Coma

between reality and memories 4

■Baldwin, 3 years ago.

“Kate, is that you? Did you come back from college? I smiled when I heard my nana’s voice and the smell of her amazing dishes that I love. She has been to Mexico for more than 3 months. As I entered the kitchen, it was well cleaned, not that I didn’t do chores, but not as professional as nana Amelie.

“IS THIS THE JUICY STEAK I LOVE?

-Yes my child, I bet you missed my plates.

-Thank you nana! I love you the most!”

I hugged her from behind, she was shorter than I am. Her gray hair told me she became older, at some point, I will lose her, and I am not ready for such a day, so I hugged her tighter. I watched her as her hair developed from black to gray, when she had the most beautiful skin, now the wrinkles covered her face. This woman did for me more than my mother did, and I owe her my life.

-Oh, my girl, hold on, you’re going harsh on me! Go call your brother and lets have lunch together!

-Nana.

-Tell me Babygirl.

-I have a date tonight.”

Nana left the dishes and sat to the kitchen bar, I sat next to her.

“Is he handsome?

-Soo handsome! Its Elliot.

-The son of Diana and Marc?

-Yes.

-Good choice! Does he treat you well?

-This is our first date, but I can tell you he is a gentleman.”

I told her how he was caring and a good guy.

“I hope you’ll have all the love in the world my child, you deserve it”. She said while she held my hands for assurance. Matteo came to house, and we had a family lunch. I felt blessed with the people who were there for me. Matteo was always supportive, yet I didn’t want to tell him until our relation was official.

Few hours later, I wore my favorite pair of jeans and a baby pink hoodie, I put on some makeup and I did my hair. It was a cinema date after all. Elliot called me when he was outside. He was looking me like I was a pageant queen.

“You look great.” I thanked him and looked at his outfit. He was wearing a black leather jacket, under it a white hoodie and jeans.

“You don’t look bad yourself”. I teased.

He kissed my cheek, and took off. On the road, he passed the cinema.

“Hey! But the cinema is just there!

-Who told you we are having our first date in the cinema? Look at the back seat.”

In the back seat, there were snacks, MY FAVORITE SNACKS, a rolled blanket, cushions.

“OH, MY, GOD! ARE THOSE MY FAVORITE SNACKS? How did you know about them?

-Call it my charm, I have my own way.”

I gave him a little peck on the cheek.

“I really want to discover more with you”, I murmured in his ear. He bit his lips, I loved a good tease.

He kept driving until he reached a high hill that has a panoramic landscape of Baldwin. At night, house lights below us looked magnificent, like stars dispersed on earth. The view was breathtaking.

Elliot adjusted the trunk of his jeep, and we both prepared for our cute first date. He prepared the screen and I put the snacks in little plastic plates he brought. He planned everything. Before we entered our little world, we stood in front of each other, I loved the difference of the height. It was pure attraction. This boy, in front of me, I just wanted to kiss him bad. He took the first step and kissed me. This time, it was more passionate, the first one from yesterday, was more spontaneous. I really admired this boy. We cuddled, in the back of the car while watching “The Notebook”, a classical one. Every time I watched this movie, I cried, what I didn’t know, that Elliot, at the end of the movie was crying too. It was cute, yet funny. He had a goofy nose

“I didn’t know you are sentimental.

-There are more things you don’t know.”

The rest of the date, I learnt that he loved swimming, he loved animals, he was more of a realistic guy, yet ambitious, one of his most beautiful features, he was sincere and honest.

I told him about my ambitions, about wanting to be a huge business woman, and he was so supportive.

“Kate, you might think this is too early. But soon, I am moving to New York, to work and continue my PHD there. If you may consider my offer, I want you to move in with me, there.

-But isn’t it too soon?

-It may, but I am planning for the future, once you finish your diploma, I’ll be waiting for you. Believe me, it is true, I knew many girls, but with you, it is different, seriously.”

I felt lost, Elliot was so sweet, yet, his sensuality, I don’t know, am I capable of taking those feelings? Am I really able to take seriously those things now? All I know right now, I want to stay in his arms, and let the destiny play his game.

■NYC, after a month, at the hospital.

Olivia kept visiting me constantly after work. She was a loyal friend, she kept telling me about her day and how it was.

“I have once read that people in coma, can hear us in real life. If you really can listen to me my friend, I need to tell you, I am going to fly back to Vermont, my stepmom is so sick, and I have to be there for her. She was all good to me… Please get better soon, I really miss your spirit, your kindness, your smile, I want you to know you were my support when no one was, you believed in me and my dreams, and here I am pursuing them. In one month, I will be able to afford fashion school here, I hope you’ll wake up soon.” She left, her tears filling her eyes.

While leaving the room, she met Matteo, Dilan was with him.

She came, just when she knew. I remember, that they broke up one year ago. But now, they’re here, together, for me…

“Hey! Where are you going? Asked Matteo Olivia.

-I am leaving, I have a flight in an hour. Who’s the girl?

-This is…

-Dilan, I am Kate’s old friend. Matteo called me and I came few days ago, and you are?”

Before Olivia could reply, Matteo took a chance and replied, he was teasing his ex.

“Oli, a friend of Kate and I.”

Olivia and Dilan, both looked at Matteo. I bet Olivia thought to herself “ what the f**k? A friend of yours? I only knew you for few days and we barely talked.” But she said instead “It was pleasure meeting you Dilan, as for you Matteo, please take care of your sister.

-I will. Have a safe flight” He said.

After Olivia left, Dilan stood in her place.

“Who’s this girl?

-You jealous?

-Who said? I am asking just to know if Kate is safe around her, said Dilan.

-Don’t worry babe, she is a trustful gorgeous friend of Kate.

-It seems to me that you’re here to spend time with this Olivia rather than taking care of your sister, and don’t babe me, ok?” said Dilan in an angry tone as she came next to my bed and adjusted the cushions under my head.

“Dilan, don’t act like a child. Are you really jealous of her?

-I am the child here? Do I need to remind you who’s the one who acts like a child? Don’t let me start with it.

-Dilan, I wasn’t ready to step this forward.

-So you decided, you fool around, get whatever you want from me and then dumb me, right?

-That’s not true.

-Then what’s true? Do you remember, you weren’t brave enough and broke up with me, because you weren’t fulfilled with what you have and you wanted to expand your choices right?

-Damn it Dilan, that was a year ago, couldn’t you pass it?

-The thing that I can’t pass it, is the fact that you kept leading me, letting me fall harder for you… and then telling me you wanted to leave without even looking back, even considering my feelings. Maybe because, you were bored of me.

-I wasn’t. I…

-Excuse me, entered Linda.

-Now, who are you, said Dilan.

-Umm. I can come later, said Linda while looking at Matteo.

-No, please, come in, asked her Matteo. I am sorry, but we were discussing some family matters.

-Family? Are you a relative to Kate?

Asked Linda.

-Yes, I am her old friend, I am sorry for acting strange. And you are…

-Linda Griffin

-As the Griffin, you mean Griffin companies?

-Yes, we are.”

The two girls got along pretty well, and it seemed that Dilan cooled off the steam.

“So what are you doing here now?

-I just brought some magazines for Olivia, she told me she is into Fashion, those are magazines of models, new designers collections. I didn’t know she was flying to Vermont, I really liked this girl, she is fun.

-Is she? I don’t know her honestly well. Anyways, I am staying here for a while, these might help me with my free time. I really like the gossip part of these magazines, they are the most interesting. But now, since you’re here. Lets go to the park, we can have a walk over there, I want fresh air. Do you have time to come with me? Dilan asked Linda.

-Why not? I just saw the doctor outside and he told me, that her injuries are healing slowly. Hopefully, she’ll react anytime soon.

-I want to come too, said Matteo.

-You…

-You can join us”, interrupted Linda.

A stupid smile showed on Matteo’s face, as for Dilan, she rolled her eyes.

At the public park, the green trees that surrounded the park, moved New York to a whole new world, from the busy city with pollution and chaos, to a green paradise with birds flying into the trees. The lake, it reminded Dilan and Matteo of home’s scent.

A familiar scent that brought memories along, memories that made hearts flatter and fall deeply in love, both of them stood in front of the lake. It may not be a natural one, but it was enough to provoke their past relation back in Baldwin, I bet Linda could cut tension with a knife.

“Are you okay guys, why did we stop?

-This, reminds me of hometown. Said Dilan.

-You should visit it sometime, implied Matteo. I would love if you can see where we lived, its an amazing place, where I found my love. The one I lost because of my stupidity, and I don’t know how to win her, again.” Said Matteo while looking at Dilan.

Dilan just kept staring at the lake, without even flinching.

“Anyways, do you want some ice-cream ladies? asked Matteo.

-Oreo flavor, for me. Said Linda.

-Oreo for Linda and strawberries for Dilan.” Said Matteo and walked to the ice cream man.

“He seems like a nice guy, what happened to make you fall apart like this? Asked Linda.

-Is it this obvious?

-Duh. You can cut tension with scissors darling.

-It’s a long story. I just.. I am just lost.

-All I need to tell you… if you found your one… never let him go. You don’t know if he will be there for you tomorrow, said Linda sadly.

Dilan noticed Linda’s distortion, she felt like Linda lost someone that she loved. Suddenly, she looked at Matteo with love and compassion. She understood what Linda meant. But she didn’t say any other word. The rest of the walk was calmer, and actually the three of them had fun, until Linda had to go because she has some business to do.

As for Matteo and Dilan, they continued walking by the lake together.

“Can we talk about what happened? Asked Matteo.

-No, now isn’t the time, I just want to walk here, in this silence, the calm sounds here let me think clearly.

-That’s right, does it remind you of something?

-It reminds me of everything we lived. I am really sorry for acting like that earlier.

-I can’t blame you, you should pull your anger on me. I deserve this, but I want to fix it.

-What if its too late?

-I will chase you for the rest of my life, you deserve the whole world.

- I want time, said Dilan.

-I will wait.

-even when you know, that there is a big chance, I might never be back?

- if its meant to be, then it is, but at least, I will try. Said Matteo hopefully.

She kept looking at the lake, and he kept staring at her. He was looking at her, like she was the most beautiful piece of art, like he can find his inner peace with her. Like she was the light in the end of his tunnel. As for her, the fire was burning in her chest but her ego was bigger than her love. She needed to know why he dumped her, and played with her heart

“Lets go back, its getting darker”, she said, as she moved the further possible from him. She acted like she didn't care, but deeply, she loved him more than he knew. he noticed her acts but couldn't do anything, he knew it wasn't his right anymore.

At the hospital, Matteo kept his distance with Dilan. He sat across the room, at the waiting chair, gazing out. Once she sat next to my bed, Dilan grabbed one of the magazines that Linda brought. As she started reading, something caught her attention. She started trembling.

“Is…. Is that…Theo??!”