Chapter 26: Please Come Back

Elizabeth walked wearily into the room. She didn’t know what to expect when she saw
him. She wanted to, but she was scared.
Luke and Laura had let her in to see him first. His visitors were restricted to
immediate family only, but the Spencer’s insisted that she was family.
She made her way to the bed slowly. She could hear the constant beeping of the heart
monitor. To her, it was the most beautiful sound she’d ever heard. He was alive.
“Oh, Lucky” she said, taking his right hand and squeezing it lightly. “I’ve missed
you so much. I was afraid you’d never come back to me”. She tried very hard to keep
the tears from falling, but she couldn’t help it.
“You’re ok now. You’re safe. No one is going to hurt you. I know that you’re scared,
but Tom’s in jail now”. She paused, and wiped the tears that had fallen.
“You need to wake up now, Lucky. I need you to. I know I’m being selfish, but I don’t
care. What is my life going to be like without you? What will I do? We had plans,
remember? We’re supposed to go to New York together. We’re supposed to live the rest
of our lives together. How can we do that if you leave me?”
She lost it and began to sob. “How can I get out of bed every morning, if you’re not
there for me to get up for? How can I continue with my art, if I lose my inspiration?
Lucky, I can’t do this without you”.
She heard the door open and knew that her time was up. She went to Lucky’s side and
kissed him gently on the forehead, because she was afraid to touch any other part of
his face. She didn’t want to hurt him. “I love you, Lucky. Please wake up”.

********
Laura walked in right after Elizabeth left. She had been in this situation several
times before, but it never got easier. Seeing her son on hospital bed, fighting for
his life, was a sight she would never get used to.
“Hi, sweetheart” she said as she sat beside him. “I can’t even begin to imagine what
you’ve been through. I know you’re strong and brave. We didn’t call you Lucky for
nothing” she smiled through her tears.
“I’ve always been impressed by you. You were always so smart and adaptable. Your
father and I could always count on you to understand the situation and go with it. In
the worst situations, we could always count on you to look at the up side. One look
at your smile and the twinkle in your beautiful blue eyes would give me hope”.
She paused and arranged the covers around him.
“I’m waiting for that, Lucky. I’m waiting for the twinkle that will tell me that
everything is right. I need you to open your eyes, smile at me and tell me that I’m
overreacting”.
She smoothed his hair back, being careful not to touch the bandages.
“I do know one thing, though. Your father and I are here for you. Whatever you need,
we’re here. I love you very much, Lucky. I can’t imagine living the rest of my life
without you” she paused and looked to the window, where Luke was standing.
“Lulu missed you. If you leave us now, who will be around to help your father chase
off her boyfriends? Who’s going to teach her how to be strong and stubborn like the
rest of us Spencers? Who’s going to teach her to hip hop and to love the blues?”
Laura was sobbing now, but she couldn’t help it.
“Please, Lucky, wake up”. She got up and also kissed his forehead. “I have to go now,
sweety. You father and brother are itching to get in here”.

********
“Hello, son” Luke said. He was standing beside the bed, apart from it, as if he were
afraid to touch it, or Lucky.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to get to you on time. This should never have happened”.
He paced along the side of the bed, unable to stand or sit still.
“When I walked into the park with Elizabeth and didn’t find you, I felt like my heart
had been ripped out of my body. As I looked around the park, I didn’t see you as you
are now, I kept seeing the little boy with the long blond hair and the bright blue
eyes. The one who loved to scare his mother during Halloween and always dealt with
life on his own terms. At 5 or 15, you always did what you thought was right. You
stuck by those you loved. You maintained your beliefs and never let anyone tell you
you were wrong. Not even me....”
Luke gave up on pacing and dropped wearily into the chair.
“I’m so proud of you, and I love you”. He reached out and took Lucky’s right hand,
holding it lightly, as if he were afraid to break it.
“When I saw you at the door of the cabin, I felt such total helplessness. I knew
that the damage had been done, and that nothing I did then would make things better
for you. I almost killed Tom, but Bubba stopped me. He was right. Killing him wouldn’
t help you. Frankly, Lucky, I don’t know what will. You need to wake up so we can
find that out. Whatever you need, son, I’m here for you”.

********

Nikolas walked slowly into the room. He hadn’t gone home, so he was still wearing the
same clothes. The ones who had Lucky’s blood on them.
“Hi, little brother” he said as he got near the bed. “You need to stop this, you
know. You need you wake up and stop worrying everyone” he smiled.
“You like this, don’t you” he said, teasing. “All of the attention. Everyone at your
beck and call. Beautiful nurses.....”
Nikolas joked, because he didn’t want to cry. He didn’t want to feel the helplessness
and fear.
“I meant what I said, you know. I do love you. I want to get to know you. Who knows,
we might actually have some fun together”.
Nikolas knew his time was running up. He needed to finish, before they dragged him
out.
“I’ve never had a little brother before, but I’m looking forward to knowing you. Lulu
needs you. Please wake up.”

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