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"Yes, can I?"
I nod my head, and she jumps up. She takes her drawing and smiles as she takes my hand. "Don't peek; it's a surprise for you and Giant." She waves back at the nurse as we leave.
My heart is fluttering in my chest as we approach Nick's room.
"Is this it?" she asks.
"It is," I say.
Charlotte lets go of my hand and rushes through the door. I follow and place my hands on her shoulders as she stops walking. "Why isn't he awake yet, Mommy?"
"His body is tired and needs time to heal, sweetheart."
She walks over, moves the chair next to the bed and climbs on it. I swallow when she puts her drawing on the sheets and touches his hand with her fingertips.
"Giant?" she whispers. She caresses his skin a few times while keeping her eyes on him in a search of a reaction."Giant, I made something for you. Do you want to see it?" she asks in her cheery voice. She holds the picture up and explains to him what she made. "This is you,” she says, pointing to the middle figure, and this is Mommy and me,” she explains, pointing to the other two figures. “We're holding hands, and we're happy." Her eyes drift to his face, and when he doesn't respond, she places the picture back on the bed. "Wake up, Nick. Mommy's heart is hurting without you."
A large lump sets in my throat as she pours her heart out to him. "I miss you. And I'm sorry for not waiting for you at school." Her voice cracks as she continues. "I'm sorry Cindy shot you. But you saved me as you said you would." She brushes his hand another few times.
I walk over and place my hand on her back.
"What if he never wakes up, Mommy?"
The ball in my throat is restricting me from answering. And when she turns to me, her eyes are watery.
"I don't want him to die. I love Nick." She wraps her arms around my waist and cries her heart out against my chest. And as predicted, my tears join hers.
"I miss him, Mommy."
"I know, sweetheart. I do too."
Charlotte's fingers come up, and she brushes a tear from my cheek."Nick said to the mean woman that he loves you and that he always will. So if he loves us, why won't he wake up? I—"
"S... Smarty?"
Charlotte and I freeze as we hear the nickname, and I lift my head. Charlotte turns to face Nick. His eyes are closed, and his lips aren't moving.
"I thought he..."
My heart stops when his hand twitches, followed by his lips that move and produce a whisper. "Ch...Charlotte?"
"Giant?"
In slow motion, his eyelids part, revealing his brown irises. My hand places itself over my ricocheting heart as the other one covers my mouth.
"Nick!" she says in a cry.
He turns his head towards us, and his eyes find Charlotte. Disbelief, relief, and other emotions roam through his irises like a cyclone. His stunning chocolate eyes overflow with tears as he moves his hand towards her. Charlotte, who sees this, takes it and smiles at him. And as she touches him, and he realizes she's alive, he breaks into hard sobs. His shoulders shake as he cries.
"Oh, Smarty. You're alive," he mumbles between his sobs. Charlotte crawls onto his bed, and he pulls and tugs her against him. "I... thought—"
"I'm okay because you saved me, Giant. I love you."
Another deep snort leaves his lips. "I love you too," he whispers.
For minutes, they stay in this embrace. When the door opens, and Amanda walks in, Nick lets go of Charlotte, and she slides off the bed. Amanda runs to the bed and places a kiss on his forehead. When she sees my frozen state, she whispers something in Nick's ear whose head twists to me, but my eyes are avoiding his.
Amanda walks over to Charlotte. "Why don't we step outside and call Martha and John? Then you can tell them Nick has woken up."
