Coma

Our moments

■Baldwin, two years ago.

I woke up from my little nap, it was almost evening, I checked Theo’s place, it was empty. I rolled the sheets around my body and went through the house looking for him.

He wasn’t anywhere around. I went to his little atelier. He wasn’t there too, but there was a huge painting, it looks like he was still working on it, a girl’s abstract portrait. It was a portrait of my face. It attracted me, I went closer, there were colors that didn’t dry up. I tried to touch it, but colors stuck on my fingers.

Theo came in and didn’t say a word, I just felt his body’s warmth on my back, he hugged from behind and whispered in my ear “What do you think about it. He started kissing the back of my shoulder, the end of my neck, my pulsating artery.

“I love it.

-That’s what I hoped.” He said.

I turned and put the colors on my fingers on his lips, then I kissed him. I kissed his cheeks, his cheekbones, his jawline, it left colors marks on his face.

“Pink suits you, I teased.

-You look better in it”. He flirted, took colors from the palette next to the painting, and started putting it over my skin, his touches melt me. With every touch, he kissed me, I was taken away. He removed the sheets from around me.

“You are a work of art, I want you by my side. I need you. To feel you, is a comfort for me.

-When did you start loving me, Theo?

-When we first met at the subway. You are something else.

-Why didn’t you try to tell me back then?

-I figured out too late. I am never letting you go, never again.” He held me against the wall, he enchanted me with every single word, how come his warmth, his perfume, I just followed him with my eyes, I was numb, high, he kept on driving me crazy. I was a controllable doll around him, he put my hands behind my back, turned me to face the wall and pulled my head over his shoulder, he was intensive, my back on his thorax collided, he was taking his time with kissing my neck, I felt an urgent need for a second round. I tried to turn, but he tightened his grip on my hair.

“Stay there, tiger.

-Kiss me more.

-Your orders.”

He lowered his hands to my lower back where he got inside me, it was rougher than the first time, I loved it.

When he was done, he carried me into his room, gave me one of his shirts and carried me downstairs. He ordered dinner earlier, he prepared the table and everything, we had our dinner together.

“Food after a long day with no eating is better than making love with you.

-For real? You feel numb around me, I can see it through your eyes.

- but you didn’t see my eyes when I was eating.

-I am seeing you somewhere else now.

-Where?

-Not now, will tell you later, would you like to dance with me?

-Sure, but I don’t know how.

-I will teach you, don’t worry, he said, come with me. He took my hand and led me to the living room.

There, he turned on classic old songs. I put my feet on his, hugged his neck and we danced peacefully, my head on his heart. His heartbeats were my music.

Suddenly, Theo’s phone started ringing.

“Do you want to get it? I asked him.

-No, whoever he is, he can wait. I am having moments with you.”

The music stopped and the magic of it ended, keeping the passion and chemistry in the atmosphere, the rest of a night was all cuddly, we watched a movie. Theo was thinking of something.

"What do you have in mind?

-I am planning on doing something special.

-I am thinking of something…

-What? He asked.

-What are we, right now?”

He pulled away and looked in confusion.

“Mmmm, hard question, let me think.

-We are not official.

-Agree

-We aren’t friends anymore.

-Also I agree with this.

-So what do you think about taking a vacation for few days and figure out this.

-Where to?

-I have a surprise for you. Tomorrow? Said Theo with enthusiasm

-Let me think about it.

■NYC, two years ago.

Elliot’s POV.

It has been more than a month, and Kate didn’t try to call me. It seems like she is taking more time to figure out her feelings. I miss her bad. I want to tell her how much it has been hard on me not to talk with her. But as it seems, she isn’t coming back.

My work has been great, my income is getting better, I got an apartment, with Matteo, it has been a very good journey, productive, the manager was so happy about our success, he invited us for a party at a club in New York. We have been through a problem for over the past two weeks, and now it is solved. The system of the bank worked again and we are saved.

I needed to forget about Kate for a while, thinking of hehas been toxic. I am a free man now, I can do whatever I want. I wore one of my favorite shirts, put on my fav cologne, styled my hair with gel, I slicked my light brown hair back and put on some accessories.

When I arrived to the club, it was very loud, the manager got us a corner for the employees, the drinks were free. There were too many people, that I lost my friends there.

“Elliot, lets go dance. We need to loosen up a bit after the stress, said Billy, one of my fav colleagues.

-No, Billy, I am not in the mood I am staying here. Go over, I may follow you.

-Fine, Camilla, lets go.” Said Billy.

Camilla was Billy’s crush and one of our team at work. When I watched them dancing together, I remembered how happily Kate and I were together. I wanted to call her, but I stopped the last minute. We were on a break. I took a whole glass of tequila from the waiter, it brought the attention of my drunk friends, they came all around me and started cheering me to drink more.

One cup, after another and here I am, fully drunk, thinking of my Ex. I went to the dance floor and rocked it. And the party was on fire. Loud music, girls, friends, I was numb. This wasn’t me. I went for another round at the bar.

The bartender was a beautiful girl.

“Buddy, you should take it slow.

-You’re beautiful. I said.

-Thanks, I know. She said

-What is your… and I passed out from the drinking I had.

The next day, I woke up in Billy’s apartment, I was sleeping on the couch, my back hurt badly.

"Rise and shine sleeping beauty, you passed out yesterday, you were the lion of the party. Said Billy.

-My head hurts. Like a looot. I said in pain. How come you can be so energetic after a long night?

-Here is the eggs yolks, they help.

-Thank you. I said politely.

-Buddy, today we are going to the park, Camilla and I. Would you like to come too?

-Sure. I have nothing to do today, its Sunday.

Billy was that cute chubby friend that was supporting me, he was one of the smartest people I have known.

After Billy and I had breakfast, I left to my apartment. I took a shower, and wore my clothes and got ready for the park. I needed fresh air.

At 4pm, we went to the park, it was a huge one, I loved the park in the middle of New York city. It was freshening and a good escape sometimes.

There were a lot of big old trees offsetting the road, on every side, there were benches and light poles. People were in thousands in here, this place is huge, yet it brings peace. I left the group to enjoy some privacy, Billy has always crushed on Camilla, I wanted them to have their time, so I went to sit next to big tree, on a bench and read my favorite book, The Bridgertons.

While I was reading, someone sat next to me.

"Nice book! Which one of the series are you reading?" It was a beautiful girl with long black hair and green eyes, wearing a beautiful yellow tank top with jeans bottoms, her aesthetic was vibrant like her, actually, she was breathtaking.

"Still in the beginning, I am rereading this one, it is Anthony’s love story.

-Nice! And if you don’t mind me asking, why do you prefer Anthony over the other versions of this story?

-Why do you think I like this one more than the others?

-Because you are rereading it. You might have selected another Bridgertons favorite.

-I love Anthony’s story, because I felt in a place what he felt, his character is a pretty complexed one. He was pretty torn between his family, pride, society and his feelings, love and what he really wanted.

-That’s deep, and do you have any quotes preferences?”

We both talked about our books, this girl had a special personality, we shared a lot of passion for books, she liked the type of novels I like, she asked smart questions, she is the type of girl that I can communicate with for hours without getting bored, and then this is when it all started. Veronica, the girl that made me forget about Kate, even though I didn’t want to.

We talked for hours in the park that we didn’t notice the time. I called Billy and told him I am following them later, I had company.

"Would you like to grab some coffee, later?

-I would love to. Here take my phone number. We can chat there, it was nice meeting you.

-Same for me Veronica, see you later!”

■NYC, present time.

Theo’s POV.

“She has been in a coma for more than a month…” that’s what Elliot said.

My Kate, in a coma, for more than a month. I felt like someone smashed a piece of what is left of my heart.

I didn’t say a word, I just felt helpless, I felt cracking, I felt like I would beat someone, the one person I wanted to be safe, unharmed, has been in the worst days of her life and I wasn’t there for her, and I knew a month after her accident. That’s my fault, I didn’t track her news, she kept calling me back then, she didn’t believe I would leave her, never, but what did I?

Elliot broke my thoughts.

"Are you okay?

-Mmm. I am good, but you shocked me with this.”

I know for a fact that Elliot didn’t know about my affair with his girlfriend, his ex. I don’t know anymore, I am lost.

"What’s wrong with you? Asked me Naomi.

-Don’t get into this Naomi, believe me you won’t like it.

-But Elliot told me everything!

-Told you what exactly? I looked at my friend.

-I knew you loved Kate. Elliot said.

-You did? I asked with surprise.

-I did, you loved her, back then after your sister’s funeral, I noticed that. You didn’t cry in front of anyone, except Kate and me.”

In that moment, I knew Kate, didn’t tell anything to Elliot and I don’t plan to ruin it for her.

"Theo showed emotions? Asked Naomi . You were always a mystery to me Theo.

-And to us”. Continued Elliot.

I didn’t care about their talk, I just was recalling my memories with Kate.

Her touch, her voice, her laughter, her eyes, when the summer breeze played with her hair, her face, her body, her playful movements, her eyes, her smell, she always was something else to me. It came up to me in flashbacks, I wanted to scream. I wanted to reach her. To feel her again. I wanted her presence in my world, her sunshine in my world, I was feeling like my buried feelings for her, would burry me one day. I need to see her. Alone. Just her and I. But for now, I want to act for her, like I don’t give a damn anymore. I don’t want to ruin what she built again with Elliot.

"So? Is her family with her?” I said briefly.

Both of them looked at me in wonder.

"Yes. They are. Said Elliot.

-So I may visit sometimes. I can’t disrespect my girlfriend here, and leave her and go see the girl I crushed on long ago, isn’t it baby?” I hugged Naomi who was stunt.

"Actually, I don’t m…” I squeezed her shoulder. She nodded in silence, she really didn’t mind, but she knew I have something so she agreed.

“Aren’t you concerned even a bit about her? What the f**k is wrong with you?

-Nothing is wrong with me. I am really busy those days, I may visit some day, City’s hospital?” I said dryly.

Elliot got angry.

"You've changed a lot, I regret coming here, I wanted to tell you more, but it seems, you don’t care anymore, goodbye, Theo.” He gave me a look that shattered me. I stood untouchable. He left. I pulled away from Naomi.

"She is the one you never told me about. Is she?

-Naomi, leave me alone, please. You know, I am leaving.

-No, you’re not, I won’t let you go until you tell me you refused, I am done being in the dark.

-This, s**t, doesn’t involve you in any aspect, stay out of it, Naomi.”

I left the office and went home, where I can be alone.