ORION.
I gazed tenderly at Harro's beautiful face, his peaceful expression a heartbreaking contrast to the turmoil that ravaged my soul. Two long months had passed since his accident, and still, he lay motionless, his chest rising and falling with a gentle rhythm that only served as a bitter reminder of his prolonged slumber.
My voice barely above a whisper, I pleaded with him, my words trembling with emotion. "You've been sleeping for too long, my love. Please, open your eyes." My hand reached out, my fingers tracing the contours of his face with a gentle touch, as if willing him to stir.
The memories of that fateful day still lingered, etched in my mind like a scar. The third week after his accident, the doctors had made the agonizing decision to medically induce a coma, a desperate measure to prevent his brain from swelling. And now, two months later, he still hadn't awakened, despite the doctors' assurances that he was healing at a remarkable pace.
Two whole months of watching him sleep, my heart shattering into a million pieces with each passing day. The doctors' words echoed in my mind, a haunting refrain: "We've done everything we can for him." But I refused to accept that. There had to be more, something else they could try. I wasn't okay with him just lying here like this, I can't..
I gently pushed a stray strand of his hair peeking out of the bandage away from his closed eyes, my heart aching with a mix of longing and desperation. And then, it happened - his hand tightened around mine, his fingers twitching with a faint spark of life. I gasped, my breath catching in my throat as I rushed out my words, hoping against hope that this time, it was real. "Harro! Are you awake? Can you hear me?" My voice trembled with emotion, my eyes locked onto him, willing him to respond.
Sabastian sprang up from the couch, his eyes wide with hope, as he rushed to Harro's bedside. "SJ! It's Daddy, can you hear me?" he asked frantically, his voice cracking with emotion. Harro stirred again, his lashes flickering as if he recognized his father's voice. Slowly, he opened his eyes, blinking in confusion, and my eyes widened as tears threatened to pour out. Sabastian's face lit up with joy, but he quickly urged me towards the door, his eyes frantic. "Call the doctors!" he exclaimed, his voice barely above a whisper. I ran outside immediately, my heart racing with excitement, and soon enough, doctors and nurses filled the room, asking us to give them space as they examined him.
The medical team swarmed around Harro, conducting a series of checks, tests, and questions, to which he responded slowly but correctly, looking half asleep and half amused, as if he was still trying to shake off the haze of his long slumber. Harro's gaze drifted to his father, his eyes filled with curiosity, before he spoke in a voice that was still laced with a hint of sleepiness.
"Dad, did you eventually let me jump out of the airplane?" he asked, his voice laced with mischief, as he gestured to his broken arm.
Sabastian's expression turned worried, his brow furrowed in concern, and my heart sank, fearing for the worst. The doctor, sensing Sabastian's unease, leaned in closer to Harro, his voice gentle but probing. "What was the last thing you remember?" Harro's eyes drifted off, as if he was searching for a memory that was just out of reach.
"Um...I was begging my dad to let me jump out of the plane for my birthday," he replied, his voice filled with childlike attitude.
Sabastian's expression darkened, his face clouded with a mix of emotions, and my breath caught in my throat, as if I was frozen in anticipation of what was to come. The air seemed to thicken, heavy with unspoken words, as the doctor's eyes locked onto Sabastian's, a silent understanding passing between them.
"What is going on?" Harro asked, his eyes scanning his father's face, searching for answers.
The doctor's expression turned somber, his voice low and measured. "Can you excuse us for a moment?" he asked, before turning to the nurse. "Please take over wrapping the bandage on Mr. Bishop's head." As the nurse stepped in, the doctor ushered Sabastian and me into the hallway, the hospital room door closing behind us with a soft whoosh.
The doctor's eyes locked onto ours, his expression grave. "From the looks on your faces, I can tell he's missing some days in his memories." Sabastian's eyes darted nervously to the floor, his feet tapping out an uneasy rhythm. "Try months," he muttered, his voice laced with worry. The doctor hummed quietly, his eyes clouding with concern.
"I suggested the induced coma because I suspected something like this might happen," he said, his words dropping like a bombshell. I felt my eyebrows shoot up, my mind racing with questions. Why hadn't he told us about his suspicions? What did it mean for Harro's recovery?
"What does that mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, as if I was afraid of the answer.
The doctor's words laced with comfort but professional. "As you know, the human body is capable of protecting itself against sickness and other foreign objects, and a lot more that the medical field cannot cover," he explained, his eyes filled with a deep understanding. "This could just be another way his brain is protecting him from whatever memories it deems too painful to recall." He paused, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "Cases like this are associated with traumatic and stressful experiences, where the individual has selective amnesia, a way the mind selectively blocks out painful or disturbing memories as a coping mechanism."
My heart went out to Harro, my mind racing with the implications. "Is he in pain?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, as the doctor finished speaking.
The doctor's expression turned thoughtful, his eyes clouding with concern. "Physically, everything looks great, but I can't say about mentally. We'll bring in a specialist to assess his mental state, to cover all the bases and ensure he's completely fine." He paused, his voice taking on a cautionary tone. "But in the meantime, know that his mind is in a fragile state right now. Tread lightly with information you might want to share with him, as it could easily overwhelm him, which might further hinder his recovery process."
The doctor's words hung in the air like a delicate mist, a reminder of the fragility of Harro's mental state. With a nod, he excused himself, leaving Sabastian and me to share a look of concern and understanding. We walked back into the VIP room, our footsteps quiet on the hospital floor, our hearts heavy with the weight of Harro's uncertain future.
As Sabastian and I re-entered the VIP hospital room, Harro's face lit up with a warm smile, his eyes sparkling with a hint of curiosity. His father took his son's uninjured arm, kissing it gently, as a sigh of relief escaped his lips.
"What did the doctor say?" Harro asked, his voice filled with a childlike innocence. Sabastian told him the doctor's words, and Harro nodded, his smile never wavering.
Then, his eyes met mine for the first time since he woke up, and I felt my heart skip a beat. His gaze scanned my face, as if searching for something, and I held my breath, anticipation building up inside me like a stormy sea. The silence between us was palpable, heavy with unspoken emotions.
Finally, Harro spoke, his voice hesitant, yet genuine. "Sorry, who are you?" My eyes widened, and my heart sank, confirming my deepest fears. My words got stuck in my throat, and I looked at Sabastian for help, my eyes pleading for rescue.
Sabastian's expression turned somber, "He's a friend of mine, he heard what happened to you and wanted to see how you were doing." His father's words broke me even more and his eyes filled with a warning when I wanted to protest. I swallowed my protest, feeling the walls closing in on me like a suffocating vice.
Harro's face lit up with a charming smile, his eyes sparkling with innocence. "Awww, he's handsome and nice...your girlfriend is one lucky girl," he said, extending his arm for a handshake. I took it, my heart heavy with emotion, as he introduced himself. "Thank you for coming, I'm Harro."
I forced a smile, my voice cracking slightly at the end. "Don't worry about it... I'm Orion, nice to meet you Harro." The words felt like a lie, a masquerade that hid the truth. I hastily excused myself, my eyes stinging with unshed tears.
As I walked out of the hospital room, I practically ran, my feet carrying me away from the pain and the heartache. I slumped into the wall at the corner far from his hospital room, my body shaking with sobs, as tears streamed down my face like a river of sorrow.
I don't know how long I cried, but when I finally emerged from my emotional haze, Sabastian was standing in front of me, his face etched with sympathy. "Why did you do that?" I asked, my anger simmering just below the surface, as I wiped away the tears that still lingered on my cheeks.
Sabastian's expression turned resolute, his voice firm but gentle. "I had to, you heard what the doctor said. We don't want anything that might overwhelm him right now." His words felt like a slap in the face, and I snapped, my emotions boiling over.
"It wasn't your decision to make!" I exclaimed, tears streaming down my face once more.
Sabastian's face remained calm, but his eyes betrayed a hint of sadness. "I've always done what's best for SJ, that's my whole world in there." he said, his words a painful reminder that I was not the only one who loved Harro deeply.
My anger and hurt boiled over, and I asked, my voice shaking with emotion, "What about me? Don't you think he's my whole world too?"
Sabastian's expression softened, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of regret and pity in his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by a resolute determination. "I don't usually interfere with my son's relationships, but I need you to give him some space, at least till he's himself again," he said, his words feeling like a dagger to my heart.
I pleaded with him, my voice weak and desperate. "Please don't do this, don't keep me away from him." But Sabastian's expression remained firm, his voice unwavering.
"I like you, Orion...I really do, but this is what's best for him. I know you understand that. Just give him some space, at least till his injuries heal, we'll talk again." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me feeling shattered and alone.
My last hope dashed to pieces, I reached for my phone, my fingers trembling as I dialed the only person I could think of. "Tina, please...I need you...come," I managed to say, my voice cracking with emotion, before I broke down again, my sobs echoing through the empty hallway.