Dorris did not noticed that the man finger shook as she cleaned her tears and walked out of the room.
The man on the bed hand shook again. He creased his brow and his hand shook again then he opened his eyes and close it back almost immediately.
The alarm in the room went off.
Emergency
Emergency
Emergency!!!
The doctors and nurses rushed into the patient room.
After some minutes, the patient's condition stabilized.
Ray opened his eyes for the second time.
The first thing he saw is white. He looked around the room and saw men and women in white.
"Contact the patient family", one of the doctor said.
Hearing this Ray opened his mouth. One of the doctors noticed him.
"You want to say something?", he asked.
" Don't ", was the only thing Ray said.
" Pardon?", the man asked.
"Don't call...my family", he said.
Jerome entered the ward. Ray was drinking warm tea. He couldn't eat any solid food for the time been. Moving his hands around was even difficult for him and he couldn't even move his legs yet. They are just too heavy to lift.
" Boss", Jerome called.
When the hospital called him, he was in disbelief but seeing Ray now he couldn't explain what he felt.
"You are finally awake", Jerome said.
Ray smiled.
" How is everything?", he asked. "My wife and others?", Ray asked Jerome.
Jerome updated him on everything he has to know.
" So I have a son?", Ray asked.
"Yes, you do. President Dorris had also been handling things at the office. She is quite good at business", Jerome replied.
" She is no more working at the agency?", he asked.
"She stopped been an artiste years ago",
Ray swallowed an unknown lump. How can he sleep for that long.
" Did my parents give her a difficult time?", he asked.
"Hard time? Did something like that happened? President Dorris had a good relationship with your parents. Mr and Mrs Dalton also doted on the young master", Jerome answered.
Ray was relieved.
" Do you think Dorris hated me for leaving her alone all this years?", he asked.
"I don't think she will hate you. She longed for you all this years_I think", Jerome said.
Ray sigh.
" Should I call and let her know?", he asked.
"No not yet", Ray said.
He can't afford to face her yet. He felt that he was a coward. They were supposed to hold their wedding ceremony. He was supposed to be there for her during her pregnancy! But what did he do? He slept for over four years.
" Your son birthday is in three days. You should attend"
Ray chest tightened.
He should attend that birthday party. His son birthday.
He owed Dorris too much. He is afraid to see her.
"Don't tell anybody I woke up. Get a shadow body guard. Whenever someone wants to visit me, he should inform me so that I can pretend I'm still on life support. Get the doctors too and tell them to shut their mouths. I have to give everyone a surprise.", Ray said.
" And get me a nice and comfortable wheel chair. I can't use my leg yet", he said.
"Yes boss", Jerome said.
^Present^
Dorris face turned pale when she saw him. Is it an illusion? Is she hallucinating?
And he flashed her a smile.
Dorris heartbeat start beating fast.
Everyone turned to look at what Dorris saw and they were all surprised.
Dorris ran to him and threw herself at him. He is on a wheel chair and Jerome is holding the wheel handle.
Dorris sniffled in his scent.
"It's really you", she said and allow her tears to flow freely.
"It's really you. If this is a dream then I really don't want to wake up", Dorris said.
Ray was patting her back muttering.
" I'm sorry. I'm sorry"
Dorris, "of course you should be sorry. After all, you did leave me alone for so long"
Looking at her delicate and clean features, Ray smiled.
His wife is so pretty. Her style is still the same. To him, she didn't change at all.
He felt assured when he heard what she said.
After some minutes, Dorris calmed down.
Friends surrounded Ray.
"Man, when did you wake up? We are all surprised to see you", Harry said.
Guy fist tightened. He don't know if he should be happy for Dorris or not. He is actually planning to ask her out again. Who knew her husband will wake up at this critical moment. Maybe Dorris and him were not fated to be together. Looking at Dorris smiling and loving face as she look at Ray, he knew there can not be any space for him in her heart. Ray has occupied all the vacancy in her heart.
" I woke up three days ago. I wanted to give you guys a big surprise ", Ray replied.
" Well you did surprise us", Ray looked up when he heard that well familiar voice.
"Dad?", he called.
" Congratulations son", Mr Dalton said.
A high pitched feminine voice puts in.
"Today is my grandson's birthday. My Raymond is the main character for today not someone who left his mother alone for years", the woman said. Immediately she said that, tears she had been holding back fell. She had held on well. Each time she saw Ray at the hospital, she will remember her son who died in a plane crash and her chest will tighten. Thinking that she might lose another son in a car accident is really heart-aching. A wife who lost her husband can get another husband. A child who lost his or her parents can have foster parents or step parents to replace the dead parent but a mother who lost a child can not get it back especially an aged woman like her. She stopped visiting Ray in the hospital when she couldn't take it anymore. She will only ask about his condition from those who went. No one knew how she lost sleep for several days after her son's accident.
No one knew how the old woman suffered from nightmares. No one knew what she felt each time she remembered her last encounter with both of her children before their accident. If she had known, she would have treated them well. If she knew she would have been more considerate.
She always think about her children. She is their mother after all and she didn't wish evil for them. She only want the best for them.
Her husband patted her back as she cried.
"I'm sorry mum", Ray said.
Mrs Dalton shook her head.
"No. I'm the one who is sorry", the woman said.
She bend down and hugged her child.
A tiny voice interrupted.
" Dad?"
📝📝📝
I feel for Mrs Dalton.
Let's discuss Mrs Dalton character in the comment section.
To be continued.