S H A Y
"Avery, come on. Wake up. That corny Ninjago show had a new episode and you weren't awake to bug me about it. I watched it anyway but you weren't making jokes I didn't understand. You weren't there to tell me how awesome Zane is. See? I remember their names after all. Come on, Aves. If you open your eyes, I swear, I'll be watching corny cartoons with you. Please?" Ashley cried.
It breaks my heart to see them like this but I have to stay strong for the both of them. I know they're trying but this is the hardest point they've ever been on, they can't pretend that they got this.
Leanne came here last night, saying that she genuinely believes that Sasha is really sorry. She said she was just as heart-broken as we are. It made me feel guilty. I mean, I've been too harsh on her. Avery is her son too and if I was in her situation I would've lost my sanity. Getting your kid in an accident is one thing but your ex-wife shouting on you and to stay away is a whole different story. She blames herself even though I know she didn't want Avery to run off and get hit by a car. It was all just fate's horrible plan.
"Ash, say goodbye to Avery. Tell him you'll be visiting him later." Katie said.
She nodded and gently laid her forehead on his. Closing her eyes, she said goodbye and went to Katie. "Are you coming, Shea?" She asked.
"Just give me a moment."
Katie held Ash's hand and walked out of the room. I held his small hand on my own and pressed it to my cheek, a tear escaping from my eyes though I tried keeping it in. Nothing could ever be worse than seeing your son, struggling to still breathe. "Avery, you got this. You can still open your eyes, I know it. No matter how much the doctors say there isn't much chance, I know you'll pull through. I know you'll wake up. Because I don't believe in them, I believe in you. I believe in you, son. I love you so much." I kissed his forehead and left him lying on his bed, for the first time in a few months finally looking peaceful and rested.
I went outside to meet with my daughter and girlfriend when an unpleasant surprise greeted me. Sasha was talking to Katie, probably trying to get her to let her in.
"...know that you shouldn't be asking me that, right? Talk to Shea, not me." My girlfriend had said in a firm yet soft voice.
Sasha wiped her eyes of her uncontrolled tears that kept gushing like a waterfall. When she took a last swipe, her eyes met mine, finally seeing that I was there.
She opened her mouth to talk but I shut her up before she could say a word. "Ashley is the one to be giving her permission."
We all looked down on Ashley who was identically wiping her tears like her mother. Using her arm and palm to get rid of them, not using her fingers and ignoring the fact that it was much easier than what she was doing.
I half expected her to ignore her mother and half expected her to shout at her. Instead, she flung herself in her mother's arms and sobbed with her, letting all their sorrow out on a single embrace. Katie held my hand and looked at me sympathetically. I didn't know what to think of the scene unfolding in front of me. My daughter and ex-wife were too consumed in their sadness to even allow their minds to understand what was happening.
When they pulled away, Sasha kissed Ash's forehead and cupped her cheeks. "Honey, I'm so so sorry. I'll call off the wedding if you want-"
The next words that came out of my daughter's mouth were a mix of a pleasant and an unpleasant surprise. "Mommy, you love him?"
Sasha slowly and hesitantly nodded, causing my heart to break in my chest a little.
"Then I'll accept it. Avery was just surprised but he loves you, Mommy. Marry him and we'll support you. All of us. We love you. I just hope I get to be a bridesmaid." She giggled through her tears.
Sasha gave her a heart-breaking smile. "You're not old enough to be a bridesmaid but I'm sure I can fit you in as a flower girl." She pulled her in for another hug.
As they hugged, I looked at Katie and smiled. I put my hand around her tiny waist and leaned my head on hers. Maybe Sasha and I weren't really meant to be. Maybe we were a pit stop but not the actual destination. Like Theseus to Ariadne. A distraction. Maybe if it works out, Avery will accept his mother again.
But for now, we wait.
When they finally pulled away again, Ashley looked up at me and Katie. She clasped her two hands together as if she was praying. "Mom, Katie, can you spare another few minutes?"
I nodded. Ashley cheered and dragged her mother back inside the fairly-sized hospital room. We followed them and I saw Sasha sitting on the chair I occupied a few minutes ago. "Avery, your Mommy is here. I'm sorry, baby. I hope that when you open those gorgeous brown eyes of yours, you'll look me in the eye and tell me that you forgive me. I know it's almost impossible you forgive me but I can never be too sure that you'll open your eyes before you know it. I love you so much, baby. I promise I'll get you four little turtles and we'll name them Leonardo, Raphael, Michaelangelo and Donatello. Just like you told me to. There's a lot to see in the world, Aves. I'll still have to teach you how to drive. We'll still go on a beach and swim for hours, get tanned and eat marshmallows around a fire. We have a lot to do, Avery, so wake up."
After kissing his nose, Sasha stood up from her chair and went to leave and we all turned around, leaving the dark haired boy to his lonesome again. But a raspy and hoarse voice made us all freeze and stop.
"Mommy, I love you too. Don't go."