Awake After A Year

Leonica had her eyes closed, peacefully sleeping when a single snowdrop from outside found it's way through the window of her hospital room. It landed in the tip of her nose, melting almost instantly. The cold liquidly sensation had her finger twitching, one, twice and then her eyes fluttered open.

At first, her sight was blurred. Everything seemed distorted and unfamiliar. Her eyes wandered around the room, taking in her surroundings and her head spun.

'What happened? Where am I?'

These were the questions that raced through her mind, the feeling of dizziness and confusion clouding her brain and then the entire thing came flooding back Into her mind.

Irene kidnapping her, pushing her into the water, Owen coming to her rescue and the last thing she heard, the sound of him begging her to stay awake.

All that, had happened how long ago? She thought as she sat up, looking around the room to assess the situation of where she was.

It was neither heaven not hell, but a hospital room.

'How long did I sleep for?' She thought, glancing from the hospital machines, IV bags and almost whether Dahlias on the nightstand beside her.

She reached out to touch them, wondering if they were real, but she had to stop when the door to her room suddenly came open.

The sudden noise startled her and she flinched ever so slightly, turning around to meet Owen standing at the door, a look of surprise on his face.

Seeing him, made her body feel like it had just truly woken up. She smiled weakly at him. "Hey Owen."

"L-Leonica," He stammered, slowly entering the room with a look of both disbelief and relief. "You're awake."

"Yes. Did-" Before she could complete her words, Owen had rushed at her, throwing his arms around her, pulling her into a hug, his action making the smile on her lips grow more.

"Did I worry you?" She asked, raising her hand to gently Pat his back.

"No," He whispered and pulled her closer, almost as if he was having a hard time believing what was happening right now wasn't reality.

And it was just that. After a whole year of waiting and praying that Leonica would wake up, Owen's expectation for seeing her awake today of all days had dwindled, yet here she was, awake, and talking, and smiling and hugging him, and Owen could not have felt happier. "You scared me." He said and Leonica sighed.

"I'm sorry."

He pulled away from the hug and placed his hands on her shoulders. "How are you feeling?"

Leonica thought about her answer for a few seconds before she answered. "Refreshed. It feels like I've gotten the sleep I actually needed." After saying this, she proceeded to ask. "How long was I asleep for?"

Owen hesitated to answer, his lips drawing thin lines as he tried to think of the right words. "A year."

Leonica's eyes widened at his words, and her mouth went agape.

'A year?' She thought. 'I slept for a year?'

That would have explained the amount of snow covering the streets and the number of Christmas decorations that seemed to have filled every corner of her hospital room.

"I slept for a year." She repeated, the words sounding so unreal.

"You did, Luce mia." Owen ran a comforting hand through her hair, she instantly closing her eyes and leaning into his touch.

He chuckled silently, realizing how much he had missed seeing her lean into his touch.

okay?" She asked with her eyes

Your family's

probably missed

went to sleep. I guess the only new things is that Ashley is now in his

her eyes. "How

He visits the hospital, often,

few moments passed with silence. "And Irene? What happened to her?"

in the state she had been in for a year. "She was arrested the day she pushed you into the water. The court has handed down a verdict, and she's currently serving a life sentence for the death of Jamil Vanadas and attempted

silent as she couldn't

Although Irene had tried to kill her, that hatred had streamed from the fact that she wanted to be

would have been accepted, if only she approached

a soft kiss on her forehead, making her eyes flutter open.

won't." She promised, her voice sounding soft and soothing to

could say anything more, the door behind him slid open and

had been carrying in her hand and covered her

believe it. Was the person she was looking at her daughter or was her mind playing

in front of

to her side and threw her arms around her,

squeezing Leonica in her embrace, a hug that she gladly

can't breathe." Cassandra quickly

we've all been? And Ashley, he's so worried, the poor kid. And your father oh,

give

her bag and pulling

and in a matter of minutes, Benjamin along with a figure that was not so tiny anymore, rushed into

for the hug

holding him close, not wanting to let him

familiar feeling of his mother's hold and her voice and her scent and how he had missed

He muttered into her chest after a

"Me too, sweetie."

when Doctor Bailey, along with Kareem,

and Leonica smiled at him. "How are you

ever." She

but just in case, please allow us to carry out a quick blood

nodded in understanding and turned her gaze towards her family. "Is it okay if we have moment,

family and Ashley reluctant at first, all nodded in agreement and excused themselves from the room, leaving Leonica

He gestured at the long hands of the hospital gown she

he quickly drew a bit of her blood, placing it in a container and passing it to Doctor Kareem

turned back to Leonica, who had rolled her sleeves back down. "Let's

11

Dr. Bailey began listing down the result of the

CT scan, and it seems like there is

heads as they listened to all of what Doctor Bailey had to

there's nothing to worry about?" Owen asked,

mommy come

Doctor

woken up

fine despite the

her two days watch

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