Chapter 1
LYN'S POV
The room was silent except for the beeping sound from the life support machine. The doctor had just finished his normal check-up routine. I was talking to him as usual when his eyes fluttered open.
"Oh my God" escaped my lips as others turned and focused in his direction, a glimmer of hope igniting in our hearts.
"Keep talking, Lyn," his father urged, his voice laced with encouragement. I poured out a stream of words like a crazy lady. I continued to chatter about anything that came to my head that I couldn't even recall. Though my words felt hollow and insignificant, I kept on. But to my dismay, he remained unresponsive, his gaze distant and unfocused. Just as suddenly as they had opened, his eyes closed again, and he slipped back into a coma.
The anguish of the failed hope overwhelmed me. My words trailed off into a desperate scream as tears dripped down my face.
"Please, sweetheart, wake up for us. We need you around us. Please wake up".
Nurse Kate hurried over to my side and hugged me, trying to calm me down. They tried to convince me that the fact that he had opened his eyes was a good sign of his coming around soon. That gave me hope to hold on.
Two weeks later, which marked his third month in a coma, he finally awakened, and his body was miraculously revitalized. The machines that had sustained him for so long were no longer needed, as he drew in his first independent breaths. The medical team worked tirelessly, conducting a series of tests and scans, and mercifully, the results revealed no lasting damage.
Then a few da,ys later, his voice broke the long silence. His eyes were on mine when his first words came in a tender whisper.
"My Angel."
The room was filled with joy, as his father and Doctor Stephen looked on, beaming. I ,couldn't contain my joy and with tears of happiness, I responded,
"My lovey-dovey, welcome back!"
His father's laughter echoed through the room, teasing his son as he pushed playfully.
"Son, are you kidding me, or are you trying to get me jealous? You said your Angel, but you didn't say Dad. I missed you too, you know".
Abel smiled and let out, "Dad". His dad beamed as he tried to sit up on the bed with a little help. Then opened his arms for his dad. His dad rushed and hugged him as the joy nearly drove him to tears.
"Son, don't ever give me this scare again, mmh". The father told him and pecked him happily on the forehead.
Then Doctor Stephen hugged him as well and seeing that everything was okay, he left with Abel's Dad after telling me not to get him too excited.
I wondered what he meant by that but waved it off. I stood staring at him with unexplainable joy. He stared at me as well, all smiles.
"Aren't you going to hug your lovey-dovey?". He asked me.
Tears of joy dropped as I hugged him, wholeheartedly saying thank goodness within me that the problem was over.
"I guess you missed me a lot, hmm". He said and I nodded as I pecked his forehead while tears of joy kept dripping down my face.
"Baby, please don't cry. I am alright. Just give me a few days and I will start taking you out, okay" he said with a smile.
I nodded affirmatively. Then he started narrating his experience when he was in a coma.
"Angel, when I was out, I kept hearing voices, some close, some far. I tried to wake up but felt very weak. However, one thing was certain: I always felt the presence of my loved ones, especially you. Sometimes I will hear your voice very close begging me to wake up. I kept trying to but felt so helpless. I am so sorry for making you sad". He tendered sweetly.
"You tried my love, I know you tried but I am glad that it's over now". I replied as I stared at his weak but smiling face.
"Come on, don't get exhausted with much talk okay? Lie down and rest".
He lay down with a smile still on his face. I bent down and kissed him and told him that I loved him so much.
"Oh my heart, you are getting me excited".
He teased me and I laughed heartily and played on with the joke.
"Oh mine, I am so sorry dear, I forgot the doctor's instructions. It's just that I have missed you a lot". I replied.
"Hmm, baby you are still getting me too excited". He said once more.
"Oh, my bad". I chuckled as I pecked him happily.
As days passed by, he kept getting better. As an orthopedic therapist, he knew what exercises and what meals to eat to heal quickly. Within three weeks, he was up on his feet, but he decided to rest for about a week more at home before resuming work.
Initially, I thought it was the news of the pregnancy that I kept whispering to his ears that woke him up, but as time passed by, he made no mention of it. I realized it was just a coincidence.
Meanwhile, my body was changing rapidly, and I longed to share the truth with him before my mom discovered it. Yet, I hesitated, fearing his reaction. My doubts intensified when he mentioned that our wedding plans were the first thing on our list of things to do. He even jokingly mentioned that starting a family would be the next item on our agenda. The words left me both thrilled and terrified. My excitement about sharing the news was replaced by uneasiness, and I found myself developing cold feet.
Initially, when he came out of the coma, I was excited to tell him that I was already carrying his baby, but on second thought, I became scared. Different thoughts and questions started running through my head. Would he be happy to hear this news? Was he even aware that he was hallucinating, "I want a baby", when he was in a coma? Was he this or would he be that?
I got carried away, where I was seated on a chair at the Academy. Those questions continued to ring in my head until a sound from my friend brought me back.
"Hey bestie, what is the matter? You seem too moody these days. Are you alright?". As she settled beside me.
I nodded that I was alright but just a bit worried.
"What is the matter then? Abel is perfectly okay now. There is nothing to worry about but you are worried. Is it about the baby?". She asked me with a serious stare.
I nodded, "Recently I started having cold feet on how to tell him about it. He is in anticipation of our planning our wedding and then starting a family".
"That's good news, you shouldn't be worried about anything". Benita reacted.
"Benny, I have this fear that it might be a shock to him. He didn't even know that he was hallucinating about babies. I kept having this fear that he would be angry that I made such a decision without seeking his opinion". I replied.
The issue was seriously bothering me to the extent that I started having regrets concerning it. Benita tried to calm me down. At one stage, she asked me if I wanted to terminate the pregnancy. I was shocked as I put my hand on my tummy.
"No, I will never do such a thing. How could you even think of that? It's my baby and I did it for his sake. I want this baby. Don't give me that option at all. I just need good timing to explain what made me take such a hasty decision." I relayed it immediately.
She sensed my apprehension and urged me to take a deep breath and simply do it. With reassuring words, she reminded me that his cousin cared for me deeply and would be understanding. She even offered her support, asking if I wanted her present, whenever I was ready. I appreciated her concern but insisted on handling it myself.
That instant, I resolved to share the news with him as soon as possible, knowing that delaying it would only worsen my anxiety. As if fate intervened, my phone buzzed with Abel's call. As I picked up, he invited me to dinner that evening. I accepted without hesitation, my mind made up to reveal the secret about the pregnancy.
