SWNOVELS Chapter Chapter Thirty: Vulnerabilities
Chapter Thirty: Vulnerabilities
Days had turned into months. During those times, Maximillian Bismarck fell into this constant routine: a few hours of work, then straight to the hospital, then back to work, and so on, and so forth.
Hyacinth’s condition slightly improved these past few months. The doctor had said that Hyacinth could hear and understand what was going on in her surroundings. The heart rate monitor beside her is proof of that. One time, he had read her a story and when he reached a hilarious part of the book, the heart rate monitor suddenly beeped faster.
That was the first time that a smile finally beamed on his face after the accident. Erin and Maine, too, shared the same enthusiasm. The young women began to search for jokes on the internet and read them out loud. Even the attending physician was happy with the reaction from the patient. It is a sign that Hyacinth might wake up sooner than expected, now that brain activity is evident.
A few months have passed and Hyacinth is now in her last trimester and the bump on her stomach grew into a ball. Her Ob-Sonologist has said that the baby is in perfect health regardless of Hyacinth’s current condition. Of course, Maximillian knew that the baby will be fine. Erin’s physical form in the present is proof that Hyacinth and the unborn baby will be okay.
“My love, aren’t you tired of lying down? I’d clear my schedule for a whole month if that’s what you want. We can finally plan our honeymoon. I know it was long overdue.”
The monitor beeped slightly faster than before. That encouraged Max to keep talking.
“Chef Goodman misses you. He said he loved your appetite. There’s this A5 Wagyu with a high marbling score, and I think it’s from the country in the Orient Continent?” He gripped her fingers gently. “He reserved it for you, love. But the thing is, the steak might go bad if you stay here for long.”
Her fingers moved like a pulse in his hands. Max flinched.
Good god. Hyacinth just moved!
His heart rammed against his ribcage as he reached for his wife’s face. “Hyacinth? Are you finally awake, love?”
And then her eyes fluttered open.
Tears welled from his eyes. Max’s trembling hands grasped Hyacinth’s hand and carefully lifted it against his cheek. “Hyacinth...”
The sudden happiness and relief had hurt too much that he sobbed. He felt so vulnerable right now that he might shrink from embarrassment if someone suddenly enters the room.
Her irises moved around its lids as she surveyed the place. Those gray eyes...oh, how he missed looking at them.
Max chuckled as he wiped the unwanted moisture from his eyes. There’s this urge deep within him to crush her into his arms and kiss her until her lips are swollen but he rejected the idea. She clearly doesn’t have the energy for that. For all he knew, his wife might be in shock right now.
Hyacinth just stared at him without expression. It is as if she’s trying to recall something. The look she gave him is similar to that of a child’s gaze when they just stumbled upon something strange.
No... Did she...?
The attending physician entered the room with the resident neurologist that had been monitoring Hyacinth these past few months. The doctors had asked him to leave so that they can thoroughly examine the patient. Max nodded and slowly backed away, his eyes never leaving Hyacinth’s form as he strode towards the door.
.
.
.
ERIN, MAINE, Jean, and Max gathered together outside of the hospital room to hear the doctor’s diagnosis of Hyacinth’s condition.
“The patient’s senses are excellent but I’m afraid that her brain injury caused her to stutter. This is quite common for comatose patients, Mr. Bismarck. As I said last time, the human brain is the most complicated and unpredictable. We can’t promise you anything other than the fact that Mrs. Bismarck is in excellent health. She could sit on her own and move her limbs. She could also comprehend dialogues well. Though, we need to survey her condition for a month to determine if her brain and her motor functions are really in excellent condition before sending her home.”
“Did she remember us? She didn’t suffer from any memory loss?”
The doctors exchanged dome anxious glances with each other before facing him. “About that, Mr. Bismarck. Your wife had a hard time recalling some events without pausing for a few minutes to dig the information out. She answered every question we asked except... except the questions regarding you. It seemed to agitate her so we didn’t impose further.”
Erin and Maine gently clung onto both of his arms and soothed him as they immediately saw the gloom on his face after the doctors relayed the information.
“I think we’ve heard enough for today.” He extended his hand. “Thank you for ensuring that my wife will get the best care.”
The attending physician shook his hand. “You’re welcome, Mr. Bismarck.”
Max saw his sister’s reassuring smile on his peripherals. “Should we go inside?”
He gulped. “You guys should go in first. I might upset her.”
“Dad, I think Mom knew that you took care of her for the past six months. She could hear you when she was in a coma, right? She had heard us.”
His gaze softened at his daughter’s comforting words. “Of course, she did, but we fought the last time we talked. I think I’ll allow her a few days of rest before I talk to her.”
Jean crossed her arms on her chest, her round belly tremored as she spoke. “I thought you learned your lesson but clearly, you’re still dumb.”
His brows frowned. Jean had never talked to him this way before.
“Hyacinth will be fine. The two of you needed to talk.” Although Jean is condescending with how she delivered her words, her expressions were sympathetic and patient. “And tell her everything about your past, Maximillian.”
He inhaled sharply at the suggestion.
Maybe, Jean’s right. He needed to start trusting Hyacinth with his secrets...his fears...his vulnerability.