Tessa has Damon take her down to the station to provide them with whatever they need to clear her name.
I follow Scott, trying to prepare myself to see her all beaten and bruised again. It’s etched into my brain and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get it out.
The door begins to open, and he puts something to hold it that way and stands in the hallway. “It stays open.”
The room’s dim, and the only thing I could hear were the machines doing their best to keep her stable. Seeing her like this, hooked up to all kinds of machines, only makes my anger grow. The way I found her, all beaten and bloody, the officers are right. Whoever it is, is targeting her. Why didn’t she tell me? Tell the cops, at least. There’s something she is holding back, and it might just cost her life.
My fingers run through my hair, as I go through all kinds of scenarios in my head. Going back through every conversation we’ve had since our first date, trying to find something that might give me a clue as to what it could have possibly been about,
“So, how long have you two been together?” Scott asks. “Must be a while. You being here and all.”
“Actually, we just had our first date on New Year’s Eve.”
“Wow, she must be a fantastic girl, then. Glad she has someone with her during these times. My mom was a surgeon and always said a support system helped with recovery.”
“Oh, I don’t plan on leaving her side unless you make me,” I respond, looking over my shoulder at him. “You sure there’s no way to let Tessa in here?”
“Yeah, as soon as her fingerprints and alibi are sorted out.”
All I can do is make sure to keep her company, so I slide the chair from across the room next to her bed, to hold her hand.
Please come back to me. I need you.
How could I feel this way after only this short amount of time? It makes no sense logically. My heart knows tragedy, time after time, and I pray that this would not end in more. Not after I finally found the woman of my dreams. How cruel could this world be?
***
It’s been thirteendays and the doctors still appear every hour to monitor her vitals and medication levels. They have pulled her off the medicine inducing the coma and now we are just waiting for her to wake up. The stories of people waking up years later are rare. If God grants a miracle for Harper, I’ll take it. My eyes are crimson and puffy but that’s what anybody would foresee, being at the hospital for the last two weeks.
Tessa has been able to come in and see her, but it took a couple of days for them to verify she was working all day.
The police searched her home for evidence, but the fingerprints found did not match with anyone in their system. The fire left the second bedroom unscathed, but there is still yellow tape surrounding the home.
I did inform the detective about her parents’ homicide and they have taken that into consideration in looking for suspects, but apparently there have been no leads on that case in years.
Her room is filled with vibrant flowers and cards from coworkers. I’m not thrilled with the local news after they played a story on the fire, and now the person responsible will know she’s still alive. What if they decide to complete the job? She’s safe here, but what about when she leaves?
Scott and I are well acquainted now since he’s been defending her door, and kept me updated on their progress finding the individual who did this. Right now, there is none. It forces me to conclude there’s more to this than anybody realizes, and the key everyone needs to solve the case is in Harper’s mind, and we need to be patient until she wakes.
“What is next? I mean, we can’t sit here and wait.” I say, head in my hands. “How does someone not leave any kind of evidence behind in two different crimes? It makes little sense. We are missing something.”
Scott shakes his head. “They’re going through the house a second time, to see if they missed anything.”
It’s been thirteen days. Any evidence is ruined due to the fire or soot left behind.
“How much do you know about Harper? Whoever did this, it’s personal. The detective mentioned her parents’ homicide. They are working to try and get some leads on that case and it might point us to solving this one as well.”
Before this transpired, we had only been dating a little over two weeks. Shivers run down my spine, thinking about what they could bring to light. Everybody has skeletons in their closet, stupid things, but maybe Harper didn’t.
“Excuse me,” Tessa says, shoving past Scott on her way into the room.
The look he gives her, like don’t push it.
“No progress still?” she asks, peering at Harper. “Do they have any idea when she might wake? Should I worry? It’s been a while.”
I wiggle my shoulders. “they said it’s normal. The brain is working to heal. She should wake up on her own when she’s ready. Until then, all we can do is sit and ride it out.”
She doesn’t move, only stares at Harper. “I’m here. I love you.”