Follow the Yellow Brick Road

I became aware of sounds and a steady beeping.  When I opened my eyes things were a bit fuzzy.  After a minute or two I realized that I was back in the hospital, hooked up to machines, and looking down at me was that same nurse from several weeks ago when everything in my life died, Nurse Dotson.

“Hey, you’re awake.  You gave us quite a scare.”

I said nothing.  In fact, at this moment my despair was at an even lower point.  My heart was broken and I had no desire to continue with the lie of a life I was now being forced to live.  Nothing made sense and I could not find Keith, Loni or Craig.  But here I am, still among the living. 

After Nurse Dotson shined lights in my eyes and checked all my vitals she cheerily smiled real big and gave me a wink. “Let me get your husband.  He’s standing right outside.  He has been so worried.  We couldn’t even get him to take some time away from the hospital.”

“He’s not my husband, I said.  I don’t want you to let him in.  I just want to be left alone.”

Tears began to run down my cheeks.  Nurse Dotson looked into my eyes and said, “It’s going to be OK.  He really needs to see you and you really need to see him.”  I couldn’t even look at her at this point and the tears just kept coming. 

Outside of my door, I could hear a voice.  A familiar voice with a very urgent tone.  A man was saying, “I am going into that room and there is nothing you can do to stop me.”  Just then the door swung open and there was the face of my husband, Keith.  I blinked several times through my tears and began to cry harder than I have ever cried in my life.  He grabbed me and hugged me tight against him.  There was the faint smell of my favorite cologne coming off his skin.  I held onto him as if he might disappear from my sight if I let go.  But I needed to see his face.  Was it really him?”

Keith looked into my eyes very seriously and said, “I thought you would never return to me.”

“Where were you?  I have looked and looked for you and couldn’t find you.”

“What do you mean you have looked?  You have been right here in the hospital for a week unconscious and I never left your side.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You were in a car accident.  Do you remember anything?”

 I thought about that for a minute.  My mind was a complete jumble. 

Dr. DeMonte arrived in the room to see that I was awake and coherent.  He asked Keith to step out into the hall so he could do a bit more examination of my return to the land of the living.  “NO!” I screamed.  Tears began to fall from my eyes again.  “He cannot leave this room.  I will not let you take him from this room.”  Keith took my hand and said, “I’m not leaving doctor.  Run whatever tests you need to, but I’m not leaving.”

After Dr. DeMonte did his preliminary exam, he noted that I appeared to be OK and that they would run a few more tests the following day.  He was very pleased that I was back.  I was very pleased that I was back.  He concluded that he would be back to check on me in the morning.

Keith flashed that big beautiful smile and said, “Are you ready for more visitors?  The kids are out in the hall.”

“Loni & Craig?  They’re here?”

“Yes, they are here, and I don’t think I can keep Loni out much longer.”

The door opened and there they were, my kids.  We all visited for a bit and then the nurse came in to shoo everyone out, except Keith.  He climbed into the bed with me and held my hand.

”Ok, so tell me about this looking for me business.”

“Maybe someday I will.  I can’t relive it right now.  You tell me how I got here.”

“Well, that I can do.  You know how you are always telling me that someday one of those big semi-trucks is going to run a red light at Commerce and Veterans and there’s going to be a terrible crash?”

And then I remembered!  Out of the corner of my eye was one of those big 18 wheelers running at full speed blowing through the red light.  One car had already entered the intersection and I was pulling out as well.  The semi hit that car first and then it veered into me.

“Yes. Keith replied.  Right into you.  There was nothing left of your car and they had to use the Jaws of Life to get you out.  Loni called me because she was talking to you on the car phone and heard an awful noise and then you didn’t respond.  When I looked on my 360 app to see where you were, you were at that intersection.  I just felt something was terribly wrong, so I jumped in my car and raced to the scene.   The air ambulance landed in the middle of the intersection and they took you straight to OU Medical from there.  Hon, it’s a miracle you survived.”

“I had to survive.  We have an agreement remember.  We go together.”

“Yes, we go together.”

Two days later Dr. DeMonte had run all the tests he could run, and he signed my release papers.  Keith and I waited on someone to bring a wheelchair to take me to the front entrance.  The door opened and there was Nurse Jim with his big smile.

“Let’s go missy.  I think you need to get out of here and get home.”

“Yes Jim, that’s exactly what I need to do.  As they say in the movies, there’s no place like home.”