“Hard to say,” the doctor replied. “It's up to her at this point. I'll just go now.
She can hear you if she decides to listen. I think talking to her might be her best
hope. Keep trying. Don't give up.”
So, they talked, and talked, and talked, trying to break through, trying to get
her to listen and engage. By the end of the fifth day after the attack, their hope began to fade.
Adrian dragged his son to the guest room and forced him to lie down and rest. Julia remained with her daughter-in-law.
“Katerina,” she said softly, “that's enough, love. You need to come back to us. You need to wake up. Your baby needs you. Your husband needs you. We all
love you. Can't you wake up?”
The girl stirred.
Julia held her breath. How I love this girl. I chose her for my son, and not just because of the danger. I wanted Katerina for myself, to be my daughter, and now, there's a real chance that both she and the baby she's carrying will die.
Lord, why? You took my daughter when she was six. Will you really take this one
too? Must you? Please let her live, let them both live.
Katerina rolled to her side and closed her eyes.
Exhausted, strained to the breaking point, Julia's temper flared. “You selfish
girl. You can't do this. You can't just give up. If you die, your baby dies with you.
Stop this. Wake up and fight to live, Kat. Your life is not over.”
“Mother, stop,” Christopher said from the doorway where he leaned against
the doorjamb.
“I was trying to break through, to wake her up,” Julia said, trying to defend
her harsh words.
“I know,” he replied, “but maybe it's too much to ask. She's been so hurt for
so long. Perhaps she finally reached her limit. Who are we to say she's being selfish? She's already endured more than anyone should have to. It might be asking more than she has to give.”
“Do you want her to 'fade' Christopher?” his mother demanded, fresh anger
flaring.
“Of course not,” he replied, “but I can't choose for her.”
“Do you understand, son, that if she dies, your child dies with her?”
“Yes, Mother. I understand. I would lose them both.” His breath shuddered in
his throat.
“And then we would lose you, wouldn't we, son?”
Christopher didn't answer.
“Damn you, Katerina, wake up.” Julia shook the girl's arm sharply.
“Enough, Mother. Enough. Please, just go.”
Unable to think of anything else to say or do, Julia walked unsteadily down
to the parlor where she cuddled up with her husband and wept.
Christopher crawled into the bed beside Katerina and slid his arm under her, cradling her. He turned her towards him.
With his free hand, he traced the curve of her cheek, the fullness of her lip,
the line of her nose. She's so beautiful, like an angel. I love her with every fiber of my being, and I will lose her. I'm already losing her. How can I live without this woman who warmed my life, my body, and my heart? The future stretched before him, cold and empty.
“Don't go away, love,” he begged her. “Don't go where I can't find you.
