Page 54 of Rising Star

Just like every time I was by her side, I played Madison her song as an opening act.

…There’s something I gotta tell you (yes, there’s something I gotta tell you)

There’s something I can’t keep to myself anymore (no, baby, I gotta tell you)

I’m in love with you.

I was about to continue with “Snowed In” when Doctor Bera walked in.

“Mr. Stevens.” I rose to my feet to shake his hand. “As we discussed yesterday on the phone, we’ve been tapering the medication since this morning. You should expect her to wake up soon.”

“Oh, it’s that fast?”

“Yes. Patients usually wake up within three or four hours after we remove them from the ventilator.”

I rubbed the column of my throat to erase the dryness there. “Will she be okay?”

“We’re watching her closely and monitoring her vitals all through the process. She’s in good hands.”

He checked her reflexes and wrote something down before promising to come back later.

I grabbed Madison’s hand and squeezed it between mine. “Babe, you’re going to wake up. Listen, I need you to be brave when you do. Your life is safe now. You might hurt some.” I kissed her knuckles. “I wish I could take away your pain. No matter what, I’ll be by your side. Emily says you’re a fighter, and it is so true. I have seen it these past few days. I just want you to know I miss you. And I love you. We’ll get through this, you hear me? Whatever challenge life throws at us, we have proved we are a great team so far, you and I, so make sure you remember this.”

Playing my guitar, I sang to the woman I love.

“If I grab something to eat real quick, will you wait for me? To wake up?” I asked when I took a break around one in the afternoon. “I don’t want you to open your eyes and be all alone. Emily is in surgery all day, so it’s just you and me now.”

I skimmed the back of her hand when I felt a barely perceptible twitch of her fingers. I blinked, certain I had conjured the movement. Just in case it wasn’t my imagination playing tricks on me, I rested my gaze on her hand for a tad longer.

It took about one minute for Madison’s digits to spasm again. And about twenty seconds for a third occurrence.

Jumping to my feet, but never releasing her hand, I pressed the emergency button attached to the railing of the bed. My pulse went haywire. A new form of energy arose in me. I was hesitant between jumping around and pumping my fist and screaming my excitement at the top of my lungs. Then I remembered just in time this was the ICU. Within seconds, Mara walked into the room. “Mr. Stevens, how can I help you?”

I sucked a cleansing breath in to calm the jitters filling my stomach. “She moved. Her fingers. I think she’s waking up,” I said, the words tumbling out of my mouth. I zoomed in on Madison’s face. The bruises were mostly faded, and the bandage on her forehead had been gone for days. Even the laceration on her cheek looked better. “Maddie, do it again. Please. Move. Do it for me.” I lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles one by one. This time, her eyelids fluttered. Like the wings of a butterfly. “See?” I asked the nurse. “I told ya. Did you see it? Please tell me I’m not going crazy. Is she waking up?”

“Yes. She is.” She pushed a button, commanding a blood pressure reading and checking other waveforms on the machine, before saying, “I’ll get the medical team. Wait here. We’ll be right back.”

“Okay.” I talked to Madison, my voice strained with new emotions. Hope and fear mixing together in nerve-wracking anticipation. “Babe, you gotta do it again. Moving, I mean. Your fingers. Or your eyelids. Even your toes.” I leaned over the bed, waiting for another sign. Madison’s lids fluttered faster this time until they opened. And fixed on me.

My voice got stuck down my throat.

My eyes filled with hot tears.

My heart flipped in my chest.

I stood there, barely able to take a full breath in, readying myself for her next action.

We stared, taking in our expressions. As if we were seeing the other for the first time.

At the sight of her, awake, a million different feelings surged through me.

Dr. Bera and his team entered the room, and I was asked to step back while they examined her. I let go of her hand reluctantly. It broke my heart to sever the only connection we shared.

From a corner of the room, I was transfixed by all the commotion surrounding me. Buttons were pressed, and orders were given. The beeping sounds of the machines stuffed the silence in-between the chatter. The doctor nodded, and the nurse asked Madison to take a deep breath, then removed the tracheal tube, a harsh cough escaping her lips.

Her eyes surveyed the room, and when they landed on mine again, they stole my breath away. “Sam,” she mouthed this time.

“I’m here. I’m right here,” I said, unable to hide the turmoil invading me. My feet brought me next to her of their own volition. My fingers laced through hers before I could even comprehend what I was doing, and my lips connected with her forehead. “You’re awake. I’m not going anywhere.”