Meeting Destiny (3 page)

“
Lauren, I know you can hear me. Are you cold?” I started shaking uncontrollably. I kept my death grip on his hand but couldn’t form a response.

“
Lauren,” he nearly shouted at me this time, no longer the kind soothing tone, now an urgent angry voice. He reached for the microphone again.

I stopped him with my free hand. “I’m …. not… cold…” pausing at each word through chattering teeth. I felt an extreme case of déjà vu coming on. That’s where I’d seen his eyes! He was in my crazy dream!! “Max, do I look familiar to you?”

His puzzled expression was obvious, “You look familiar to me, but I can’t place from where.” He reached for a blanket and spread it over my shaking body, then leaned back to me, now holding both my hands.

“
I know you.” How do I explain this? It was just a dream; there’s no way it could be real. I couldn’t possibly tell him unless I wanted to end up in a padded cell after they removed the bullet.

He waited a moment for me to tell him how I knew him, then shook his head, “You look a little familiar, but I just moved here.” He was trying to humor me, I could hear it. I didn’t feel his grip on my hands loosen.

Without thinking, I blurted out, “Will you stay with me?”

My heartbeat fluctuated again, and his monitor blared to life. This time he released my hands and grabbed the microphone again. “St Joe, this is Bus 42, twenty-one year old female requires O positive, significant blood loss, irregular heartbeat, one minute out.” Another static filled response that I couldn’t understand and Max replied, “Roger Saint Joe, 42 out.”

He continued to look at the monitors. He had ignored my question. “Max, will you stay with me?” Now he looked down at me with a nervous smile.

“
I won’t be able to stay with you, but I’ll stop by after my shift in the morning and check on you.” I nodded fervently. I could tell he was trying to lighten my mood when he added, “Now obviously if I’m going to go to all the trouble of coming in on my own time to see you, I want you not to bleed out. Calm yourself down, understand?”

What a strange thing to say. Bleed out. Was he serious? I wondered just how much blood had I lost? I wasn’t feeling that strange, but my body was still shaking like crazy. I had attributed it to being so close to him, the man from my dreams who introduced himself as my destiny. Did that really happen? Maybe I
had
lost too much blood.

I felt the warmth from his hands, while mine felt cold and strangely stiff. I knew I had to say something, something that would bring him back to me. I couldn’t be dying, right? Could that dream have really happened? I was not certain of anything of relevance in my life except that this guy Max was supposed to be a part of it. I had never felt more strongly about anything or anyone. I stared into those amazing green eyes, eyes that I had seen in my dreams.

“
Max, I really want you to stay with me. Please don’t go. I’m not sure if you were kidding about the bleeding out thing…I just really need you, here….with me.”

Max squeezed both my hands very hard, leaning only a few inches away from my face, “I won’t leave your side until they take you to surgery. The doctor that’s waiting for you is awesome. He’ll take good care of you. I’ll be back to check on you as soon as I can.” His eyes were so sincere, I could no longer hold back the wave of tears begging to be released. I closed my eyes and held his hands as tight as I could, then realized I couldn’t open my eyes. I wasn’t in the ambulance or strapped to a gurney anymore. I was swimming in a deep sea of black.

The dream that I had tried for years to convince myself was a fairy tale began to replay in my mind while I swam in that black sea. I could hear his voice through my dream
… “I am your destiny…I’m not a figment of your imagination…our physical paths have not yet crossed. They will soon… we chose this life together before we were born. We need, more than anything else in this entire world, to meet and work together so that we both may be complete
….
It is imperative that we meet and join in this life…you must take this seriously…you must seek me out…You must learn and let courage be your guide. It will lead you to me
”….

I don’t know how many times this dream had replayed in my mind, thousands maybe. Each time I experienced the dream I was more aware that it was real. I had finally met my destiny…Max.

Slowly, groggily, I tired of swimming in the black sea. I could see the water lightening just above me. I swam toward the surface of the water, away from the darkness. Just as I was ready to break through the surface of the water and to the air above, I had to shade my eyes from the bright sun. The sun seemed to somehow come more into focus. I pressed my eyes firmly to keep them shut. I could feel the light on me.

My awareness began to intensify, as I realized it was not the sun, but a bright light overhead. I felt someone holding my hand, stroking my knuckles lightly. I squeezed their hand back and the gentle stroking stopped. I opened my eyes abruptly and winced from the lights.

I heard Seth’s voice, full of concern, “Lauren! Lauren! Can you hear me? Are you waking up? Lauren…”

“
I’m awake,” but it came out garbled, more of a mumble than a coherent response.

I heard Seth shout, “Nurse! Nurse, she’s awake!” His shout made me want to cover my ears, but in my grogginess I didn’t have control of my hands.

Barely more than a whisper, but this time with words formed, “Not so loud…what are you doing here?” I’m sure my puzzled expression was a bit insulting, but I wasn’t thinking straight…of course he’s here…but where is here? He called for a nurse, why did he call for a nurse? The awareness of my last few minutes at work flooded over me… I had been shot.

“
It’s okay, the nurse is coming. Are you in pain? Do you want to sit up?...The doctor said you had lost so much blood….” His voice trailed off and was heavy with emotion. He was talking so fast that it was difficult to understand everything he rattled off. I tightened my grip on his hand in a gesture to assure him that I was fine. People get shot all the time. It’s not like the bullet was even close to my heart.

A woman’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “Lauren, how are you feeling? Do you need anything for the pain?” Her tone was thoughtful, and she was waiting for a response, unlike Seth just asking one thing after the other.

She looked to be in her mid-forties with a warm smile. “No, I feel okay. Where am I?”

“
You are in Saint Joseph’s Hospital. You were shot last night about seven by an armed robber. Do you remember?”

Yes, I did remember, and thinking of the man made a shudder grab hold of my body for a second.

“
You came out of surgery several hours ago, but there were complications. Your mother just stepped out to make some phone calls and get some coffee. I’ll call her and let her know you are awake. Can I get you anything?”

My throat was so dry it felt like it was on fire. In a gravelly voice, I simply asked, “Water,” and leaned back on the bed. The nurse pushed a button to incline the bed enough so that I could drink without spilling all over myself. I looked for a clock but didn’t see one. I lifted my left arm but my watch wasn’t there. I looked at Seth, really seeing him for the first time clearly since I had awakened. He was the guy all the girls noticed, piercing ice blue eyes, shortly cropped blonde hair, a lean-toned frame, 6’ 2” and as gentle a man as I’ve ever known. “What time is it?”

“
A little before five a.m.” He seemed so distraught.

I squeezed his hand again, trying to reassure him that I was fine.

“
Lauren, I thought I’d lost you. I got here after you were already in surgery. A nurse took Molly and me to a waiting room. Your heart stopped; more than once they used paddles on you to get your heart going again. The surgeon came to talk to us afterwards. He was so…” the emotion again overwhelming his voice, “doubtful after your surgery…you had lost so much blood, your heart had stopped in the ambulance, and they couldn’t stop the bleeding in your leg, and they couldn’t get enough blood into you. I’ve never been so scared in my whole life…Lauren, I promise I’ll never take you for granted again, never. I love you.”

Seth looked away toward the window as if he had to collect his thoughts before he could go on. Knowing Seth like I do, he was trying to shield me from the pain that was evident on his face. In barely more than a whisper he added, “Thanks for not leaving me.”

I found myself patting Seth’s back, telling him I was fine, not to worry. His emotion was powerful and his pain overwhelmed me. We had been close to each other our whole lives, but I’d never known until this moment just what I meant to him. It was thrilling to know that he cared so deeply for me. He had told me he loved me millions of times, but never like that, never so convincingly.

“
I love you too, Seth. I promise I’m fine.” I cast a reassuring smile, and he took my face in both his hands. His salty tears dripped on my neck.

“
When your heart stopped the second time tonight, I was sure my life was over…you gave me my life back. You will never know how much you mean to me, but I’ll spend every day for the rest of my life showing you.”

With this newest profession of his unending love, I was nearly swept away in the moment. I had seen love stories in movies, but none with the passion concentrated through his eyes in this moment. He gently kissed my ear and nuzzled my neck. Though we have been inseparable since birth, I’ve never felt any real passion for him. His words to me were like water to someone dehydrated. I needed them, and they made my whole body tingly. For the first time in my life, I felt like my love for Seth had the chance of becoming physical. As this epiphany began to take hold, my mother appeared at the door.

“
Lauren, I’m so glad you’re awake. How’re you feeling?” Seth didn’t release my hand or move even a fraction of an inch away from me. This was uncomfortable. My mom had never seen any more affection between Seth and me than holding hands. I kissed his forehead as if to cue him to ease up in front of my mom. He took the hint.

“
Okay, a little groggy, but okay.”

“
The doctor says you need your rest. Seth and I will take turns staying with you so you aren’t alone. I saw the doctor in the hallway; he’ll be in to see you in a minute. Can I get you anything?”

I shook my head.

“
If you need anything, just tell us.” My mom was so used to my independence. I rarely asked for help even if it was obvious that I needed it.

“
I’m fine and, yes, if I need anything, I’ll ask. I am a little tired, though.”

“
Well, I’m sure that’s normal, and you do need your rest. I’ll go find the doctor so he can take a peek and you can go back to sleep.” She hurried out the door and reappeared quickly with a very short man wearing green hospital scrubs. He smiled as he made it through the doorway and walked toward me.

In a booming voice, “Well, you’re not looking so bad for dying so many times. Glad to see you are a fighter.” The doctor looked at my mom and Seth, “If you two wouldn’t mind stepping into the waiting room, I need to examine Lauren. It should only take a few minutes.”

My mom winced in silence and the doctor quickly picked up on her apprehension. “I’m sorry, I need to check her stitches and the nurse will need to change her bandages. It would be better if, for the first few exams, the family remain in the hallway. I promise she’ll be in good hands.” My mother and Seth both nodded their understanding and stepped out in silence.

The doctor turned his attention back to me, “I’m Doctor Gracie. You sure kept us on our toes last night. You lost at least two quarts of blood before you got here. When we hooked you up, you were bleeding faster than we could pump back in.”

He checked my eyes, listened to my chest, checked my pulse, etc. After a few minutes he smiled, “Your vitals are very good, so barring any big surprises, you’re going to be out of here in no time.”

“
What exactly is no time?” I’m not a big fan of hospitals.

“
Assuming no complications arise, I would say the day after tomorrow you should be sleeping in your own bed.”

“
So I can go home in two days?”

“
Assuming everything continues as well as you are now, you bet. By the way, Max has called me three times checking on you. I’m glad I’ll finally be able to give him a good report. How do you two know each other anyway?”

I paused for a moment trying to understand the question, trying to place Max…a few seconds passed, then it all came back to me. What was the right response to this question? Max had called several times to see if I was okay?