Abandoned

Chapter 48

"What?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows as well.

"I think that I am hallucinating." he repeated. "I just imagined that she squeezed my hand."

My eyes widened.

I took a sharp breath and looked down at her. I grabbed her face and turned her head toward me.

"Madeline!" I exclaimed.

I could swear that I saw her eyes flutter.

"Oh, my God!" I shouted. "Maddie! Wake up!"

Milo gasped loudly. He finally realized that he wasn’t hallucinating. He tried to move my hands from her face, but I wouldn't let him.

"Come on, Maddie, open your eyes." I said.

Milo sobbed. "Maddie, love, please."

This time I was sure that her eyeballs fluttered. She let out a small groan. Milo sobbed loudly. I took a deep breath and tried to hold back my tears.

"Come on, Mads." I said. "Open your eyes. It’s me. It’s Max."

She furrowed her eyebrows a little and squeezed her eyes shut.

My heart was hammering in my chest.

Milo kept kissing the top of her head. He was sobbing uncontrollably.

She opened her eyes a little.

"Oh, God, Maddie." I cried out as I leaned my forehead on hers.

She was awake. She was finally awake.

She groaned, making me lift my head and look at her. She was looking at me through her half-opened eyes.

"Hey, love." Milo cried out as he kissed her forehead. "Oh, my God, I missed you so fucking much."

Maddie tried to turn her head toward him. I moved my hand so she could.

"Milo?" she mumbled, making him sob even harder.

"Yes, love." he said as he leaned in and kissed her cheek. "It’s me. You are okay. Everything is okay now."

Maddie glanced at me, and I smiled through my tears.

"What happened?" she asked quietly.

Her voice was raspy and broken. She probably needed some water.

"You don’t remember?" I asked her softly.

She shook her head.

"You got hurt, love." I said softly. "You were in a coma for three weeks."

Her eyes widened a little.

I leaned in and kissed her cheek. I was so scared to look away from her. I was scared that I was imagining this. I was scared that I would blink and her eyes would be closed again.

"Max?" Sam called me, making me turn around.

He was standing by the bathroom door, zipping up his hoodie. I didn’t even hear the bathroom door opening. He still hadn’t looked up, so he still hadn’t seen Maddie.

"Can you please call Ryan?" he said as he finally lifted his head. "I need…"

He gasped. His eyes widened.

"Madeline!" he shouted as he ran toward the bed. "Oh, my God, hi baby!"

I moved a little so he could approach her. He was sobbing loudly as he pulled her into a gentle hug.

"Oh, my baby." he cried out. "You woke up. You are okay."

Maddie looked at me, making me smile.

"Was I really asleep for three weeks?" she asked, making Sam sob again.

"Oh, I missed your voice." Sam said as he lifted his head and cupped her cheeks. "I missed you."

She gave him a small smile, and Sam kissed her cheek. He looked up at the machines around her and smiled a little. That had to be a good thing, right?

"Now we really need to call Ryan." he said, looking at Milo and me.

I nodded and pulled the phone out of my pocket. I was just about to press the dial when the door opened and Ryan stepped inside.

"Hi, guy…" he spoke, but stopped when his eyes fell on Maddie.

His eyes widened, and he froze.

"Hi, Ryan." Maddie spoke softly.

Ryan gasped. I saw him tighten his hold on the doorknob.

"Am I dreaming?" Ryan mumbled, keeping his eyes on her.

"No." I said. "She is really awake."

Maddie reached out for him, making him sob and rush to her.

"Oh, Addie." he cried out as he pulled her into his arms. "Oh, my baby. I missed you. I was so scared."

I approached Milo and placed my hands on his shoulders. He looked up at me. I wiped the tears from his cheeks.

"She is okay." I whispered to him. "I told you that she would be okay."

He smiled through his tears. Maddie tugged on his hand, making us both look at her.

"Can you hug me?" she asked as she reached for us.

She didn’t have to ask twice.