Can You Hear Me, Baby? (standard:Psychological fiction, 1417 words)
Author: TJC	Added: May 14 2007	Views/Reads: 4211/2658	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A man in a coma can hear what his wife and those around him are saying, but helpless and can't respond.

CAN YOU HEAR ME, BABY? 

My world was black.  A deep, inky canvas was all I could see.  So
unilluminated were my surroundings that I couldn't tell if my eyes were 
open or closed.  Was I walking or running or was I laying down?  I 
absolutely couldn't tell since I was floating in nothingness. Though I 
considered myself a brave man, fear was pumping through my veins.  
Something was terribly wrong.  When I tried to feel my way around in 
the dark I couldn't move my arms or legs.  I tried to scream for help 
but it was only audible inside my head because I couldn't move my 
mouth.  What the fuck was going on?  SOMEBODY FUCKING HELP ME!  Then I 
heard the familiar voice of my wife, Shannon.  She was there somewhere. 


Shannon, Baby, are you there? How are the boys?  Where are they?  Can
you hear me, Baby? She couldn't hear me.  She was talking to someone 
else. 

“So there were no witnesses at all?”  Shannon asked.  “I can't believe
nobody saw anything.” 

“It happens, Ms. Rosenfeld,” said another voice.  “We'll canvas the area
and keep our eyes out for similar attacks, but I don't want you to get 
your hopes up.  Our best hope is that your  husband can recover enough 
to give us something to go on.” 

It was a cop.  Why the hell was she talking to a cop?  A mugging?  Then
I remembered walking to my car in the parking garage.  I'd worked late 
again because I just couldn't face going home.  The corporate 
spreadsheets were more interesting to me than going home to my world of 
anger and fighting.  The garage was deserted when I felt something 
smash down on my back.  In a flash I was on the pavement and getting 
kicked and pounded by some thugs. I tried to fight back but my arms and 
legs exploded in searing pain and before I could scream I felt my jaw 
get smashed by a boot heel or cub or something.  It all happened so 
fast I never got a good look at them or even knew how many there were.  
I was convinced I was going to be killed as I lost consciousness.  All 
of my thoughts at that moment were of my wife and boys.  Who would take 
care of them?  They needed me.  I'd been so stupid over the years and 
wished I'd been better to them, especially Shannon. 

“Doctor, how long might he be like this?” 

Shannon sounded worried.  She wasn't prepared for this. How could she
be?  I took care of everything for us.  I have got to get out of here.  
My poor Shannon.  My poor boys, Josh and Jordan. 

“He's in a coma,” he sighed.   “There's severe damage to the head and of
course massive internal injuries.” 

“But he can recover, right?” 

“It's possible, but- eh, not probable.” 

“Can he hear us?  May I talk to him?” 

“I don't think he can hear you in the manner you're referring, but
familiar voices are good for comatose patients.” 

I can hear you!  Can you hear me?  Shannon?  Can you hear me, Baby? 

Damn. I was laying helpless in a fucking hospital bed. I could hear
Shannon crying and the doctor whispering encouragement to her.  She was 
scared.  I was scared.  What about my boys?  They won't have a father.  
Not a real father.  I can't be a vegetable.  Oh god,  I have got to get 
better and get out of this.  I CAN HEAR YOU BABY!  I CAN HEAR YOU.  
TALK TO ME. 

“I love you, John,” she said as I felt her faintly kiss my forehead. 

I wanted to reach up and kiss her but I couldn't move.  Was I crying? 
No.  I never cried.  I wanted to cry, though.  Oh how I wanted to cry.  
Was I ever going to get a chance to be a good husband and father again? 




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