Chapter 13

I must be in another world I can hear things around me, but I can’t move or open my eyes. I hear machines beeping and some people talking, but I don’t know where I am. “How is he doing doc?” Someone says I don’t recognize the voice. Should I recognize it? Something deep inside me says I should but I can’t picture a name to the voice. My head is so foggy I couldn’t tell you what day it is, even if you asked me.

“He’s recovering well from the surgery Coach Nixon.” Nixon? Why does that name sound and feel familiar? But where from? I don’t know. “He suffered severe head trauma, a punctured lung, fractured ribs, broken arm and leg, as well as internal bleeding. We managed to stop the bleeding, repair the breaks in his arm and leg, and stitch up the wound on his head. He does however have some swelling on the brain so we have put him in an induced coma to help with reducing the swelling, and we will run a CT scan in the next few days to monitor the swelling.” Holy shit. Whoever this doc person is talking about is fucking lucky to be alive. “Until his family arrives, I can’t tell you much more coach, I’m sorry,” then everything goes dark once again.

“The good news is Mrs. Davenport the swelling to the brain has come down to where we are satisfied to slowly bring him out of his coma. It’s still very early days but all signs are looking positive, his brain waves are responding to where we would hope them to be, and his ribs are looking good and so is his arm and leg.” That must be the doctor again. But how long have I been out for? Did he also say Mrs. Davenport? My mom is here? Does that mean whoever that Coach Nixon was talking about is me? Am I the one in the coma? There are so many questions, and I have no way of getting them answered.

“Thank you, so much Doctor Mathis. For everything. How long after you bring him out of his coma will he finally wake up?” My mom asks the doctor with a mixture of hope and worrisome in her voice.

“We both are worried about our son Doctor Mathis; he’s been away from home long enough. He’s done so many amazing things in his riding, I think with this accident that could possibly be the end of his competitive career.” That sounds like my dad.

“Unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Davenport in all my years in the medical field no two head injuries are the same and the brain works and heals in its own way. When we bring him out of his coma it is all down to him on when he wakes up and how he takes to his injuries. Everything is looking promising so that’s all we can go off and hope for the best. I will get someone to come in soon to make a start on slowly bringing him around for you.”

“Thank you, Doc,” I hear my dad say with a door shutting shortly afterward. “We better update the Lockwoods on what the doctor just said, Chase and Nancy have messaged me every day for an update.” The Lockwoods? Jen? He said Chase and Nancy, her brother and mom will they be ... Wait? Why isn’t she here? Why is she not at my bedside? Does she not love me enough to be here in my time of need like I would for her? I better wake the fuck up soon this not being able to move or get my questions answered is pissing me off and not surprisingly hurting my head. Just as I feel things going black around me, she is the last face I can see in my mind. My Jen. The true honest love of my life. The future Lady of the dirt track. I just need to see her; I have to see her.

I can feel the bright lights behind my closed eyes, I try and move to finally be able to move one of my arms. If I can do that, could I possibly be able to open my eyes? Slowly they flutter open, and I had to shut them quickly again. The room was too bright. I tried again a little slower my eyes adjusted to the lighting and my surroundings. I see six different faces around me but only two I recognize and that’s my parents. Two of them are dressed in a white coat and scrubs so they must be the doctor and nurse. The other two people I don’t recognize at all. It’s an older man close to my dad’s age guessing, and the other is a gorgeous woman who looks my age if not maybe a little bit younger. Who are they and why are they here?

The woman walks to sit on the bed next to me and taking hold of my non-casted hand. “Oh, Greg baby thank goodness you’re awake. You scared the life out of me.” She leans in and kisses me on the lips, and I am so confused. A woman who looks like that kissing me shouldn’t I feel something? Even a hint of an attraction? But I felt nothing.

I push her back as soon as she kissed me, “I’m sorry you must have the wrong person, I have a girlfriend plus I don't know you,” I tell her as calmly as I can muster.

“What do you mean you don’t know me? I’m Andrea I am your girlfriend, Greg. We’ve been dating for a little over two years now. Hang on a minute who do you think your girlfriend is?” Well, at least now I have a name for this crazy chick who thinks she's, my girl.

“My girlfriend is Jennifer Lockwood,” I look around the room and I don’t see her. Where is she? Is she in the hospital? She will put this Andrea in her place. I turn to look at my parents and ask them “Where’s Jen?”