Brian rushed through the emergency room doors and ran straight to the nurse�s desk �Amanda Nichols?� he said, breathlessly. The nurse hit a few buttons on the computer. �She is in surgery; if you wait you can see her in a while, IF you are family�. Without a thought Brian responded �I�m her fianc�e� he knew that they would never let him in unless he lied.
He walked into the waiting room and sat in one of the empty chairs. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number he dreaded dialing. �Hello?� the groggy voice on the other end of the line said. �Mrs. Nichols?� Brian asked, wearily. �This is Brian; I think you need to come to Kindred Hospital. Manda�s been in an accident� he said, trying to contain his tears.
He hung up, knowing that it would be a few hours before they would be there. He grabbed a magazine and settled into the chair.
Hours past, every time a doctor would come out Brian would tap his feet nervously and wait for them to approach him, but they never did.
****
Brian fell asleep watching the weather channel, which was playing on the TV in the waiting room. He opened his eyes; just as a female doctor emerged from the doors �Mr. Vickers?� she said looking right at him.
He stood up, and nodded. �Amanda is ok, but she is still in Critical Condition. She has severe brain swelling, we had to relieve some of the pressure.� The doctor continued �she is in a coma�. Brian tried not to breakdown. He held back the tears �can I see her?�
The doctor led Brian down the long corridor, and stopped in front of a closed door. �Remember she won�t look like she normally would.�
Brian nodded and slowly opened the door, there she was. Brian couldn�t hold back the tears anymore; they rolled down his cheek as he walked up to Manda�s bedside. He took her hand in his and squeezed it, Brian couldn�t hear anything. All the machines beeping and the ventilator breathing for her were all silenced in that moment.
Brian pulled up a chair and sat down next to Manda, he had always heard that if you speak to a comatose patient they would be able to hear you. �Manda Panda, its Bri.� He paused, praying in his mind that she would wake up at that moment �baby, I want you to get better, I need you to get better. I am going to kill the person that hurt my girl.�
Brian was interrupted by the door opening behind him. �Oh my god� the female voice said. Amanda�s mom rushed to her daughters bedside, sobbing as she saw her daughter in a huddled, unmoving mass on the bed.
It took Mr. and Mrs. Nichols a few minutes to notice that Brian was there. He knew they were in the same state he was when he walked into the room. Oblivious. �Brian, what happened?� Mr. Nichols asked, holding his wife as she cried into his shoulder.
Brian explained what he had been told, about the drunk driver running the red light and t-boning Manda�s car.
Brian stayed throughout the night, along with Manda�s parents. Each taking turns by her bedside, just in case she woke up.
*****
The hours turned into days. Brian was thankful that Manda�s parents would stay there with her when he had to go race.
Before he left for the airport Brian stopped by the hospital to see Manda one more time. He walked in and saw Mrs. Nichols knitting and watching a soap opera. �Any change?� he asked, looking at Amanda. �Not really� Mrs. Nichols replied as she put her needles into her bag. She stood up and walked into the hallway, leaving Brian to have a few minutes alone with Mandy.
He took the chair that was just occupied by Mrs. Nichols and sat next to Mandy�s bed. He picked her frail hand up into his and lightly planted a kiss onto it. �Mandy, I have to go race. I will be here as soon as I get back, Promise� he said, rubbing her hand with his thumb. �I wish you would wake up, I have thought about everything these past couple days. You are everything to me; you have been my best friend and my lover. I can�t lose you, I love you Manda Panda� Brian stood up and kissed her on the cheek. He left the room and said his goodbyes to Mandy�s parents. He drove to the airport hoping Manda would wake up soon, so he could tell her again how much he loved her.
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