Chapter Seven

14 days, 15 hours, 37 minutes

Jax could swear Gretchen’s foot moved. She blinked and rubbed her eyes. This wouldn’t be the first time her mind was playing tricks. During the first week, she had seen various parts of Gretchen shift, only to be disappointed.

Jax stared intently. She’d give herself the same fifteen seconds of hope she always did, and then laugh at herself. Fifteen seconds and another bubble burst.

Jax went back to her chair, but she turned around when she heard the sound of her candy bar hitting the floor. She picked it up and put it back on the bed, jumping when Gretchen’s foot moved toward her hand. “Oh my God.” Jax looked around frantically. She dropped her chocolate and ran for the door. “Hey!” she shouted. “Hey, I need someone! Hello?”

Amanda almost collided with Jax. “She’s moving.”

“Her foot moved,” she said at the same time. Jax shook her head, not fully understanding what was happening.

“Dr. Melendez is on her way. Gretchen’s fingers twitched a minute after you left, and I went to get her.” Amanda spoke so quickly and with tears in her eyes. “I can’t believe this.”

“I didn’t expect…not so soon.” Jax walked back into the room and stood beside Amanda next to Gretchen’s bed. They both hovered over her, watching for more.

Gretchen’s eyes shifted behind her eyelids, and ever so slowly, one eye started to peek open. Amanda stepped back with an elated smile. Gretchen opened her eyes just a slit, but it was enough for Jax to look into them. The corner of Gretchen’s mouth turned up very slightly.

Jax’s heart started to pound.

“I hear we have some action in here,” Dr. Melendez said as she rushed into the room. She scanned Gretchen’s monitors and grabbed a penlight from the pocket of her navy-blue scrubs. “Gretchen? Are you with us, Gretchen?” She pulled back Gretchen’s eyelids for a quick check of her pupils. She adjusted Gretchen’s bed to bring it upright a bit. “Gretchen, my name is Dr. Paula Melendez. If you can hear me, give me a nod or squeeze my fingers.” She placed her hand into Gretchen’s palm. Gretchen squeezed.

Jax let out a heavy sigh of relief and brought her clasped hands up to her mouth. She couldn’t believe the weak nod Gretchen offered Dr. Melendez.

“You had an accident and are in the hospital. Do you remember what happened?” The monitors started to go crazy. “It’s okay, it’s okay,” Dr. Melendez soothed. “If you’re tired, just go back to sleep.” She placed her hand on Gretchen’s shoulder and looked back at a nurse. “Her heart rate is rising.”

“What’s going on?” Jax tried to step closer but another nurse entered the room and blocked her. Jax overheard Dr. Melendez direct a nurse to give Gretchen a sedative. “What are you doing? I thought the goal was to have her wake up.”

“And she did. She responded and reacted to me. These are very good things.” Dr. Melendez’s face did not reflect the positivity of her words.