Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the car and made my way inside. The familiar smell of antiseptic hit me as I entered the hospital, and I felt a mix of anxiety and determination.
As I walked down the sterile hallways, I heard nurses chatting and machines beeping. Finally, I reached her room and paused at the door. I looked through the small glass window and saw her lying there, still and peaceful. It hurt to see her like this, but I knew I had to be brave.
I pushed the door open quietly and stepped inside. The room was dimly lit, with only a few small lights on. I walked over to her bedside and took her hand in mine, feeling the coolness of her skin against my warmth. "Hey, Rebecca," I whispered, my voice trembling. "It's me, Ryan."
For a moment, there was silence. I sat down in the chair beside her bed, trying to gather my thoughts. I felt so lost, grappling with the emotions of the day and the worry that weighed heavily on my heart.
"I had a tough day at work," I said softly, hoping she could somehow hear me. "Things have been crazy with the company, but I'm here for you now."
I watched her face, searching for any sign of recognition. The machines around her beeped steadily, a reminder that she was still fighting, still here. I thought back to all the moments we had shared—the laughter, the adventures, the quiet evenings at home. It felt like a lifetime ago.
"I wish you could wake up and talk to me," I continued, my voice breaking slightly. "The kids miss you so much. They're doing their best to stay strong, but it's hard for them. They need their mom."
Time seemed to blur as I sat there, pouring my heart out to her. I talked about the twins' day-to-day lives, their small victories and struggles. I shared stories about their school projects, how Jake was excelling in science and how Lily loved to draw.
"I wish you could see how much they've grown," I said. "You would be so proud of them. They're strong, just like you. But I need you to come back to us. We can't do this without you."
Hours passed, and the sun began to set outside, casting a soft orange glow through the window. I glanced at the clock and realized how long I had been there.
"I should go see the kids," I said reluctantly, my heart heavy.
"But I'll be back tomorrow, okay? I promise." I squeezed her hand tightly, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath mine.
As I stood up to leave, I took one last look at her, hoping for some sign of response. I gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face and whispered, "I'll keep talking to you, even when you're not awake. You're not alone."
With a heavy heart, I walked out of the room and down the hallway. Each step felt heavier than the last, and I couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness.
When I reached the parking lot, the cool evening air hit me. I took a moment to collect myself before getting in the car. The drive home felt long and lonely, my mind racing with thoughts of Rebecca and the kids. I had promised them I would be strong, but I felt anything but strong. I felt like I was holding everything together with fragile threads.
As I pulled into the driveway, I noticed the lights were still on in the house. The twins were likely waiting for me, and I needed to be there for them. I stepped inside, greeted by the familiar warmth of our home. Jake and Lily were in the living room, their faces lighting up when they saw me.
"Dad!" they exclaimed in unison, rushing over to give me a hug.
"Hey, you two," I said, forcing a smile. "How was your evening?"
"Good! We made more pages for the memory book!" Lily said excitedly, holding up the scrapbook. "Look at this one! It has a picture of our family at the beach!"
Jake chimed in, "And I wrote about the time we built the biggest sandcastle ever! Mom was so happy that day."
My heart swelled with pride, and I felt a bittersweet ache at the same time. "That's amazing, you guys. I can't wait to see it."
We settled down on the couch, and they excitedly flipped through the pages they had created. As they shared their memories, I felt a sense of comfort wash over me. They were so brave, handling everything with such grace. I realized that I needed to draw strength from them too.
"Did you talk to Mom?" Jake asked, his eyes searching mine.
"I did," I replied softly. "I told her all about you two and how much you both miss her."
"What did she say?" Lily asked, her face hopeful.
I paused, searching for the right words. "She didn't say anything back, but I know she can hear us. She loves you both so much."
Jake nodded, though I could see the worry still etched on his face. "Do you think she'll wake up soon?"
"I believe she will," I said, trying to sound confident. "We just have to keep believing and sending her our love."
Just then, Lily said, "I want to draw more flowers for Mom! She loves flowers!"
"Flowers are boring," Jake replied, crossing his arms. "I want to write about our adventures!"
"Flowers are not boring!" Lily shouted back, her eyes wide. "Mom loves flowers more than adventures!"
Jake frowned. "That's not true! Mom loves the fun stuff we do! You're just being a baby!"
Lily's face turned red. "I'm not a baby! You just don't get it!"
I could feel the tension rising between them. "Hey, hey, let's calm down," I said, trying to soothe the situation. "You both have great ideas. Why don't we combine them?"
Lily crossed her arms defiantly. "I don't want to combine anything! Jake never wants to do what I want!"
"Because flowers aren't fun!" Jake shot back. "You always get your way!"
"Enough!" I said firmly, feeling the need to step in. "This isn't helping anyone. You both miss your mom, and fighting isn't going to change that."
"But Dad, Jake never listens to me!" Lily exclaimed, tears welling in her eyes.
"And Lily doesn't understand that sometimes I want to do something different!" Jake added, frustration clear in his voice.
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my cool. "Okay, let's take a step back. Why don't you both tell me why you're feeling this way?"
Lily sniffed and said, "I just want Mom to be happy when she wakes up. Flowers make her smile!"
Jake nodded, his anger fading. "I want her to remember all the fun times we had, like going to the zoo."
I smiled softly, feeling my heart ache for them. "I understand. You both want to show her your love. How about we write a page together? We can mix the flowers and the adventures!"
Lily looked at Jake, her eyes hopeful. "Will you help me draw the flowers?"
"Yeah, and I can write about our adventures under the flowers," Jake agreed, a smile creeping back onto his face.
"Perfect!" I said, feeling relieved. "Let's get started."
We gathered our supplies and worked together, laughing and chatting as we created a beautiful page that combined both of their ideas. Lily drew colorful flowers around the edges, while Jake wrote about our family trips. The mood shifted, and I could see the twins reconnecting.
After we finished, I looked at their creation, feeling proud. "This is beautiful, you two. Mom will love it."
"Can we add some glitter?" Lily asked, her eyes sparkling.
"Of course! Let's make it shine," I replied, feeling the warmth of our teamwork.
As we finished decorating the page, I glanced at the clock. "It's getting late. How about we get ready for bed?"
"Can we read a story first?" Jake asked, his face lighting up.
"Sure! What do you want to read?" I replied, already feeling a bit tired.
"Let's read the one about the brave knight!" Lily suggested.
"Okay! The brave knight it is," I said, and we settled on the couch with a blanket, ready for a story.