by Cameo Renae
I nodded and followed the nurse beyond the doors. I was shaking, not knowing what condition I’d find him in. I knew it would be bad, as I’d witnessed the accident in my nightmares.
“Here we are,” the nurse said standing in front of room 11. “He’s sedated, but in and out of consciousness. He’ll be going into surgery in under an hour.”
“Surgery?”
“Yes. For the tumor in the back of his brain. The surgery had been scheduled for later this month, but considering the condition he’s in, we’ve bumped it up to today.”
I stared blankly at the nurse, dumbfounded.
“You know the tumor, the one that’s been causing his seizures?” Her eyes saddened. “He didn’t tell you?”
I shook my head, and hot tears flowed down my face. She sighed loudly, then placed her hand on my shoulder. “He’s dying, sweetheart. The surgery is risky, and there is a fifty-fifty shot he won’t come out of it.”
My world was spinning. Was it possible I could lose someone I cared so much about, again? What had I done to deserve all of this pain?
I swallowed a huge lump in my throat and slowly stepped into the room. Mason was attached to dozens of wires and monitors, which were connected to a machine steadily beeping. His head was wrapped, and an IV stuck out from his arm.
“Is he in any pain?” I asked.
“Not at the moment.”
“But before this…before the accident. Was he in pain?”
“I can only assume he experienced pain from time to time. I don’t know the extent of it, though,” she exhaled. “He had a seizure while he was driving and crashed into a tree. A passerby saw his vehicle and called an ambulance.” She laid her hand on my shoulder. “You must be someone special. Your name is the only word he’s spoken since he was brought in.”
“We’re friends,” I explained.
“Sure,” she said, with a rueful grin. “You can stay here until they take him into surgery. I’m just starting my shift, so I’ll make sure everyone knows you’re allowed.”
“Thank you so much,” I said. “It really means the world to me.”
“I’ll be in to check his vitals in a bit.”
“All right.”
My legs were weak, and my breath heavy as I walked over and took a seat next to Mason. He was still, his chest rising and falling so peacefully. I reached over and took hold of his hand.
I should have seen it before. I should have put the pieces of the puzzle together. But I was blinded by my feelings for him.
I sat for almost thirty minutes, watching him, holding his hand, when he finally stirred. His eyes were closed, but he squeezed my hand.
“Lizzy,” he moaned.
I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I’m here, Mason.”
His eyes fluttered open, but they were heavy with sedation.
“Lizzy?” he breathed again. The lines of his brow were deep as he tried to focus on me.
“I’m here.”
“Am I dead?”
“No, I’m afraid you’re still alive.”
His eyes blinked a few times, his hand lifted to my face, and gently brushed his weak fingers against my cheek. “I’m not dreaming?”
“No,” I breathed.
“I thought you left.”
“I was at the airport, getting ready to fly. But Emily called and said you were in an accident.” My voice quivered. “Remember that recurring nightmare I told you about?”
He nodded slightly.
“It was a warning. My mentor told me she thought I was supposed to help the person in my dream. But I failed. For the past month, I’ve been dreaming about you, Mason. But here you are, and I couldn’t save you.”
“No one can save me,” his voice came out in a whisper.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“That I was dying? You went through the pain of losing your first love, and I didn’t want to get too close, and have you feel that loss again.”
“That’s not your choice,” I cried.
“It is my choice.” His face cringed in pain, and there was a beeping sound. The nurse came in and pressed a few buttons.
“Is he okay?” I asked.
“Yes, he just loosened one of the wires,” she replied.
“Okay,” I exhaled. Being here was pulling me apart.
Mason rolled his head toward me. “Remember the first time I saw you? I was in my driveway.”
“Yes,” I said.
“I’d seen you before. In my dreams,” he said.
“What?” How or why would he have dreamt about me?
“I knew you were special from the moment I saw you, but I knew I had to keep my distance, or I’d eventually end up here.”
“Are you in pain?” I asked.
“No,” he answered.
“That’s good,” I said, rubbing my hand over his.
“Do you want to know the last thing on my list?”
I nodded.
He paused and swallowed.
“It was to fall in love.”
I couldn’t contain the emotions bursting inside me. “Mason,” I cried, tears falling down my cheeks.
“I know it sounds crazy, to fall in love so fast, but in the past week, since I’ve met you, I fell hard and fast. You’ve shown me how to laugh and feel again. And you were right. Love is limitless. It breaks down walls and rebuilds. And you, Lizzy,” he looked into my eyes. “You are love. You are my first, and my only.”
I leaned over and kissed his lips, my tears dripping onto his cheek. I couldn’t speak, the moment was too emotional. Inside, my heart was breaking. The hurt was nearly unbearable. My head and heart felt like they would burst with the range of emotions fighting for room in my body.
The nurse came back in and took his vitals, then she turned to me.
“We’re taking him in for surgery. If you want, you can go home, and we can call you. Or you can stay in the waiting room, and we’ll let you know the situation when he comes out.
“I’ll stay,” I said.
“It could be hours,” she added.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“All right, sweetheart. I’ll give you two a few minutes to say goodbye.” She then walked out and left us alone.
“Mason,” my lip quivered, along with the rest of my body. “I’ll be right here when you get back.”
“You gave me the best week of my entire life.”
I bent over, covering him with my upper body. I wanted time to stand still so I could have time to process everything. Meeting his gaze, I grabbed either side of his face, imploring him to hear my words. “You aren’t going to leave me.”
“My list is done,” he said, squeezing my wrist.
My head shook from side to side. “No. Don’t do this. You can’t go. You can’t come into my life, make me fall for you, and leave. I love you. Please fight. Please.” A sob broke from my chest. “I can’t lose you too.”
The nurse came back in with two others.
“I’m sorry, we have to take him now.”
I wept and placed my face on his chest. The sadness that overcame me was overwhelming.
I was cursed. I hated my life. How could God put someone in my life, let me open my heart to him, and take him away from me…again! It was cruel and unfair.
“I’ll be waiting for you,” I said to Mason, trying to be strong. Leaning up, I placed my lips on his one last time.
The nurses bustled around him, and I had to back up to make room.
“Lizzy,” Mason called as they started to wheel him out of the room. They stopped briefly, allowing him the chance to say goodbye. “Believe in second chances.”
When I reached the waiting room, I was in a complete and utter daze. Emily and Tyler were there, and I didn’t have to say a word. Em stood and ran to me, throwing her arms around me. She caught me as I crumbled to the ground.
“It’ll be okay,” she whispered, rocking with me back and forth. “Shh….It’s going to be okay,” she repea
ted over and over, until I had to believe she was right. There was no way God would do this to me, not a second time.
We sat in the waiting room for five, heart-wrenching hours. Every time the door opened, I anticipated an answer. My emotions were completely fried.
Finally, the nurse came to the room.
“Lizzy?” Hearing my name sent fear surging through me.
I stood and stared at her, hoping to see his fate in her facial expression.
“He’s back in the room. For now, he’s stable, but he’s not in the clear yet.”
“Can I see him?”
“I’ll let you see him, but he’s heavily sedated and won’t be able to respond.”
“Go,” Emily said. “We’ll be here.”
Tyler nodded in agreement. He’d just woken up from a nap.
I followed the nurse back, and when I walked into the room, it felt different.
The entire top of Mason’s head was wrapped in bandages. He had wires everywhere. I couldn’t believe it was him. I could barely make out the handsome face who came to the door just earlier today, kissed me, and walked away.
My legs were weighted as I walked toward him. My stomach twisted in tight knots, and I took hold of his limp, cold hand.
“Mason.” I leaned over and whispered into his ear, but he didn’t respond. “You fight. You stay with me.”
I hoped he could hear me. I hoped he knew I was here.
A younger nurse stepped in and checked his vitals.
“How are you holding up?” she asked.
I shrugged, on the verge of tears. I knew if I spoke a word, any word, I’d break.
She smiled and placed her hand on my shoulder. “I know it’s scary to see a loved one in this condition, but he made it through the surgery. We have to count each blessing as it comes.”
I nodded and looked back at him, stroking his hand gently in mine.
We were both helpless.
Two lost souls trying to hold onto hope.
As the nurse checked his IV, one of the machines began beeping loudly. Her eyes went wide and she looked panicked, her face paling. Pressing a red button on the wall, she yelled, “Code Blue! Code Blue!”
“Mason,” I wailed, standing to my feet. The sound of the flatline was like a sword, piercing my soul.
Nurses came charging into the room, pushing me to the back. I was overlooked, huddled in the corner, watching them work as they desperately tried to resuscitate him. My body was trembling, and tears flooded my eyes.
This couldn’t be happening.
Please, God. Don’t take him from me. My heart can’t handle another loss, I pleaded inside.
A bright light left Mason’s body, and slowly traveled upward toward the ceiling.
“No!” I wailed, my hand reaching out to it.
I’d witnessed it once before and knew exactly what was happening. Mason’s spirit was leaving his body. He was dying.
Deep sobs filled the room, and there was nothing I could do but watch, incapable of helping. But then something odd happened.
As I watched his spirit rise, an even brighter light appeared and descended toward his body. As the two lights passed, they paused for a brief moment.
I stood there, frozen, my mouth wide, wondering what the hell was happening.
The second light began to grow and pulse. Right before it connected with Mason’s body, it exploded into it, nearly blinding me.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
The sound of the heart monitor burst back to life.
“He’s back! We have him,” one of the nurses exclaimed.
They all looked relieved, but the next ten minutes were spent stabilizing him. When the room emptied, except for two nurses, his heart was beating steady and strong.
The head nurse saw me standing in the corner and walked over shaking her head.
“I don’t exactly know what happened, but it’s a miracle. He was dead for almost two minutes,” she exhaled.
“It is a miracle,” I said, my entire body still trembling.
“Well, this one will go down in the books. You must know someone in high places.”
I nodded.
I went back to the waiting room and explained to Emily and Tyler what had happened, and told them to go home without me. I couldn’t leave him, knowing he had no family to wake up to, and I didn’t expect them to stick around.
“Lizzy, please call us if you need anything. It doesn’t matter what time it is,” Emily said, hugging me tight.
“Yes, let us know if there’s anything we can do,” Tyler added.
“I will,” I said, looking at them, tearing up again. “Thank you both for being here for me. You don’t know how much it means. You’re the best friends anyone could ever have.”
“We love you, Lizzy,” Emily sobbed.
“And I love you, too.” I was barely holding myself together. “I’ll call you as soon as I know anything.”
After another group hug, I watched my friends leave, then headed back into the room. The steady beeping of the heart monitor was a beautiful song. A song of life, and the promise of a new beginning.
I sat in the chair right next to Mason’s bed, held his hand, and laid my head on his chest. Hearing his heartbeat and feeling his chest rise and fall was magic, and I was blessed to have witnessed it.
I needed him to know that someone who cared for him was here. I wanted to be here when he opened his eyes.
Another nurse walked in and handed me a clear plastic bag.
“Here are his things.”
I smiled and accepted the bag. Once she left the room, I looked inside. There were Mason’s bloodied clothes, shoes, a watch, and his wallet.
His wallet happened to be flipped open, and when I took a closer look at his license…his name made my heart stop.
It couldn’t be.
Mason Michael West.
But how was that possible?
How the heck could he look so much like Michael and share his name?
Was it coincidence, or was someone on the other side orchestrating this entire meeting? The dreams, the party, him looking like Michael, and having his name…it was overwhelming. There were so many questions I wanted to ask, but there was no one living who would be able to answer them.
After what felt like countless hours, the constant of the beeping monitor lulled me to sleep.
It’s bright and warm, and I’m standing in a large white room.
“Hey, you,” Mason says.
I turn to see him wearing a white suit. He looks so handsome, his face is luminous, and his being is glowing.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, confused.
He smiles. “I wanted to say goodbye.”
“What do you mean goodbye? You’re alive. Your heart is beating.” I begin to panic. I need to wake up to alert the nurses.
“Do you believe in second chances, Lizzy?” he asks, taking a step forward.
Why is he asking me this?
I nod. “Yes, I guess I do.”
Mason walks over and takes my hands in his.
“Sometimes, things happen that we can’t explain. This…is one of those moments. I was given a choice, to have a new life without pain, free of sadness and loneliness, and I took it. In return, you were also given a gift. A second chance.”
“What do you mean? I don’t understand?”
“You will understand everything soon enough.” He pulls me into his arms and presses his lips to my forehead. “I love you, Lizzy. I want you to be happy, you deserve this. It’s the best thing I can think of to give you.”
He takes a step back and releases my hands. As he takes another step back, his body dissipates.
“Mason, wait!” I cry out. “Don’t leave!”
Before he disappears completely, he gives me one last wink.
I gasped, waking from my sleep. When I focused my eyes, Mason was awake and looking at me.
“Hey,” I said, blinking furiously. “How are you?” I couldn�
�t put together the pieces of the dream I’d just had, with the reality in front of me.
His hand reached for mine, and I wasn’t sure if he was able to speak.
I looked into his eyes, and they were different. The yellow flecks were gone. In fact, they were a deep, chocolate brown. My heart was racing much faster than the machine, and at that moment, I was glad I was sitting down.
“Liz,” he whispered.
My breath hitched.
Tears rushed from my eyes and fell down my face. Was this a dream? It had to have been. But when I looked into his eyes…I somehow knew.
“Michael?” I breathed, my body trembling.
A crooked grin lifted on his lips, and my insides shattered.
“Is it really you?” I cried between sobs.
I could barely breathe, my head trying to wrap around what was happening.
“It’s me,” he replied.
“How? What? How is this possible?”
His hand reached up and gently wiped away my tears. “We’ve been given a second chance. An opportunity to finish what we started. To have the time that was taken from us.”
“Oh, Michael.” I collapsed on his chest and fisted the blanket around him.
He stroked my hair. “God, I love you, Liz,” he said, his voice soft. “I’ve missed holding you, kissing you, loving you. I’ve been watching over you this whole time. You’ve been so strong.”
“I love you,” I said, pressing my lips against his. They were dry from the surgery, but I didn’t care. He tangled his fingers in my hair and kissed me back. It was a kiss that transcended the realms.
“I can’t believe it’s you,” I wept. “In Mason’s body. This is just…so weird.”
I was still struggling to process it all.
“Liz,” he whispered.
When I looked up, he pressed his hand against my chest and spoke four words that demolished every ounce of doubt.
Four words that would change my life and shape our entire future.
He gazed lovingly into my eyes and breathed, “Forever in my heart.”
EIGHT MONTHS LATER
“You’re so gorgeous.” My mom sniffled, dabbing a tissue under her eyes.
“Mom, don’t. I can’t do this right now.” My voice cracked, trying to hold it together.
