Life is a anomalous thing…ever changing…from minute to minute and even second to second. No one knows what life has in store…what joys will be granted to us…or what gifts will be taken away. We let days pass us by without ever taking in and enjoying the simple things that life has to offer. The smell of the breeze after it has been renewed by the rain, the sight of a simple rose as it grows among a field of weeds, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore…or the simple feeling you get when someone holds your hand. If you take the time to open yourself up the simple things in life…one way or another…you will be touched!
John Black was a simple but powerful man. On the outside he was a rich ruthless business man, who devoted his time and energy to his work. But to those people who really knew him…John Black was a loving and devoted father. His son Brady was his greatest joy and his greatest achievement in life. Life had dealt John a hard hand. He never knew his birth parents, but luckily for him he was adopted by the most loving couple , Shawn and Caroline Brady. There were times growing up where he felt like an outsider in his adopted family, but as time went on he became more of a member of the family…he may have kept his birth name of Black but in his heart he was a Brady. John was going through a divorced but had managed to kept on civil terms with his soon to be ex-wife Isabella…if for no other reason than to make it easier on their son Brady Black.
John had spent the weekend with his son playing and making the most of their father-son time together. He had given Brady a bath that evening…they played their usual game of water monsters. To an adult it seemed like such a trivial thing, but to Brady…it was the best game in the world…mostly because his daddy was playing it with him. After Brady began to turn into a wrinkled little prune it was time to dry off. John lifted his son out of the tub and wrapped him in his towel. But before John could dry him off he wriggled out of his arms and ran down the hall to his room…dripping all the way. John followed him in a fit of laughter picking up the towel his son discarded along the way. They proceed to Brady’s room where they began to pack him a bag…he was on his way to spend the night at his mothers. John walked the halls picking up Brady’s toys, “Okay slugger I found a train, and a truck. You think you are going to need these?” Brady giggled and replied with a simple, “No.” Brady went through his closet look for all his necessary toys. As John was headed out the door Brady called to him, “Daddy wait…I forgot my flute.” John laughed as Brady ran back to his room. John had to giggle at Brady…he was so attached to that silly flute…he never went anywhere without it. Brady ran up to him at the door, “All set daddy. “ “Okay slugger…grab your backpack and we are outta here!” Brady grabbed his little red backpack, John scooped him up swinging him around like and airplane, causing him to giggle. They locked up and headed to the car. John grunts as he lifts Brady into the back seat and straps him into his car seat, “Ugh…you are getting heaver slugger.” “Cause I’m a growing boy daddy.” John laughed as he placed Brady’s back pack in the front seat. John got into the driver seat, he looked back and made sure that Brady was secure in his car seat, and then he headed down the driveway. Before they reached the end of the driveway Brady spoke, “Wait daddy…I need my flute.” John laughed again. “Of course…we can’t forget your flute now can we.” John placed his foot firmly on the brake as he reached over and grabbed Brady’s flute. He turned back to hand it to him…and immediately Brady began to play him a song. John smiled the most heart warming smile. John concentrated on his son for a long moment…and because he was concentrating on his beautiful son…he never saw the bright head lights of the car that were head right toward him.
Marlena Evans was a carefree woman, who tried her best to live her life for the moment. When she was in college she had her mind set on becoming a psychiatrist, but when the time of her residency rolled around she had an epiphany of sorts. She spent day in and day out in the intensive care unit she was assigned to at Salem University Hospital. As days went on she saw how, for so many of the nurses and doctors, that these people lying in these beds were nothing more than patience’s. They were treated as if they were no more than diseases that need to be cured. She knew that a large part of the medical profession was that doctors and nurses had to do their best not to become emotional attached to their patience’s, but Marlena just didn’t operate that way. She made it a point to know all of her patience’s and treat them as friends. She knew that for many of these people on the intensive care floor, the one thing they needed was a sense of normalcy. They need to be cared about…not just cared for! Marlena spent most of her time caring for one patient in particular. He was a man who had been comatose for the past two years.
Marlena was strolling through the hallways of the hospital at a leisurely pace, after all she was already an hour late for her shift so…why rush. She made her way to her position at the nurses station. She passed several other nurses saying hello to them and getting nothing but a grunt in return. Shrugging off Gladys’s non-existent hello…she began to hang up her coat. Marlena greeted her good friend Lexi who worked with her at the nurses station. Lexi glanced at Marlena and saw that she was being slow-paced and laid back as usual and she giggled sarcastically, “Take you time Marlena. Your shift only started an hour ago. Ease into it!” Marlena chuckled as she pulled the newspaper out of her purse and headed to the room directly across the hall, as she turned back to Lexi, “I promised I would take him the movie reviews.” Lexi shook her head and mumbled, “Oh…you are such a weirdo.”
Marlena walks into the room and over to the window opening the shades, “Good Morning! I brought you the movie reviews…just like I promised. There was that new Julia Roberts movie…she is pretty cool. You know what movie I liked of hers…that one about pizza…that was good.” Marlena walks around the silent room and turns the radio on. She makes her way over by the bed straightening up. She spots some fresh flowers, “Hmmm these smell so good.” She begins to talk about some of the other patience’s and their families. “Riley’s dad is having an operations today. I told you about her. Humph…he is going to have someone else’s heart! That is so wild.” She pauses and thinks reflectively about the magnitude of that situation. After a moment she gathers her wits. She takes the fresh flowers, “I’m gonna put these in some fresh water for you.” She glances at the man lying in the bed, the only noise in the room coming from the beeping machines.… she smiles at him briefly and then leaves.
Later in the evening before her shift is over she goes back into the mans room. She walks in the room…the only light and sound in the room coming from the machines. Marlena stands at the door and whispers, “Hey you.” She walks over and sits by his bed. She stares at him briefly then glances around the room. The room is adorn with many photo’s…but each photo bears the same two faces. Each photo has the face of this man…and that of a small boy. Marlena rises from the chair pausing momentarily to wipe away a tear…then she proceeds with her daily ritual. She pulls out the basin that lies in the nightstand beside his bed. She fills it with warm water and begins to bath him. Ever so gently and lovingly she brings the damp cloth to his face and wipes it gently….rinsing and repeating as she runs the cloth through his hair. After washing his face and hair she begins to lather his face with shaving cream. She make a point not to miss one inches of his heavenly face. She gingerly brings the razor to his lathered face and begins to shave him. When she has finished her task she brings the towel to his face and wipes away the remnants of cream. After wiping him clean she can’t help but to stare at this heavenly creature. She takes her hand and strokes his strong jaw line. Running her fingers ever so slowly over his eyebrows and eyes. She smiles at this magnificent man, who appears to be a mere shell of the man he use to be.
A little while later her shift has ended and she makes her way to her car. It is pouring down rain…and it has soaked her to the bone. Marlena sits in car and waits for the rain to subside some so she can see well enough to drive. The wind begins to whip ferociously and the thunder and lightening is becoming stronger by the second. Suddenly without a moments notices Marlena see the hospital go completely dark. Her instincts and worry kicking in she runs back into the hospital and makes her way to the intensive care ward. Marlena runs into the ward and it is still completely dark…everyone is running around in pandemonium waiting for the back up generators to kick on. Marlena suddenly thinks of her special patient and takes off down the hallway in a sprint to his room. Marlena rushes through his door and over to his bedside where she pulls out a stethoscope and begins to check his vitals. While she takes his pulse there is an enormous sounding explosion in the hallway. She drops his hand and runs to see what the noise was. When she makes it to the door she notices that the hallway lights have begun exploding due to an large power surge. When suddenly the light above her head explodes without warning…sending her flying backwards into the room. After the initial shock wears off she rises from the floor and looks toward her patient to make sure he is okay. Marlena looks toward his bed and shock envelopes her face. She blinks rapidly to make sure she isn’t seeing things. She realizes that her mind isn’t playing tricks on her…it is real…he is awake! She gathers her senses as she rises from the floor and walks over to him. She slowly reaches her and out and touches his face…”John?”
Marlena blinks rapidly to make sure she isn’t seeing things. She realizes that her mind isn’t playing tricks on her…it is real…he is awake! She gathers her senses as she rises from the floor and walks over to him. She slowly reaches her and out and touches his face…”John?”
She stares at John for a long moment. She is so overcome with emotion that the words she wants to say stick in her throat. This is a miracle…a man that many thought would never wake up is sitting before her. John is trying to speak but is unable…after two years of silence his muscles are weak and tired…despite the pain he continues to struggle with his voice. As Marlena stands before him she looks at him in wonder as he mumbles almost inaudible, “My boy…where is…my boy…” Marlena raises her hand to his face and gingerly caresses his cheek while she speaks to him with wonderment filling her voice. “John…can you…see me? “ She holds his face in her hands, “Can you…see me? Yes or no?” John exhales deeply and barley whispers, “Yeah…” Marlena looks at him intently as he tries to speak to her. John whispers again, “My…son…” Marlena takes a shallow ragged breathe while she decides whether or not to tell him what has happened. After a moment she decides that he has a right to know. She holds his face tenderly as she looks into his amazing ocean blue eyes. “You…were in a…a coma…just under two years.” Marlena sees the tears begin to fall from John’s eyes as he whispers again, “My…my son…where is…where…” Marlena strokes his face as tears form in her own eyes, “There was an…accident.” John’s eyes become red and bloodshot from the tears pouring out. Marlena strokes his face again running her slender fingers over his eyebrows, “Your son…he didn’t survive.” John takes a deep breath as one single tear streaks down his already tear soaked face. John leans forward onto Marlena…but since John has been comatose for two years he can not control his body. John’s body weight falls hardly against Marlena causing her to fall off the bed onto the floor bringing John down flush on top of her. Marlena struggles to get John up…but is unable to move him. “HELP! HELP ME!” She screams at the top of her lungs desperate for someone to come help John.
A doctor and a nurse come rushing into the room. The doctor is stunned to see Mr. Black awake much less lying on the floor. He rushes to Marlena’s side. “Alright we have got to get him back in bed. Marlena…get under his shoulders…get him up.” Marlena is worried for John and sits there starring at him while stroking his face. The doctor yells at her but she doesn’t respond. The doctor immediately yells for another nurse, “Gladys…GET IN HERE! Hurry get him up!” Gladys runs over and tells Marlena to move and she doesn’t so she physically pushes her out of the way…causing Marlena to fall back onto the floor and observe the chaos that is surrounding John. The doctor instructs the two nurses, “Under his shoulders. On my count. One…Two…THREE!” After much effort they finally get John back into his bed. After getting John back into his bed the doctors sedated him…so that he could get some rest. Marlena felt utterly useless and decided to go home.
The next morning Marlena walked the hall of the intensive care unit. She gazed at the men working in the hallway trying to repair the damage from the previous nights storm. While walking John’s doctor approached her and told her to come to his office. After sitting down the doctor began to speak in a calm tone. “Marlena…how we tell a patient about their condition…more importantly WHEN we tell them…it is one of the more critical decision that we make. Now…by telling Mr. Black under those circumstances…you could have brought about any num…” Marlena interrupted, “Is he okay?” “Yes…I think so.” Marlena let out a deep breathe that she wasn’t aware she was holding. When Marlena collects her self the doctor continues, “We have not yet been able to contact his family. It seems that they are out of the country. By the time we reach them…I think it would be in all out best interests for him…” Marlena cut him off yet again, “Why…why did he wake up?” The doctor took a deep breathe and looked at her, “I honestly don’t know!”
After a while Marlena and the doctor are making their way down the hallway towards John’s room, while the doctor fills her in. “He…uh…refuses to speak to anyone. He won’t let us give him food, medication…anything! And the simple truth is…without his consent our hands are tied. So…I was hoping that you would give it a try.” Marlena takes a deep breath and sighs, “Why would he listen to me?” The doctor smiles slightly, “Well…he asked for you…this morning.”
Marlena peered through the window into John’s hospital room. Marlena saw him starring at some photos she had taken of him over the past two years. She wasn’t really sure why she had taken them…but she didn’t regret it in any way. John stared at the picture with tears beginning to form in his eyes when suddenly he heard a knock at the door. He whispered as loudly as he could, “Come in…” He saw Marlena slowly approach the bed with a slight smile on her face, “Hey.” she said tentatively. John looked at her and held up one of the photos she had taken of him, “You took these. You took these pictures.” She smiled at him and nodded her head. The tears began to form in his eyes yet again, “What…gave you the right? Who…gave you the right?” he said as he threw the picture toward the foot of his bed. Marlena’s smile soon disappeared. She held back the tears as her eyes darted nervously around the room coming back to rest on John. She wasn’t really sure what to say to him…so she blurted out the first thing that cam to mind. “You’re ummm…you are taller than I’d thought you’d be…” She fidgets for a moment and then grabs the vase of flowers from his bed side and goes to get new water…when suddenly John’s horse voice stops her. “Nobody…nobody will tell me…anything. Somebody needs to…talk to me.” Marlena stares at him while he talks, “Your not…listening to me.” Marlena shakes her head, “Yes…I am… I understand.” John looks at her his eyes reddened with unshed tears, “How do you under…uhh…what could you possibly…understand about me?” Marlena covers her face to stops the tears from falling. She prevents them from falling and walks closer to him. She grabs the picture that John discarded and lays it on his lap, “I am the one…who took care of you… for two years. “ She wipes away a tear that managed to escape…and she quickly walks from the room.
The next day John slowly awoke to the sound of the birds chirping…a simple sound that he never thought he would hear again. He stares out the window when he hears a voice coming from the other side of his bed. “You were right…I wasn’t listening to you.” He slowly turns his head towards the sound and see Marlena sitting there.
Sometime later…Marlena had decided to take John somewhere she thought he needed to go. She helped him get dressed and placed him in the wheelchair. Marlena was pushing John in the wheelchair down the paved pathway. John glances around and saw all the headstones that adorn the perfectly manicured lawn. After a few moments Marlena breaks the silence, “He’s…just up here a ways.” They continue to walk in silence until they reach their intended destination. When they came to a stops John finally speaks, “You…you came to see my boy?” Marlena replies, “Mm-hmm. I figured you would have come…if you could have.” Marlena pushed John up within reach of his sons headstone. John stares at the icy looking marble and sees the words ‘Brady Black…Loving Son…Gentle Soul’. John begins to breathe heavily trying hard not to cry. Marlena sees his struggle and decides to leave him alone. As she walks away she glances back at the heart broken man that she has come to care very much about. She wipes away her tears and decides to take a short walk…giving John a moment with his son. John leans forward…wanting to get as close as humanly possible with his physical limitations. He reaches a shaking and out and lays it upon the marble headstone. His shaky fingers outline the cold…engraved letters that represent his son. John begins to breathe heavily…he suddenly hears what he swears is the sound of a flute…and an even fainter sound of a young boys laughter. He looks around frantically…but sees nothing. He sighs heavily and motions for Marlena to take him away. Marlena comes to get him…and they head back toward the hospital.
Several hours later John is lying in his room just starring at the ceiling when the doors to his room burst open. He looks toward the intrusion and sees two familiar faces…his mother and father. Shawn Brady rushes over to his son…and kisses his face frantically. He stares at his son with amazement as he sniffles and laughs all at the same time. “Ah…hi son!” Both father and son begin to laugh, “Hey pop!” Caroline sits behind Shawn crying with joy at the site of their son…awake. Shawn holds John by his face, “Ah…my boy…how you doin’?” John just smiles at him and looks over to his mother, “Hi mom.” Shawn laughs as he looks to Caroline, “We got our boy back!” Caroline cries out, “I knew it…welcome back son.”
Night quickly approached and The nurse came into John’s room to check his vitals and take some blood. John watched her as she tied the rubber band around his arm…tapped his vein and inserted the needle. Being given a shot would have normally made John go weak in the knees…but this time…it didn’t phase him at all. He stared at the ceiling wondering what was happening to him.
The next morning Marlena came to see John and he tired to explain to her what was happening to him.” Something happened last night, with the nurse. She came in to change my I.V. …and I…I couldn’t feel it. I couldn’t feel her fingers…or the needle being inserted. I can’t feel…anything.” Marlena swallowed roughly trying not to get emotional. She did her best to swallow the lump in her throat before she spoke to him. “Do you mean that…you can’t feel anything…in your arms? Just your arms and your hands?” John shook his head and whispered, “No… nothing.” Marlena got up from the chair and sat next to him on the bed. She looked at him for a moment and gently picked his arm up…she turned it over and rested his hand palm up in her hand. She took her fingertips and ever so slowly ran them up his arm coming to a stop at his elbow. She glanced up to look at John and he just shook his head no. She looked back down and began to slowly run her fingertips down his arm coming to a stop at the tips of his fingers. She looked at him again…he closed his eyes and simply said, “Nothing.” Marlena took a deep breath as she laid his arm back upon his side. She scooted closer up to him. She gently placed her hands upon his face… gently stroking her thumbs over his cheeks while starring into his eyes. John looked into her eyes which were masked by unshed tears and he said, “I can’t feel you.” She just stared at him, when suddenly the door flew open. Marlena gasped slightly and backed away from John. She looked over toward the door and saw a woman standing there. Feeling uncomfortable Marlena quickly rose from the bed and hastily left the room. John just stared at the woman as she came up to his bed side. She sighed, “You’re awake. It’s a miracle. “ John took a deep breath, “I’m so…sorry.” The woman gently shook her head, “No it doesn’t… it doesn’t matter. You’re awake John…nothing else matters. “ John takes a deep breath, “The cemetery…it’s beautiful.” The woman looks at him in shock, “You went?” John barely nods his head yes. The woman smiles slightly, “Yeah well…your father…he’s been…he’s been your father. He took care of everything.” John nodded, “You shouldn’t feel like…like you have to be here. I don’t expect anything from you Isabella… I don’t.” Isabella fidgets nervously and rises from the bed. “I got married John. The court approved our divorce. They said that…that you would never wake up again. They said it was impossible. “ John looked away from her, “Well…I guess I fooled us all then.” John closed his eyes tightly and Isabella quietly left the room without saying another word.
Marlena roamed the hospital looking for John’s doctor. He finally found him in the cafeteria. He was about to take his first bite of supper when Marlena cleared her throat to get his attention. He looked up at her and with a lump in her throat she said, “I think there maybe something wrong with him!” The doctor sighs deeply…afraid that something like this might happen.
John lies in his hospital bed. The only sound coming from the constant beeping of the machines that are attached to him. John looks up at the machines and notices that the beeps are becoming a lot faster and louder. He looks over to the bedside table and see the picture of him with his son…John begins panting…his breathes becoming harder and harder to take. Then he hears it again…the faint sound of a flute…the tooting of the flute begins to match the incessant rhythm of his heart machine. He looks to the foot of his bed and he see him…he sees Brady sitting at the foot of his bed playing his beloved flute. He continues to stare at what he thinks is Brady…when Brady pulls the flute away from his mouth and says, “It’s time to go daddy.” John begins to breathe at an abnormally fast pace, which causes his heartbeat to skyrocket.
Marlena had gone home for the night when she had received a call from one of her co-workers informing her of what had happened to John. She quickly made her way through the hospital and up to John’s room. She walked into his room and came to a stop at the door upon seeing him. There he was…lying in his bed looking limp and pale…and he was restrained to the bed. She gasped at the sight of him, “What the hell did they do to you?” She paced quickly over to his bedside and began to remove the restraints. Just then the not so friendly Nurse Gladys came into the room, “We are putting those restraints back on him immediately Nurse Evans!” Marlena glared at her, “You go ahead and try it and you will find yourself wearing them!” The nurse glared back at her, “I’m not asking you…” Marlena interrupted, “I’m NOT ASKING YOU…What happened…what the hell did you do to him?” The nurse looked at her coldly, “He has been sedated for his own good.” Marlena backed away from the bed and headed toward Nurse Gladys, “Is THAT right?” Lexi walked into the room and stopped her, “Marlena?” Just then nurse Gladys interrupted, “Nurse Carver, you get security up here immediately!” Marlena whipped around toward Lexi, “Good idea Lexi, while you’re at it…why don’t you call John’s parents…cause I am sure they would LOVE to hear what’s going on here!” Gladys walked up to beside Marlena, “Now…nurse Carver.” Marlena’s temper had reached it’s breaking point. She turned toward Nurse Gladys and screamed, “GET OUT OF HERE!” She laughed in Marlena’s face and suddenly Marlena grabbed her by her scrubs pushing her towards the door, “I said, GET OUT OF HERE!” Nurse Gladys got her bearings and starred daggers at Marlena, “This is a mistake…I promise you that!” and she hurried out the door. Marlena shrugged it off and went back to John’s bed side. She leaned over the side of the bed and began to stroke John’s hair in a comforting rhythm. Lexi came up on the other side of the bed. “Marlena…you did not see him like we did. He pulled out his I.V. …he was…he was calling out for his son,” Marlena looked up at Lexi with tears in her eyes. “He was going to hurt himself Marlena.” Marlena looked away from Lexi and kneeled down by John’s bed…she continued to stroke his cheek lovingly while she cried.
The next morning Marlena lay curled up in a chair that sat beside John’s hospital bed. Unbeknownst to her John lay there wide awake…just watching her sleep. He stared at this lovely woman who was virtually a stranger…and yet he felt as tough he had known her all his life. She had taken care of him when others had given up. She treaded him with respect, tenderness and…love. The early morning sun shown through the hospital window beaming on Marlena’s face and she didn’t even flinch. Not until John’s doctor came into the room and called her name, “Nurse Evans?” He nodded at her and she knew that he wanted to speak with her in private. She glanced over at John…and without a word she left the room.
A little while later Marlena was in the nurses lounge changing out of her scrubs when Lexi walked in. “So it is just a suspension…right?” There was silence so Lexi continued, “A few weeks? That’s what he said?” Marlena nodded blankly, “Yep…that’s what he said.” Lexi nodded, “Hmm…that’s not so bad. I wish I had a few weeks off.” Lexi was doing her best to bring some relief to the situation but it was not working. Lexi approached her, “So…you going to go on a road trip?” Marlena twirled around from her locker, “I quit Lexi!” Marlena glanced at Lexi and then walked out of the room.
Outside the hospital entrance John’s father Shawn was arguing with his doctor. Doctor Reynolds was trying to impress the seriousness of John condition to his father, but Shawn didn’t want to hear it. He stood there while the medical professionals loaded John into the ambulance. Dr. Reynolds grabbed Shawn’s arm, “I can not tell you strongly enough what a mistake I believe you are making! He needs constant supervision. There are things wrong with his system that we don’t even understand yet.” Shawn shook off the doctors arm, “See if you can understand this. THIS is my son. YOU put him in leather restraints. Now he is coming home with us where he can recover without being tied down. And by the time the welts on his arms heal you will be lucky to still have your medical license.” Dr. Reynolds shook his head, “You are making a mistake!” Shawn pulled away from the doctor yet again, “Well forgive me…but I am not having a lot of faith in your judgment anymore doctor. Now if you will excuse me!” Shawn jumped into the back of the ambulance with his son and they speed off…leaving Dr. Reynolds standing there hoping for the best.
Marlena stood there in her apartment looking around at what amounted to her life. She felt as though her life where slipping away. She felt as though she lost her job just for the mere fact that she cared about her patient. She knew that she wasn’t supposed to get emotionally involved…but she couldn’t help it. She had taken care of John and his basic needs for almost two years…and she couldn’t turn her back on him just because he had woken up. She paced back and forth in her apartment feeling trapped. She frantically began stripping the walls of all of there adornments. When that task was accomplished she pulled some old tarps and cans of paint out of the closet and began to paint the walls. Not because they needed it…she basically did it for a release of pent up emotions. She painted roughly as though she was taking out her frustrations. As she made vigorous strokes she began to breakdown. She wiped the sweat from her brow and she fell to the floor and began to cry. Her life had changed so much in the past few days that she felt as though she were spinning out of control. She had feelings for a man that she hardly knew. She had cared for him for two years and he never uttered a word. Not that he had too…John had a presence about him that conveyed so much more than words ever could. But since he woke up…he seemed so broken and lost. Marlena wanted desperately to help him…and now because she lost her job…she felt she lost the chance to help this man she cared so much about. While sitting there the phone began to ring…feeling the need to not talk to anyone she let the machine pick it up. The voice on the message brought her out of her stupor. “Hello Ms. Evans I’m calling from Dr. Daniels office, Uh…regarding your sister.” When the caller hung up Marlena rose from the floor and hurried out the door.
Marlena stood outside her sisters hospital room and took a deep breathe before entering. She walked in and saw her sister sitting in a chair. Marlena smiled the best she could, “Hey there sister.” “Uh…Marlena” Her sister got up and walked over to the bed and climbed in. Marlena covered her sister up and climbed in next to her. Marlena handed her sister some comic books and the woman’s face lit up. “You didn’t let someone else read to you…did you?” Marlena said smiling and her sister laughed “Maybe.” Marlena smiled “Maybe huh? How about that handsome nurse Jake…I bet you let him read to you. You know…he doesn’t do the voices like I do.” “Are M… M… Mommy and Daddy coming?” Marlena took a deep breathe and answered the question just has she has done so many times “No honey…they couldn’t make it today.” “Oh. Um, but…you remembered.” “Yep…I remembered.” Her sister smiled, “I have n…new comic books.” Marlena smiled, “You do? Lets see. Oh…this is a good one. So Sam…who do you want to play?” The woman smiled, “Um the…h…hero.” “Of course you do. Okay lets go to the first page.” Marlena was reading to her sister when she saw the doctor come to the door and motion for her to come in the hall. She looked at her sister and then back to the doctor who had a serious expression on his face…she knew this would not be a pleasant conversation.
Across town Shawn had settled John into his room. John had awoken to see his father pacing the room and John spoke, “Is it night…or day?” Shawn was startled and walked over to his sons bed, “It’s night…you’ve been sleeping.” He looked at his son who looked as though he was devoid of any emotion. Shawn sat down next to John and sighed, “They say in the hospital…they say that you called out for…for Brady. That he was in the room with you. Is that…” John interrupted, “Oh…well I was sedated.” Shawn shook his head, “No…this was before you were sedated John.” John just looked up at the ceiling and huffed, “Huh.” Shawn touched his son on the shoulder, “What’s happening John?” Son…if you don’t tell me, I wont know what’s going on. I can’t help you if you don’t…” “What’s going on? I blinked pop…I blinked and I woke up two years later. My wife is married to another man. My son’s…my son…in a blink.” John had tears streaming down his face. Shawn had tears running down his cheeks, “I wish I could just take…take all this pain away from you. Wish I could take it for you…and if I could I would. I just…I just want my boy back.” John looked at his father and tears streamed from his eyes and he looked away. Shawn looked away and realized what he had said, “Uh yeah… I’ll tell the nurse that you are awake, all right?” John said nothing and his father left the room. As John sat in the silence of his room and he heard it again…he heard the sound of a flute. He sat straight up in his bed and he saw him…John saw Brady sitting on the floor playing his little flute with his little red back pack by his side. John’s heart began to race. As he starred at the image of his son and he heard his little voice saying, “It’s time to go daddy.” He saw Brady pick up his little red back pack and then he disappeared. John flopped back down into his bed…his face dampened with tears. He lifted his hands in front of his face and stared blankly at them, “What the heck is happening to me…what is happening to me? Oh God!” He brought his hands up to cover his eyes and began to weep. He began to pant heavily and he kept crying ‘Oh God” over and over again. Shawn heard the commotion and came running back into the room. He ran over to John’s side. “ Son what is it…what’s happening?” John covered his eyes and wouldn’t look at his father. Shawn began to panic, “John what is it son…Johnny what is it? WILL YOU TALK TO ME DAMN IT…talk to me…what is it?” John finally got his breathing under control and looked at his father with bloodshot eyes, “He was here.” Shawn began to cry. He bent over and embraced his son…and after a few moments John embraced him back…hanging on for dear life!
The next day Shawn sat in the doctors office hoping for some explanations from John’s doctors as to what was happening with his son. Dr. Reynolds was nervous, “As I said to you on the phone, I just don’t know. Now that is the simplest and truest answer that I can give you. Um…he claims to have no sensation of touch and now there are these…these visions. It is possible that all of this could be the result of some damage to the brain, maybe due to the accident…or the length of the coma. There is just so much more that we don’t know than we do. I think that he should be here in our care. I think that we should do more tests. He should…” Shawn interrupted, “He refuses to do more tests, so there must be some other way.” “Well frankly I, Uh… don’t understand the reluctance Mr. Brady. This is a critical time for him.” Shawn nodded his head, “Well his mother wants him home.” Dr. Reynolds stared at him, “Why?” Shawn exhaled, “It makes her feel that things are normal again.” “It’s not normal Mr. Brady. It never will be. Now uh…maybe accepting that… would be a good place to start. “ Shawn starred at him, “Give me another option.” Dr. Reynolds sat there and tried his best to think of another alternative.
Marlena was working around the house when the doorbell rang. Marlena opened the door to someone she never expected to see. “Hello Nurse Evans. Could we uh…talk?” Marlena shook off her shock and welcomed Mr. Brady in closing the door behind him. “Can I get you something? I have water…or umm…” Shawn laughed nervously, “Oh no…I am fine really…but thanks.” After a few moments Shawn began to speak, “Miss Evans uh…I’d like to offer you a job.” She looked at him and then glanced away while he continued. “A little in-home care…for um…Johnny.” Marlena took a deep breathe, “Umm do you want to sit down?” “Thank you.” Shawn sat down and continued to speak in a shaky voice. “Uh…you would work at our house and as a reprehensive of University Hospital. That way Johnny will receive the help that he needs, and he will be able to stay home with us. “ Marlena starred down at her hands. She was torn as to what she should do. Shawn saw her dilemma and began to speak again, “He’s seeing things…did you know that? Did he tell you that?” Marlena simply shook her head no while starring at her hands. ”He thinks he is seeing his son. And uh I don’t know how to help him. I can’t help him. “ Marlena took a deep breath and tried to hold back the tears. “I care…about your son. But…I just can’t right now.” Shawn shook his head, “ I won’t loose him again. I won’t!” He said in a gentle voice. Marlena looked away, “Um…I think you should go.” Shawn began to protest but stopped, “I’m sorry…thank you.” As Shawn walked out the door Marlena looked after him with tears streaming down her face.
Marlena spent the next few day doing nothing but thinking. Did she really want to do this? Did she want to take the chance and open up her heart? Every time she had done it in the past it never turned out very well. No matter how much she tried to help others it never seemed to be quite enough. Every time she put her heart on the line…it always seemed to be in vein…it never turned out how she thought it would. Either she let the person down or she was let down…either way it ended badly. And she just wasn’t sure if she had the strength anymore.
Marlena rang the door bell. As she stood there waiting for someone to answer to contemplated running away, but her attempt was futile as the front door swung open. On the other side stood an older gentlemen with a heartwarming smile on his face.
Marlena entered the room and saw John sitting in a wheelchair starring at the television. Marlena walked closer to him. She glanced at the television and saw what had John so mesmerized. He was watching a video…a home video of his sons birthday party. Suddenly John spoke, “His last birthday party.” Marlena glanced at the screen and saw the boy beaming a bright smile and then she looked back to John. “I’ve seen him. They obviously told you that right?” Marlena nodded but did not speak. John looked at her, “Why did you come?” Marlena nervously studied the carpet, “Because your dad said that you needed me.” John looked away, “And?” Marlena looked up at him with tears in her eyes, “And…he was right.” Marlena walked over to Johns bed and sat down fidgeting. When she realized that he wasn’t going to say anything she took a deep breath, “All those things…everything…that I did…while you were…you know… the pictures…the cemetery? I only did that because I was trying to help. It wasn’t meant to be an intrusion or…or…and invasion of your privacy.” She looked up at him and his eyes were red from crying and he took a ragged breath, “But it was.” he said in a soft voice. Marlena looked away for a moment, “If you don’t want me here I can go.” John shook his head and spoke gently, “I’m not saying that. I’m not.” John looked back at the television, “But this is my life. Everyone keeps doing things to me. “ He looked at Marlena, “But I’m awake now. That’s got to count for something.” Marlena smiled at him and nodded, “Fair enough. But if I’m staying then I’m your nurse…and that has to count for something too.” John glanced away with a small smile on his face, “Fair enough.” He looked back at Marlena and she smiled at him and whispered, “Okay.” Marlena had a sense that they were at an understanding and they both felt much more at ease. She took a deep breath, “Then…I shave you now.” John looked at her in mild shock, “The hell you do.” Marlena looked at him exasperatedly yet mildly amused, “Okay now…what did I just say? I’m the nurse…you’re the patient.” She examines his face, “You’ve completely let yourself go…you need a shave.” He stared at her, “Why?” She looked at him and grinned, “Because I like sharp objects. It’s empowering.” She did her best to keep a straight face but when he smiled, that gorgeous million dollar smile, she lost all resolve and the both laughed. Marlena wheeled him into the bathroom that was in his room. John’s eyes shone with a slight bit of trepidation. Marlena noticed this and lied a gentle hand on his shoulders to waylay his fears. She placed a hot washcloth on his face… then after a moments she sprayed the cream into her hands and began to lather his face. As she caressed the cream on his face she found herself starring into his ocean blue eyes…starring at him she felt a sudden rush of happiness and peace wash over her and she began to smile. She looked at him and nodded as she picked up the razor. She began to run the razor over his soft yet firm face…he starred at Marlena’s reflection in the mirror. He saw a woman who was so full of love and tenderness. A woman who was treating him with such gentleness and he began to wonder how he became so lucky as to have this woman helping him and caring for him. He starred at her for a moment longer and a smile came to his face. He reached up to still her hand. He took the razor and tentatively lifted it to his face…and began to shave himself. Marlena leaned on the counter and was amazed how much she loved watching John perform this simple task. She sat there watching him with delight. When he finished a few moments later she began to clean him up with a smile on her face. When he was clean she stood behind him as he sat in his wheelchair. She leaned over and wrapped her arms around his shoulders from behind. They both looked into the mirror and began to smile.
Later that night Marlena sat out by the swimming pool…just relaxing and thinking…which was something she seemed to be doing a lot of lately. John sat on his balcony just watching Marlena as she sat there swinging her feet back and forth in the pool as she was deep in thought. He wondered what she was thinking about so deeply. Whatever it was seemed to be weighing on her shoulders and wished he could take all her worries away.
The next morning Marlena went into John’s room to check and see how he was and if he needed anything. She walked in and saw John wide awake relaxing on his bed, “Hey you!” John looked up and smiled, “Hey…did you sleep okay?” Marlena shrugged her shoulders, “No…not really.” John smiled at her in wonderment, “Why not?” Marlena smiled and shrugged again, “Not really my thing…sleep.” John kept smiling, “Well…why not?” Marlena shook her head, “It’s just too…quiet.” She walked over to him and sat next to him on the bed, “So… yesterday when we were shaving…” “Mm hmm?” Marlena took a deep breath, “Well…you couldn’t feel it…could you?” John kept starring at her intently, ‘Mm-mm.” Marlena nodded with a sad smile, “Can you feel…anything?” John never broke his gaze on her, “I don’t think so. It’s kinda like uh…like going to the dentist. You know their diggin around in there but…you cant feel anything.” Marlena starred at him, “Yeah…you know your body suffered a tremendous trauma. So sometimes things can get jumbled up in there.” John looked away from her, “Maybe…this is my punishment.” She starred at him lovingly…after a moment he raised his tear filled eyes to meet hers, “I was driving the car.” She wasn’t about to see John tear himself apart because it wasn’t his fault. “And…also…a man had a heart attack…and drove into your driveway. Those are the things that happened. “ John just looked at her, “He was with me.” Marlena smiled at him gently, “But you cant change that.” John just continued to gaze at her with tears dripping out of the corner of his eyes.
A while later John decided to show Marlena around his house. He took her to his game room where there were video games and a pool table. Marlena was excited because she loved to play. So John told her to go ahead and play a game and he would sit there and watch…he told her he wanted to see what she was made of. She played for a while and after a few shots she began to miss more and more which made John laugh…which was her intent all along. After finishing the game she walked over to John and handed him the pool cue, “Your turn.” He just smiled at her shook his head and said, “Nah.” He felt awkward knowing that he was confined to a wheelchair and probably wouldn’t be able to play very well. Marlena could read his face and she wasn’t about to give up. They sat there for hours while Marlena played…she knew that sooner or later John wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to try. And she was right…she handed him the pool cue…he wheeled himself up to the table and made several shots. But then it came time to make a shot that John knew he couldn’t make from his confined position in the chair. He handed Marlena the cue…and locked the wheels on his chair. He grabbed the edge of the pool table and with all his strength he began to pull himself up to stand. Marlena noticed what he was doing…she bent over and wrapped her arm around his waist to help him. When he finally got to his feet he sat himself on the edge of the table…he gently laid on his side across the table and positioned himself to take the shot. After a little struggled he took the shot and made it. He sat himself back up and looked at Marlena…a confident smile plastered on his face…which Marlena returned.
Since John was out of the chair he wanted to do some walking. John and Marlena walked out of the patio doors into the backyard…her arm around his waist and his arm around her shoulder. John looked at her and smiled, “I want to show you something.” John flipped a light switch and the whole yard around the pool was glowing with lights. Marlena looked around at this spectacular sight…it was breathtaking, “Wow.” was all she could say. John smiled, “Yeah…I have had a lot of parties back here. Or…at least I used to.” Marlena walked him over to a chair. He just smiled at her, “You swim?” She looked at him and chuckled, “I float. You?” John looked away, “I used to.” A huge smile spread across her face, “Okay…close your eyes.” John smiled at her wickedly, “Oh come on…you’ve seen all of me…fair is fair!” Marlena looked at him in mock shock, “Not so much…close ‘em.” John scuffs and then with a smile he brings his hand up to his face and covers his eyes. He turned away and sighed…as he turned back he lifted his hand up uncovering one eye, “There closed.” Marlena laughed, “Oh cheater…come on.” John laughed “There closed.” Marlena stared at him in defiance. He sighed once again and covered his eyes completely. Marlena quickly removed her shirt and pants…which left her in a tank top and underwear. She looked at John to make sure he wasn’t peeking and then she jumped into the water. When she came back up she gasped with delight. After hearing the splash John turned around just as she resurfaced and he began to chuckle, “Pretty good huh?” Marlena nodded, “Yeah…you gotta come in.” John just looked at her and after a moment he smiled. “Fine! But you close your eyes.” Marlena began to laugh, “Hey nothing’ I haven’t seen before. And I mean literally!” John just starred at her with a mixture of happiness and defiance in his eyes. He slowly stood from his chair and began to undress. Marlena just watched him…even after spending two years in a coma he still had an incredibly fit body. With out even thinking she spoke, “You gonna do that your self?” When she realized what she said she blushed…she didn’t necessarily mean it the way it came out…she just wanted to know if he needed help…since he was still fairly weak. John had to laugh, he saw how embarrassed she was. He was tempted to tease her but he just replied, ‘Yep…gonna do it all by myself.” After a few moments John sat down at the pools edge and eased himself in…with Marlena right there to help him. She grabbed his hands and helped him down into the water. When John was in the water they just stood there with no more than a few inches separating them…they just starred into each others eyes. Marlena was the first to break the silence. “This is good. This is great therapy actually…we could use this.” John’s eyes just roamed over her features, “It feels strange.” Marlena looked at him hopefully, “You can feel it?” John smiled and shook his head, “No…that’s why it feels strange.” Marlena smiled, “Give me your hands.” John smiled at her and did as she asked. Marlena took his hands and walked through the pool bringing John along with her. When she stopped she pulled John up close to her. They starred into each others eyes for a long moment until Marlena broke the silence, “Now float.” John tentatively laid back. Marlena’s hands laid underneath his back to brace him. John just laid their getting used to it and he began to smile…he stretched his arms out to his sides and brought his legs all the way up. Marlena just watched his face…and she gazed at him as the outside lights danced in his shining eyes.
The next morning Marlena sat on the sun porch drinking her morning coffee. She was thinking of her and John last night…and what that meant…or wondering if it meant anything at all. Then Marlena was brought out of her thoughts by John’s mother Caroline. Caroline touched Marlena’s shoulder, “Good morning.” Marlena smiled at her, “Morning.” Caroline sat across the table from Marlena, “So…the maid told me that you…took John swimming last night.” Marlena answered hesitantly, “Yeah, his strength is returning so um…its really good for him.” After that they sat there awkwardly until Caroline broke the silence. “ He likes you.” Marlena looked up at her in shock, “W…what?” She looked at Caroline and began to laugh, as though she was dismissing what Caroline said. But Caroline shook her head, “No…no it’s good. It’s good. It keeps him thinking about the future. That’s…that’s so important.” Marlena looked at her and smiled lovingly. “Would you…would you like to help me with him?” Caroline shook her head slightly, “You seem to be doing just fine with him.” Marlena smiled, “He has a long way to go still…Mrs. Brady.” Caroline sighed, “Umm…you’ll get him there. I know it. I know it! Then…you can go back to your old life…as we all can.” With that Caroline walked away and Marlena looked away and though to herself that this woman was in some serious denial if she though that things were ever going to be the same as they used to be. Marlena rose from the table and went back into the house. As she ascended the stairs he heard a thud come from a room over by the entrance to the garage. She walked toward the room…the door was a jar so she stuck her head in. She saw Shawn going through a box…just one of many that cluttered this room. She walked around some boxes and into Shawn’s line of sight. He looked at her and smiled, “Oh…hi. I though we should umm…we should get rid of some of this old stuff. I really don’t know where…I don’t know where to begin. I haven’t been down here in years…two years.” Marlena looked around. The room was filled with boxes, and pictures and…toys. Marlena pulls out a frame and stares at it. Shawn walks over to see what she has and smiles. Marlena stares at the frame, “He was a big shot mogul?” Shawn chuckles. Marlena smiles, “That’s not what I imagined.” Shawn laughed slightly, “Well…I don’t think that it’s what he imagined either. I think it was my idea.” Marlena holds the frame to her chest and thinks for a moment. Just then the phone rings and Shawn excuses himself. Marlena just stands there looking at the boxes that hold John’s life…and his sons. Marlena pulls a photo album out of a box and begins to flip through the pages. She smiles at pictures of Brady’s angelic face. Then Shawn comes back in, “Marlena…it’s for you.” Marlena looks up at him worriedly…there is only one person who knows to reach her here!
Marlena sits on the hospital bed beside her sister…just watching her as she sleeps. After a moment the doctor leads her out into the hallway. “Well, the initial tests have come back. And we uh…we have picked up some…some more fluid excess in her spine. But we’re going to be doing more tests…many more! Just to make sure that this has to be done. But Marlena…you should prepare yourself. And I don’t believe that we can…afford to wait much longer.” Marlena sighs and she glances back into her sisters room…tears staining her cheeks. The doctor is at a loss as to what he can do to help her, “Is uh…is there anyone that you’d like me to call for you?” Marlena laughs bitterly and shakes her head no.
Marlena arrives back at John’s house and heads right upstairs to go to bed. When she walks into her room she sees John sitting on the small sofa, John stares at her, “Where’d you go?” “What are you doing in my room?” John looked away, “You just leave?” Marlena looked at the floor, “It was…personal.” John stares at her…it seems that he was willing her to open up to him and Marlena averted her gaze to the floor. John’s eyes continued to plead with her, “Talk to me.” Marlena looked up at him. She walked over and threw her purse on the bed and then sat on the small sofa where John was seated. She composes her self and clears her throat. “Um…when I was 12…my parents were…killed in a fire. It was one of those freak things…you know…it just never would have happened…except it did… to us.” Marlena wiped away the tears that were beginning to flow from her eyes. John just sat there hanging on everyone of her words. Marlena took a deep breath and continued. “They say that my parents just never woke up. My sister and I were upstairs and we couldn’t get down through the flames. Samantha told me to go first. She broke out the window. And somehow I climbed out and I was okay. And then, by the time… she got to the window…the room… I never even saw her…I couldn’t see her…till she fell.” Marlena began to cry even harder and was having a hard time speaking…her words coming out in broken sobs. “They say that…her head hit the pavement.” John stared at her blinking back tears as she spoke. “She is 26 years old…and she still thinks she is ten…and she still thinks our parents are alive. And every time I go to visit her…I have to come up with some excuse as to why our parents haven’t come to she her in 16 years. And now…again…they doctors say she needs another surgery. This will be her fourth.” Marlena laughs nervously, “Ha…I think that is why I cry so much.” Marlena wipes her eyes. John sits there with tears brimming in his…just trying to think of something to do for her. He looks at her, “Let’s get out of here.” Marlena looks at him and shakes her head, “No.” “Why not?” Marlena sighs, “Because…your not ready to be out yet.” John challenges her, “Says you. You like the pool right?” Marlena looks away and laughs despite herself, “Yeah I did.” John just smiles at her and nods his head.
John takes her to a cliff that over looks a beach and they just stare out over the blackened night as the waves come crashing in. John takes a deep breath, “He used to love it out here. We used to spend summers with my folks.” John’s eyes gloss over with tears, “He hasn’t been back. Not since you came.” Marlena looks at him with tears. “Now I miss it.” John lets out a deep breathe and looks at Marlena, “Think I’m cured?” Marlena smiles tentatively, “There’s nothing to cure. That‘s how your supposed to be feeling. You know…it’s appropriate. It’s apart of who you are now.” John closes his eyes, “It’s not who I want to be.” Marlena looks out over the water and then back at John, “I want you to do more tests.” He glances at her, “Why?” Marlena looks down at John’s hand that is gripping the railing. She reaches out and caresses his hand, “Because…you can’t feel this.” She intertwines her fingers with his. John looks down at their intertwined hands and then looks back up at her and stares into her eyes. After a few moments of silence Marlena speaks, “I am going to go down by the water.” John laughs slightly nods his head and smiles, “Of course you are. I’ll be here.” Marlena laughs, “Of course you will.” and then she takes off down the steps that lead to the beach. John watches as Marlena bounces down the wooden stairs and he smiles thinking how truly amazing she is!
A few days later Marlena is sitting with her sister in her hospital room. “So Sam…you are just going to take a little nap. And then when you wake up…we are going to read some comic books.” That makes Sam giggle. Just then Marlena hears Lexi’s voice from the door, “You really weren’t going to call. You were just going to go through this all by yourself. What the hell’s the matter with you?” Marlena finally tears her gaze away from her sister and when she does she is amazed to see Lexi standing at the door…with John by her side. Marlena smiles slightly and Lexi and John enter the room. Marlena looks back over to her sister. “Sam… these are my friends.” Sam looks over at them and smiles and they smile in return.
A few hours later Marlena, John and Lexi are sitting in the waiting room awaiting word from Sam’s doctor. They are all sitting in silence and Marlena beings to fidget. John reaches over and takes hold of her hand…and she looks at him with tears in her eyes. A few moments later the doctor walk in. They all look up at him and he smiles and nods his head yes, meaning that the surgery went well. They all let out a sigh of relief and Marlena buries her head in John shoulder and lets out a cry of relief…and with out hesitation John wraps his arms around her and holds her.
Later on Marlena brings John to her apartment on the way back to his house. Marlena unlocks the door, “Come in.” John walks in and sees how empty the apartment is. He looks at Marlena and she giggles, “I obviously don’t have many visitors.” She stands there awkwardly shifting from one foot to the other. John walks over to her…he reaches out and caresses her arms, “I…want to do more tests.” She looks up at him and smiles with tears brimming in her eyes. He smile back at her, “Whatever it takes Marlena.” He takes her by the hand and leads her down the hallway…to her bedroom. They walk in the bedroom door…Marlena bumps into something and beings to giggle nervously. John giggle in return finding her nervousness so sweet and incredibly sexy. John brings his hands around Marlena’s waist and draws her closer. When she is near he reaches both hands up and take her face in his palms. Marlena looks deep into his eyes touching his soul and whispers, “I want you…to feel me.” John wipes the tears from her face with the pad of his thumb and whispers, “You feel me.” He bends down and kisses Marlena deeply for the first time and Marlena responds with her whole heart and soul. While John kisses her he runs his hands down the length of her arms and comes to a stop at her hands, as he intertwines his fingers with hers. Marlena pulls back from the kiss slowly and giggles softly…feeling like a school girl. He bends over and ever so slowly begins to ravage her neck with sweet, tender, open mouthed kisses. Marlena feels as though millions of volts of electricity are coursing through her body. John pulls back and looks into her eyes and she lets out a sob when she feels like John is starring right into her soul. John kisses her again. Marlena takes John’s hand and guides it up to the top button of her blouse. And John begins the task of removing it from her body. John sits on the edge of the bed and admires Marlena as she stands before him. She walks up to him…standing between his legs. She reaches for the top button of his shirt as she pulls him to stand up. As she undoes each button she is sure to kiss the newly exposed flesh. She stands back from him to admire his perfectly sculpted form. When he can no longer stand the absence of her touch he pulls her body flush to his. They walk backwards towards the bed and she slowly eases him backwards until she laid completely on top of him. Together they made the journey that both of them had been aching to take for so long.
After hours of blissful lovemaking a sleeping Marlena and John laid wrapped in each others arms. The wind began to blow the chimes that hung outside the window and John awoke. He laid there for a moment just starring at the ceiling just stroking Marlena’s hair. He listened to the chimes as they began to make a more distinctive familiar sound. He raised his head from the pillow as she strained to hear the sound more clearly. He got slid out of bed as so not to disturb Marlena. He slipped on his pants and seeked out the sound he heard moments earlier. As he walked down the hallway the sounds became louder. He came to Marlena’s patio door and the sound was now loud and clear…it was a flute. He walked to the patio door and peered out squinting his eyes…and he saw him…it was Brady. He was sitting on the patio with his little red backpack by his side…playing his flute. In the meantime Marlena had awoken to find John not by her side. She began to worry about him and went to find him. She turned out of the room and looked down the hallway. She saw John just standing by the door wall peering out into the night with something between wonder and fright etched on his face. He walked closer to him and looked out the window…but she saw nothing. She whispered, “John?” He turned to look at her and then looked back out the window. She walked up and touched his shoulder, “Honey…are you okay?” He glanced at her for a moment and then looked back out the window and he was gone…Brady was gone.
John had become withdrawn again and Marlena had decided it was best to take him home. After getting settled in she went to check on John. She came into his bedroom to find him watching the video’s of Brady. She sat down beside him on the bed and stroked his face. “I called Dr. Reynolds. I can set up the tests whenever your ready.” He nodded at her while keeping his eyes fixed on the television. The tears began to stream down his face , “I didn’t see it coming.” Marlena gently wiped away his tears, “I know” He shook his head, “Why didn’t I see it coming?” She stroked his face lovingly for a minute and then rose from the bed, “Come with me.” John just looked at her, “Where?” Marlena just grabbed his hand and lead him from the room.
After seeing Brady at Marlena’s house John had become withdrawn again and Marlena had decided it was best to take him home. After getting settled in she went to check on John. She came into his bedroom to find him watching the video’s of Brady. She sat down beside him on the bed and stroked his face. “I called Dr. Reynolds. I can set up the tests whenever your ready.” He nodded at her while keeping his eyes fixed on the television. The tears began to stream down his face , “I didn’t see it coming.” Marlena gently wiped away his tears, “I know” He shook his head, “Why didn’t I see it coming?” She stroked his face lovingly for a minute and then rose from the bed, “Come with me.” John just looked at her, “Where?” Marlena just grabbed his hand and lead him from the room.
Hand in hand Marlena lead him down the hall into a storage room. John glanced around at all of the boxes that were scattered along the walls and the floor, that seemed to reach to the ceiling. John sighed deeply trying to clear the tears that lodged in his throat, and then squeezed Marlena’s hand. Marlena took that as a sign. She kissed him on the cheek and left the room, giving John the time and space that he needed.
John sat in the room almost afraid to see what the multitude of boxes held. He took a deep ragged breath and removed the lid of the box directly in front of him. He ran his hand across the leather bound book and picked it up. As he opened it he felt the tears sting his eyes as the angelic face of his beloved son starred up at him from the pictures. He skimmed the pictures of memories past, birthday parties, Halloweens, fun days at the beach. He set the book down and perused the other boxes. He openly cried as he touched everything that his eyes came in contact with, Brady’s clothes, his toys, his red backpack. John let out a gasp and fell to his knees crying.
Marlena paced in the kitchen rummaging through the cupboards. Shawn walked in and saw her, “ They hid the good stuff.” Marlena jumped from the suddenness of Shawn’s voice, “Oh, God… you scared me.” Shawn stifled a smile, “Sorry… I know where the secret hiding place is. Treats on me…” Shawn bent over and pushed aside some cans and boxes, “Here lets see…there’s chocolate..” Marlena’s smiled, “Ohhh..” Shawn continued to pull out more containers, “Wait here is oatmeal…and chocolate chip.” Both start to giggle and tear into the cookies. Marlena hops up onto the counter to sit and Shawn sits on the stool by the counter. “So Caroline wants to ugh…invite some friends over tomorrow for John…” Marlena looks up bewildered as Shawn continues. “It’s just um…” Marlena raises her hand to stop him. “If you don’t mind me saying, I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” Shawn sighs, “Well she wants him to start experiencing real life, you know. What ever the hell that is.” They both chuckle. Shawn sighs and looks up at Marlena, “You have done a remarkable job here Marlena.” Marlena smiles shyly, “He did all the work… not me.” Shawn shakes his head, “No, no… He’d still be strapped to that bed if it wasn’t for you, you know that.” He smiles the most heartwarming smile at her, and then glances down at his hands that are fidgeting in his lap, “I ugh… I wanted to shut off the machines… did you know that?” Marlena looks up at him with tears in her eyes and simply shakes her head no. Shawn nods slowly, “Yeah… the doctors said he was gone. I thought he was gone. I remember starring at him in that bed, thinking he looked so… disconnected.” Marlena nods her understanding, “So… what happened?” Shawn sighed, “Well… his mother wouldn’t agree to it. She just wouldn’t accept it. She’s… she’s the only reason he’s here today.” Marlena just smiled at him, realizing for the first time what a miracle it was that John was in her life at all.
The next evening John and Marlena stand poised at the top of the stair dressed in their party attire. Marlena glances over at John, “So, are you ready for this?” John looks at her and laughs, “Does it really matter if I am or not… everyone is already here.” Marlena laughs and slaps him lightly on the shoulder, “If you are not up for this we can go right back up stairs.” John smiles at her slyly and pulls her close to him, “Well that all depends… what is waiting for me upstairs?” Marlena blushes and turns away, which causes John to laugh. He gently takes hold of her chin and turns her face toward him and looks her in the eyes. “In all seriousness… I am fine, I can handle this… I swear!” She nods in agreement and he kisses her lightly on the lips, “By the way… you looks beautiful tonight.” He squeezes her hand and then they make their way down the stairs. They stop and glance around the room at all of John’s family and friends. She smiles at him and nudges him to walk into the room first. She stand there admiring John and watching as all of his family and friends crowd around him giving him hugs and well wishes. She continues to stare at him from her place on the stairs as Shawn clinks his champagne glass and starts to make a toast. “I ugh… I’d like to make a toast here. You know… most of us never thought this day would come. I know we kept… we kept dreaming that it would, and somehow here we are.” Marlena and John’s eyes haven’t left each others as she makes her way down the stairs and into the crowd of people as Shawn continues his speech. “Now for two years you’ve been taken from us, God knows what you went through. And it’s taken great strength and courage and a lot of heart for you to fight your way back to us, John. I don’t know whether this is a miracle or what…but you know, I really don’t care. You’ve come home.” Marlena stares worriedly at John as he fidgets at his fathers words to him. Shawn raises his glass, “Welcome Home Son!” The room breaks out into cheers of ’Welcome Home’ and the sound of glasses clinking together. John nods at everyone distractedly and then glances over to Marlena who is poised at the bottom of the stairs. His gaze intensifies again at the image he sees. It’s Brady… sitting on the foot of the stairs right next to Marlena. He stare’s harder as his image of an angelic Brady waves at him. Marlena see’s John’s intense stare and knows that something is wrong. Marlena stares intently at John… his mouth is quivering as he softly whispers ”I’m sorry”. John stumbles toward Marlena as a shooting pain sears through his head. He holds his head in his hands as he begins to sways back and forth. Marlena begins to push her way through the crowd to get to him. She reaches him in time to catch him as he collapses to the ground.
Everyone is gathered at the hospital awaiting word on John’s condition. Marlena sits in the waiting room with Shawn and Caroline… all of them drowning in the silence and uncertainty, meanwhile John is in the operating room being prepared for brain surgery. As he lays there his life with Brady plays through his mind like a movie reel that is on contestant playback.
A while later the doctor comes out to talk to them and they all rise to attention. The doctor takes a deep breath, “I uh… I spoke to the doctors. There has been a, massive hemorrhage in the brain. Apparently he’s been…bleeding from some time. And it’s possible that ugh… that the bleeding has been causing these visions and… effecting his sense of touch. But he has… slipped back into a coma.” Shawn groans and falls back into his seat, while Marlena and Caroline stand there dumbstruck. The doctor glances around at all of them, “I’m… I’m so sorry.” After a few moments of unbearable silence Shawn looks at the doctor, “What do we do?” The doctor sighs, “We ugh… we wait.” Marlena sits there in silence starring straight ahead with tears brimming in her eyes.
Hours later Caroline sits in the recover room with John. She bends over to talk to him, speaking softly, but loud enough to be heard over the contestant beeping of his machines. “Johnny it’s me… it’s mom.” She strokes his hair lightly, “You know… you were born in this hospital. You were only six pounds…. so small. And such eyes… those piercing blue eyes. They lit up every time I looked at you.” Caroline began to weep as her son lied there motionless.
Marlena stood on the roof of the hospital starring out over the city while smoking a cigarette. Lexie walked up to her tentatively, but making enough noise so as not to startle her. She nudged Marlena on the shoulder, “Gimme some.” Marlena handed her the cigarette never taking her eyes off the view in front of her. Lexie took a long drag off Marlena’s cigarette and handed it back to her. She took a deep ragged breath. “ I ugh… I just spoke to Dr. Reynolds. And um… they don’t think he’s going to last the night.” Marlena took a deep breath and nodded wordlessly with tears streaming down her face. Lexie patted her on the shoulder, “I’m sorry.” Marlena just sighed and didn’t say a word.
Back in John’s room Shawn just sat vigil by his sons bedside, while his wife paced back and forth. Little did they know that, even tough their son was in a coma his mind was moving a thousand miles a minute. In his mind he stood with Brady. Brady looked up at him, “It’s time to go daddy.” John squatted down to look into his sons eyes, and brushed the chestnut brown hair off of his face, “I know slugger… I know.” Brady stood and walked away and John followed him.
Marlena stood on the roof with Lexi. Marlena took a puff of her cigarette, “I can’t… feel anything.”
In John’s mind he can see the accident so clearly. He begins to pull out of the driveway and glances over at the passenger seat to check on his son. And out of the corner of his eye he spots the headlights of the on coming car.
Marlena looks over at Lexie as a strange feeling comes over her.
Shawn sits at his sons bedside shaken out of his silent prayer by the sound of a flat line on John’s machine. Caroline screams, “NO!!!!” as she read John’s heart monitor and the heart rate drops to zero. Caroline continues to scream, and Shawn collapses by the door as the doctors come into the room and work on John. The doctor checks John pulse and then shines the light into his eyes waiting for a response. When he doesn’t get one he looks over to Shawn and Caroline and solemnly shakes his head no. Caroline throws herself into Shawn’s arms and begins to sob uncontrollably. The doctors begin to remove the machinery from John as Marlena walks though the door. She stands off to the side while the doctors finish with their work. Once they are done she walks over and climbs onto the bed laying at John’s side. She raises her self up so she can see his face and she just stares at him. She gently brushes the hair back off his face, and leans down to lay her lips upon his. She cradles his cheeks in her hand as she buries her face in his neck and begins to sob. After a moment she lifts her head and leans in close to him and whispers, “Thank you… for everything.”
John reaches his hand out toward Brady, and takes his tiny hand in the palm of his. Brady smiled at him, “You have to let me go daddy.” John looks at him uncertainly. Brady puts his tiny hand on John’s cheek, “That’s why I brought you back daddy… that’s why I woke you up.” John sits back and blinks with uncertainty.
Marlena caresses his face one more time then takes his hands in hers. She bends her lips to his ear, “I love you so, much. That’s why… I’m letting you go now okay…”
John stares intently at Brady, but his form starts to disappear, and his tiny palm slips from John’s grasp.
Suddenly and violently John gasps for air and grabs Marlena’s hand in a fierce grip. Marlena jumps and shrieks with the suddenness of the movement. After getting her baring she looks down to see John blinking his eyes rapidly, and gasping for breath. Shawn and Caroline rush to his side. Marlena looks at John in amazement and caresses his face to make sure what she is seeing is real. She stares at him not able to say a word and John realizes she is there and locks eyes with her. She lets out a shocked laugh and hold his face tightly in her palms. As she caresses his face John stares into her eyes, his own glistening with tears. He smiles at her, “I could… feel him.” Marlena smiles at him and laughs happily. John takes her hand in his, “I can… feel you!” John laughs softly at the shocked and bewildered look on Marlena’s face. She covers her mouth so as to muffle her happy cries. He looks over to his father and grasps his hand as they all begin to laugh in amazement. With tears in his eyes he looks up to Marlena, takes both her hands in his. “Life is a anomalous thing…ever changing…from minute to minute and even second to second. No one knows what life has in store…what joys will be granted to us…or what gifts will be taken away. We let days pass us by without ever taking in and enjoying the simple things that life has to offer. The smell of the breeze after it has been renewed by the rain, the sight of a simple rose as it grows among a field of weeds, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore…or the simple feeling you get when someone holds your hand. If you take the time to open yourself up to the simple things in life…one way or another…you will be touched! Marlena… you did that for me. And… I love you so!”
~The End
The Jarlena Journal 