Rejected: A love story-Chapter 143: You were in coma

Nathan remained still in the hospital bed, his chest rising and falling with the steady breathing of the oxygen mask that rested on his face. The room was silent, aside from the soft beeping of the machines, which had already become familiar to the family.

Anna sat beside him, her hand grasped tightly around his, her eyes were red and tired. Caleb stood by the window, his arms crossed tightly, his face was filled with worry.

Gabriel on the other hand stood by the door, staring at his son. He felt he had failed him as a father, it was all thanks to him that Nathan accepted Natasha and Leo as his. Hannah sat in the corner of the room, her legs were up to her chest, and her eyes darting from her brother to the machines surrounding him.

Nathan’s fingers suddenly jerked. Anna gasped, leaning in closer to him. "Nathan?" she said, her voice shaking. "Sweetheart, can you hear me?"

Suddenly, Nathan’s fingers moved. Anna let out a surprised gasp and leaned forward. "Nathan?" she whispered, her voice shaking. "Sweetheart, can you hear me?"

At once, Caleb was on his feet, his heart pounding. Gabriel was stuck in his tracks, his face contorted. Hannah sat up straight, her chair scraping the floor loudly.

Nathan’s eyelids flickered, and he let out a weak moan.

"He’s waking up," Caleb exclaimed. "Get the doctor!" he added

Immediately, Hannah was on her feet. "I’ll get the doctor!" she exclaimed, rushing out of the room and disappearing into the hallway, her footsteps echoing through the corridor.

Anna was closer, tears streaming down her face as she caressed Nathan’s forehead. "It’s okay, Nathan. We’re here. Take your time, sweetheart," she whispered.

Minutes later, Hannah returned, breathless and panting a bit, with a doctor and nurse trailing behind her. Seeing Nathan alive was her biggest joy, her face was a little pale with worry. The doctor moved quickly to Nathan’s bedside, his expression calm but focused.

"Let’s check him over," the doctor said, adjusting the oxygen mask and examining the monitors. The nurse followed suit, checking Nathan’s vitals and scribbling notes onto a clipboard.

Nathan’s eyelids fluttered open, his gaze unfocused as he blinked against the harsh light. His breathing was uneven, but he was awake.

"Welcome back, Mr. Nathan," the doctor said gently, shining a small light into his eyes. "You’re doing well, but take it easy. No sudden movements, alright?"

Nathan let out a groan, his voice rough and weak.

The doctor straightened up, observing him carefully. "He is stable enough to breathe on his own. We should remove his oxygen mask and observe him closely."

"Yes, doctor," replied the nurse, who removed the oxygen mask slowly and deliberately from Nathan’s face. Nathan was taking steady breaths, though his breaths were shallow and unassisted.

Anna moved closer, her voice shaking with emotion. "Nathan, sweetheart. Mom is here. We’re all here for you. You’re going to be fine."

Nathan opened his eyes slowly, his gaze focusing on Anna at last. "Mom..."

"Yes, baby," Anna replied, with tears streaming down her face.

Caleb moved closer, his heart pounding with anxiety. "Nathan, you have been through so much. Just rest for now, okay?"

Nathan’s eyebrows furrowed, and for a brief second, confusion was on his face. He looked around the room, taking in the anxious expressions of his family.

"Where’s Fiona?" he suddenly demanded, his voice still raspy but urgent.

Caleb halted, his jaw clenched. Anna gasped, her hand grasping Nathan’s. Gabriel stopped his pacing, his shoulders tensing as he turned to face his son.

Nathan’s eyes shifted from one person to the other, and alarm began to etch his face. "Where is she? Why won’t anyone tell me anything?"

Caleb moved forward slowly, speaking in a soothing, steady voice. "Nathan, brother, you need to calm down. The doctor said no stress. Let’s focus on getting you well first, okay?"

"No," Nathan replied resolutely, his voice still hoarse with pain. He shifted in bed, trying to sit up. Pain surge through his chest, sharp and agonizing. He gasped, clutching his chest as the heart monitor began to go haywire.

"Mr. Keith, please calm down!" the nurse said urgently, rushing forward to check the monitors.

Nathan gritted his teeth, his breathing labored. "I need to see her," he rasped, his voice shaking. "I need to see Fiona before... before she’s buried.

The doctor exchanged a glance with the nurse, nodding slightly. "He needs rest. We’ll step out for now, but monitor him closely," he said, directing his words at the family

The nurse adjusted Nathan’s IV before following the doctor out of the room, her concerned expression lingering as she glanced back at him.

The room fell silent, with an air of tension that was suffocating. Caleb glanced over at Anna, who had gone pale. Gabriel looked away, unable to take in what he was seeing.

Nathan took a quick breath, his panic rising. "What is everyone waiting for? Why isn’t anyone saying anything? What is going on?" However, no one replied.

"Someone tell me what is going on!" Nathan cried out, his body shaking as he tried to get up again. The pain in his chest flared up suddenly.

It was Hannah who spoke up, she hated seeing him in so much pain and agony. "Nathan..." Hannah started out softly, but it was clear that she was shaking. "She has already been buried."

Nathan paused, his eyes fixed on Hannah, as his face froze in shock.

"What?" Nathan whispered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Hannah was shaking, her face full of tears as she continued speaking. "It has been two months, Nathan. You have been in a coma."

"No..." Nathan whispered, his head shaking as he tried to process what Hannah had just said. "No. This is not possible. I just saw her. I just..."

Anna clutched his hand tightly, her own tears falling. "Nathan, please. You were dying, we didn’t have a choice. Her family... they couldn’t wait any longer. And we had no right over the body."

Nathan’s chest was rising and falling as he clenched the bedsheets in his fists, anger and pain contorting his features. "How could you let this happen?! How could you let them bury her without me?! She was my fiancée! I should have been there! I should hav—"

Caleb put a hand on his shoulder, and though there was a lot of sympathy in the gesture, there was also a lot of strength. "Nathan, I know this is a terrible time for you. But Fiona wouldn’t have wanted you to end up like this because of what’s happened. She loved you. She’d want you to get over this, to move on."

Anna tried to touch him, but there was a lot of pain in her voice. "We’re here for you, Nathan. We’ll get through this together."

Nathan, however, did not say a word. His eyes were fixed on the floor as he tried to deal with the reality that had hit him the moment he woke up.

"Take me to her," he said, his voice rough but determined.

Anna’s eyes grew wide alarmed. "Nathan, no. You’re not strong enough. You need to rest—"

"I don’t care!" Nathan exclaimed, his voice cracking as he tried to sit up. Pain lanced through his chest, sharp and cruel, and he had to stop, his hands going to his side. "I need to see her. I need to go to her grave. Now."

Caleb stepped forward, his hands up in a calming gesture. "Nathan, listen to me. You’re not in any condition to get out of this bed. You’ve just woken up. Your body isn’t ready for this—"

"I don’t care what my body is ready for!" Nathan exclaimed, his voice cracking again as fresh tears fell from his eyes. "She’s gone, Caleb. She’s really gone. And I wasn’t there. I didn’t get to say goodbye. The least I can do is go to her grave. Please."

His words hung heavy in the air, the raw desperation in his voice cutting through everyone in the room.

Gabriel, who had been standing stiffly at the foot of the bed, finally spoke, his voice low and heavy. "Nathan, son... I know how you feel. But Caleb is right. You’re not well enough to leave the hospital. You need to concentrate on your recovery."

Nathan’s head snapped towards him, his eyes blazing with anger and pain. "Recover for what?" he shouted. "She was my everything! What is the purpose of my recovery if she is not going to be there?"

Anna sobbed softly, her hand going to her mouth as tears streamed down her face. "Nathan, please," she whispered. "We’re all hurting, but you need to consider your health. Fiona would not have wanted this for you."

Nathan shook his head, his eyes and voice trembling with emotion. "You do not know what Fiona would’ve wanted," he said. "You do not know what Fiona would’ve wanted! She would’ve wanted me there! She would’ve wanted me to save her! She trusted me and a I failed her!"