Coma, Betrayal, and Broken Hearts

was smaller, the paint was peeling in one corner, and the rhythmic beeping was from a machine shared by the patient in the next bed, separated

e ten lost years. I stared at my hands, at the loose skin and the unfamiliar w

d. "Can you call my

utral. "We have a contact number for her

ve me th

d the number I still knew by heart. It rang three

iller's

nson. I need to s

rry, Ms. Miller is in a very important

aid, my voice cracking. "

becomes available," the assistant said

be disturbed. For her husband, who had been gone f

ch, but the way she looked at me, with such profound pity, said everything. It was the look you give s

if letting a secret slip. "She comes to visit every

ister at first. Then

?" I asked, m

er mistake. "Oh, I..

grabbing her arm gently. "Wh

care, Mr. Johnson. The long-term fac

nd parties, was paying my medical bills? How? The successful CEO Sarah Mi

r, the curtain w

as L

aunt, with dark circles under her eyes, but when she saw I was awake, her expression tra

, her voice breaking

scent of her hair. She felt so fragile, so thin. This wasn't the healthy, happy child

ng time, both of us crying. It w

k, wiping her eyes guiltily. "I'm

o go?" I asked, not

er eyes darting away for a split second

only the street corner, the rickety table, and the thu

e last time. "I'll be b

, at the thin blanket covering my useless legs, and I was consumed by a tidal wave of guilt and rage. My daugh

lie here. I had to get better. I had to

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