Coma

There is always a story behind power

■NYC, at the hospital.

Matteo POV

More than a week passed by, and I stood next to my sister’s hospital bed.

What happened to you, what happened to that ablaze soul? The bird of our house, it is true, our parents weren’t there all the time, but you were enough, my family, nana raised both of us, she took more than she could handle, after my grandpa’s death, and my father’s immigration.

Kate was the youngest member of our family, at least before mom gave birth to our little sister, that we have never met. She was born in Norway. Nathalie, I believe she is 5 years old now. But would I love her like I love Kate? I doubt so. I caressed her silky hair, she didn’t like me touching her hair, I used to pull it when we were younger and playing in the backyard of our home.

Dilan came in. Did I mention how gorgeous is my ex? I am an i***t. Dilan has the most beautiful ginger hair, the silky white skin, and a beautiful smile that enchants me whenever I see her. How i***t I am… why did I leave her? Because, back then, my life was so messed up. I was acting like a teenager, I wasn’t ready for something serious. I thought she was messing around, didn’t know she deeply loved me. I wish I was in a position, I can tell her how sorry I am. In a place, I tell her, I love her, I need her more than she knows, I wish she will stay with me for my lifetime.

“Did you find anything about Theo?” I asked her.

“No, I couldn’t. Its like we’re searching for a needle in a heap of barley. When we will see Linda, I will ask her about Naomi, hopefully she has something to tell us.”

Suddenly, Ring, Ring. This wasn’t my phone.

It was Kate’s. I picked the phone, it was Nana. I answered.

“Kate! Where the hell are you girl, you know how much I suffer with mobiles! Where the hell have you been!

-Nana. Its me.

-Matteo? Did I call you or your sister, this shitty technology, I cannot get used to it. I am sorry my child, I was calling Kate.

-Nana, you called Kate.

-Then why are you answering. Give her the phone.

-Nana, Kate got into an accident few weeks ago, and… and she had fallen into coma.

- in the name of lord, What happened? I swear, you children will be the death of me, what do you mean she is in coma. My poor girl, you don’t deserve this. I am coming to New York tomorrow.

-Nana… I couldn’t finish, she hung up. Anxiety got me, again, that it showed on my face.

-Matteo, I am sorry.” Comforted me Dilan, she gave me a comforting hug, I tightened my hands around her back and her shoulder. Her perfume was still the same, her touch was still there. I buried my head into the spot on the end of her neck and her shoulder. There, it was always safe, I was always feeling home, comfort and safety, with her.

“Please stay with me Dilan, I can’t take this alone.

-Shh… you know, I will be here anytime you need me, I am... always here for both of you.” She said.

“I am sorry Dee, you deserve better than this, better than me. I pulled back and looked into her beautiful eyes. I am sorry for everything. I don’t know, if I can get another chance with you.. but I will keep trying.”

Elliot came in, with a bouquet of red roses. As he did his greetings and sat, Dilan and I went outside and gave him his own space. But before we leave,

“By the way, Theo is in NY. I don’t know exactly if you will care, but he is here, in this city.”

The way Dilan said this, made me question the friendship status between Theo and Elliot.

But then I remembered that like I had been damaged with him leaving, Elliot might have the same feelings. But, at this actual moment, I could care less about Theodore. I now, want to make it up to Dilan. I had an idea.

At the cafeteria of the hospital, Dilan wasn’t speaking with me, just texting on her phone and drinking her juice. I cleared my throat many times to catch her attention, still like a rock.

Soo, to spice the things up, I stood and spoke loudly.

“Attention every single person in here! May I complain to you about something?

-Yeah bro, we’re all here for each other. Said a man on one of the busy cafeteria’s tables.

-What are you doing? Murmured Dilan. Get back here.

- Three years ago, I fell in love with an angel, my life became better. I was blessed, feeling safe and down deep? I was happy. But as much I loved this angel, stupidity got me and I left her, and she is so pissed. Why auntie?” I approached an old lady who was looking at me.

“Because you are a dummy.” This lady said, everyone in the cafeteria started laughing.

“Because, I am the biggest dummy on Earth auntie, but that’s what people are, dummies! And I want a second chance, to go back to heaven, and meet this angel again, what do you people think of this i***t’s idea? Can I get another chance?

-Yes! of course! You do!”

People, especially men cheered me to get what I want.

I Turned back to Dilan whose cheeks were bright red.

“What do you say, my angel? Can I get another chance?” People yelled and encouraged her to accept.

“I want my time. She said.

-Ohh… don’t fail him! Screamed someone, yeah accept his apology, said another. He deserves another chance! Spoke another man.

-What do you say Dee?”, she stood for a moment, she gave me a pure smile and nodded in approval. We kissed.

“I missed you Dee”.

~Meanwhile, at the Empire State building, the Griffin owned shares In this vintage, modern huge building.

Roy’s POV.

Hands clapping around me, the sound wasn’t something new to me, success was always one of my blessings. I looked at the men in this conference room. They were all older than me, I was the youngest among them, yet my idea satisfied their sophisticated minds, their win-win spirits, I fulfilled what they wanted to see in the market. The idea was to invest in the marketing on social networks.

“As you know, social media users passed the 5 billion user for each application, it would be huge to advertise the new trade mark on social account with a great budget for customers in any field, and good shares for investors. Thank you.”

Among the men, there were few ladies, which I recognized Jill, the smart young head master of one of my grandfather’s partners. Jill never failed to attract me. She was smart, charming, young beautiful girl.

“But I have a question, if I may. She said curiously.

-Please go ahead.

-You know social media might be tricky, its true people are all over it, but to be in the same path, your trade mark might be on trend to attract the largest group of society, which has on another hand a big chance to lose because people may not like it. How will this trademark pass this problem? She asked me in a way like she dared me to evolve the idea. Jill had this crazy curly blond hair, with fair skin tone, big hazel eyes. I knew her when we studied in the same college few years ago. She is a gorgeous lady.

“What makes this trade mark special is that it is timeless, it competes with the trend and the non-trend, for example, trade mark for air fryers, developed ovens with health benefits might be in a smart advertisement of a cook on YouTube for example. Plus, it is a large field, an infinite one if we practically talk, and it is all up from paid partnership for acceptable budgets.

-Thank you, Roy, we’ll regard your project with the council members and we will respond soon. This meeting is dismissed.” said Jim Bloomberg.

After everyone left the conference room, I was grabbing my things to leave, when Jill approached me and sat on the table, she was wearing a tight red skirt, a white shirt and a red blazer with a little scarf tied around her neck that matched her outfit. My attention now was directed at my old friend, who became a great influencer, a great worker, and now a beautiful lady.

“This was a good presentation. You looked handsome, are you working out lately?

-First of all, thank you, you too, second, are you flirting with me? I teased.

- Yes, it is. And you should invite me tonight for a treat, this project is a huge success, I am sure they’re going to like it.

- The new club? At 10?

- 10, it is.”

We left the conference room together, that’s when my grandpa called me to come to his office at the 10th floor.

The office, it was a huge office with a rural vibe, wooden walls, big view on the opposite skyscraper, leather interior, fur rug, and a huge desk, my grandfather has the old spirit of a Texas buddy from the sixties, our origin.

“My pride! You did a great job back there; the council members were happy and the acceptance letter will come in few days. Come sit.

- Thank you, Fred, I worked hard on this, I promise, it will get the qualifications we need to rise our profits.

- That’s my boy. Hey, before I forget, how is the girl that Linda hit a month ago? Did you make sure her family won't sue?

- I did Grandpa, actually they are nice people, they didn’t even think about legal involvements, they dropped the charges when the cops told them before we asked them to, hopefully the girl will wake up soon. Are there any updates on my mother’s condition?”

Fred, my grandfather, took a deep breath.

“I guess we need to take her to the rehabilitation center, she might get better, that’s what Diana suggested.

-Of course, that’s Diana’s idea. Grandpa, when will you learn that this lady is a fraud, I can’t prove that she was responsible for the accident at the mansion two years ago, but I will soon, I promise. My mom is not going anywhere, she will stay at her home, and I will bring all she needs, let Diana know she minds her own business.” I said with rage, stood up.

“Speak with respect, she is my wife.

- That’s true, your wife, not my relative, especially with her son, that damned man. Why can’t you see that grandpa?

- Roy, leave before you cause me a heart attack now, and we will talk about Myranda’s situation at the house.”

I just left the office fuming. This b***h must never get into my mother’s life, again. I had to go somewhere. I needed to go somewhere I can speak freely, to see someone who might listen to me without taking advantages of my status and my situation. I found myself going to the hospital, to Kate, I hope she’ll be alone. I just need to talk and no one would answer, just listen. It was almost 7 pm.

At the hospital, for my luck, there was no one. I asked the nurse, she told me the last visitor was Elliot and that Dilan and Matteo went out. Maybe they aren’t coming back for tonight. Hopefully.

I reached her door, what am I doing?

I looked over the window of her door, she was laying peacefully, a bandage around her head. She was naturally beautiful, she attracted me to come inside. I sat next to her bed.

I looked at her features closely.

“You’re beautiful, I can stare at your face all day. I didn’t know how my legs led me here. But here I am. The Roy Griffin, the young Fred Griffin, the boy who witnessed his dad and sister’s m******e and couldn’t do anything. I am hurt. Hurt badly. I feel dark inside despite the hard work I am doing to forget my loneliness, my problems, the responsibility and the fact of fake people who surround me, even in my family, I am suffocating, I just want to take rest from everything… everyone, I am tired.” Hot tears started falling, they curved their own path down my skin, it is painful. But it is real. I couldn’t continue my little talk. An older woman came to the room. She shared some similar features with Kate, and Matteo, the same nose, lips, even the skin tone.

“Who are you? She asked.

-I am a friend of the patient and you are?

-Amelie, her grandmother, never seen you before, son.

- I am Roy. I wiped my tears before she could see me and stood up to greet her.

- are you okay, you seem a little lost my child, is it because of my Kate’s Coma?

-Yes, I mean kinda, I am not feeling myself these days, aunt Amelie.

- look my boy, you seem like a good guy, so hear me out carefully. Never put anyone in front of your own way, and when the time comes, chose what benefits you and make the right decisions always. Choose what you want your path to be, did you get it? And if you need anything, I am here to listen. Okay?”

This old lady, reminded me of my grandmother, my real grandmother I lost few years ago. She reminded me of my mom’s support that I lost. I needed someone to be there for me, not as a lover, nor a friend, just someone I can rely on when I am at my lowest. Tears tricked me again and fell down my cheeks in front of Amelie.

“Can you give me a hug, Amelie?"