbed me, informing me that my wife was in surgery because they were trying to save one of her kidneys. I couldn’t do shit. I had to stay behind, I wasn’t allowed to help, I felt completely useless. Of course, I went through stages of blaming myself, why wouldn’t I,” he shrugged. “She was on the way to see me, when she had her accident. I kept thinking about the what if’s, but it was no use in beating myself up over it, my wife needed me. I know right now you’re feeling impatient and you want your partner to wake up, but she needs to heal and rest. She’ll wake up, when her body is stronger, when her lung starts to function the way it should and when her pain is more bearable. That’s all I can give you and know this Kaden,” he told me smiling slightly. “She can hear you when you talk.”

Grabbing his clip board. He placed the chair back from it came from, took Eva’s vitals and left the room. I sat there still, shocked.

“Hey man,” I said taking the vacated seat beside Caleb’s bed. “Sorry I haven’t been to see you for a few hours. I find it hard to leave your sister’s side,” I sighed. “Why aren’t you getting any better. Come on man, you’re a fighter, fight this shit, don’t let those bastards defeat you. I know you man,” emotion’s swirled around in the pit of my stomach making me feel nauseous. “Your family needs you bro, fuck even I need you. You’re my best-friend, you’re my family, I refuse to lose you. Doctor Roberts told me your body isn’t healing and keeps rejecting the medication they have given you,” I raked my hand through my hair. “But the swelling around your brain has gone down considerably, which is a plus I guess. But you still look like shit.” I laughed mostly to myself, “then again, you were never that pretty in the first place,” I could imagine him giving me shit right in this moment if he were awake. “Please Caleb. Fight this, for us.”

I wiped my eyes, ridding myself of the watery shit that kept falling.

I’d never been much of a crier, or one to feel anything for that matter. The last time I had really cried was at my Mom and Dad’s funeral. I refused to let myself feel, I despised being vulnerable and weak. But these past few days, I realised it was ok to feel. It was ok to cry. It didn’t make me any less of a man, it made me human.

Melody sat beside me and grabbed my hand, holding it tightly in hers. I must had been in my own world because I didn’t even hear her enter the room.

We sat in silence, comforting one another. Listening to the sound of the machines, that were keeping Caleb stable and helping him breathe.

We had all been taking it turns, rotating between Eva and Caleb’s room. You were only allowed two to visit at a time, although sometimes we were allowed more, the nurse and doctors felt sympathy for us all. Eva’s best-friends had been here every evening so far, we tended to give them space, so they could talk to her, cry or soak in the comfort knowing she was alive.

“Have you been home anymore darling?” Melody asked breaking through my thoughts.

“Nah, there’s nothing for me there,” I told her. “I’d rather be here, just in case anything changes with either of them.”

“Kaden honey, you need to rest too,” she shook her head. “I know you want to be here every waking moment, but you haven’t been home in two days. Your starting to smell really bad.”

I laughed. For the first time in a few days, I truly laughed. “Cheers love,” I smiled at her, causing her to chuckle. “I say there’s nothing for me there, because Melody. Eva is my home, where she is, I am.”

She squeezed my hand affectionately. “You’re a sweet boy Kaden.”

“I try,” I mumbled, admittedly feeling a little uncomfortable.

Our conversation was interrupted with Josh bursting through the door. “She’s awake,” he smiled, tears glistened in his eyes. “Fuck, come on. She’s calling for you two,” my heart picked up its pace. I jumped from my chair, pushed past Josh and sprinted into Eva’s room.

Her eyes locked onto mine straight away. I felt so many fucking emotions, it was overwhelming.

She covered her mouth with shaken hands, tears fell from her eyes, spilling onto her cheeks. My legs became weak and unstable. My own tears spilled onto my face, I didn’t bother wiping them away. I walked over to Eva’s bed, neither one of us broke our eye contact, we held each other’s gaze. It was intense, and I felt the intensity of it, the passion, the love, the need to be with each other.

It was powerful. It was heart clenching. It was our love.

“Eva,” I choked out.