~o~
Suzanne linked arms with Ken and marched up the now familiar corridor leading to Emily's room. There was no one to suggest that Ken could not go in with her. As they entered the small room where Emily was being kept alive by the constant pulse of technology, Suzanne noticed that the metal framework, her halo, had been removed. The respirator and all the horrific tubes and wires were still there but Emily looked more like a person again. Suzanne kissed her daughter and started to chat to her as she had now got used to doing. This was the day, the instant, when Emily finally heard her mother's voice through the membrane. The day when she remembered who her mother was. The sound of the words caused a cascade of memories to flood back to her. Emily was desperate to talk back to her mother, but could not. She wanted to give her mother hope, let her know that she was happy, but she could not. All she could do was bask in the warm love flowing through the membrane as her body lay still and pale and unresponsive. She heard her mother talk about letting go, not being ready just yet. About an accident, about her brother Tony that her mother was concerned about. Much of the references where unclear, like coming in late on a half finished conversation. But she had learned a lot about who she was. When her mother said goodbye and left her, Emily had an overwhelming need to tell her stranger what she had discovered.
Rushing back from the membrane and into the cottage, Emily found her stranger tapping away at his laptop keyboard. She sat playfully on the table next to Alexander's computer.
"Guess what, stranger, I've just heard my mother speaking to me, and I'm pretty sure I'm in hospital, I think... in a coma or something of that sort. It seems there was some kind of an accident."
Alexander leaned back in his chair.
"Really, well that does fit with what we know, and it means that maybe you're not a ghost then."
"Well I told you I was no ghost, in the next few days I should learn more about my situation, I feel as if this might start to make sense after all." Alexander looked up from his screen.
"I hope so because I really don't want to be going insane."
"Believe me, stranger, you are no more insane than I am."
"That's what worries me." Alexander added with a soft laugh.
Emily punched his arm playfully. Alexander hardly felt the ephemeral punch but got the message.
"What are you typing?" Emily asked.
"Well I'm trying to write a novel, it's something I've wanted to do for a while. Now I finally have the opportunity."
"That sounds exciting, what's it about?"
"Well to put it simply, it's a love story, it may have a tragic end I don't know yet."
Emily looked into her stranger's eyes.
"I've been watching you... One day when you feel able, will you tell me your story, I feel there's a tragedy of yours in there somewhere."
Alexander smiled at the woman in front of him with a non-committal expression.
"Maybe one day.... Angel... How would you like to help me with my novel?"
"What do you mean exactly, be a sort of ghost writer?." She laughed softly with the voice of an enchantress that filled the room with its magic.
"No, not a ghost writer, but you could be my muse."
Still not anywhere near certain that she was real, Alexander wondered if his mind had created her for just that reason.
"Yes, I will be your muse." Emily said and then slept peacefully, fading from Alexander's view as she closed her eyes.
Comatose Page 20
