Stacy's father had hit her and her mother when she was younger; she swore blind that any man that ever hit her again would pay. Stacy was not the sort of woman to make an empty statement.
With all this running round my head, I was driving on autopilot; driving far too fast for a road that I did not know, too fast for a road that I did know.
From the corner of my eye, I saw it coming...
Three Month's Later...
"I know Mrs Philips it's been three month's, but these things have to be taken very slowly. With these injuries he's lucky he isn't dead." A voice that I did not recognise said.
It was muffled, but I heard what she said. I tried to open my eyes but I could not, I tried to move, but I could not.
I tried to talk, but I could not.
Oh my god! What has happened to me? Where am I?
"Thank you sister. I'm sorry to bother you, but nothing seems to be getting any better." Clare, it was Clare. I recognised her voice.
"Come on Clare darling, you need to come home and rest. It's no good you being worn out when Dave wakes up." Mom, that was my Mom.
Clare said, "Ok Mom, I'll be there in a minute."
I could feel her close; she bent over and gave me a kiss on the forehead. Then she was gone. I was alone.
What was going on, I was confused. I could not work out what had happened. I had guessed I was in hospital after hearing Clare talking to "a sister." But as to why I was here, I had no idea.
When Clare got home, Jane asked if there had been any improvement. Clare just shrugged her shoulders and went to our room, crashing down on the bed she cried herself to sleep, as she had done everyday since the accident.
Jane turned to our mother, "Jennifer, this is doing Clare no good at all, she needs a break."
"I know, I've tried but she refuses point blank. I don't know what to do anymore, our whole world has been turned upside down over the last few months." Our Mom said.
"Sister, I think it is about time that we started reducing Mr Philips sedation, we'll reduce it in stages over the next thirty six hours. Please ensure that we closely monitor his vital signs, if there are any complications beep me." The consultant that was looking after me was amazed that I had survived, although he never said so in public.
Clare woke and spread her arm across to my side if the bed, finding it empty again her heart sank as the realisation of what had happened returned her to reality. As she entered the kitchen, our Mother looked up from her newspaper.
"Morning Clare, how did you sleep?" She asked.
"How do you think? Like I've slept every night since the accident, very little." Clare sadly responded.
"I'm worried about you Clare; you need to take it easy. Stay at home today; you need the rest. The hospital will call if there is any change." Mom pleaded.
Clare was exhausted; she had spent all day every day at my side in the hospital, not daring to leave my side in case of any change.
"Ok Mom, I guess I do feel rather tired. I think I'll go back to bed see if I can catch some sleep." Clare said.
"I promise I'll wake you if there is any news." Mom said.
I opened my eyes, I could see! But not focus on anything, I tried to call out but I still could not talk. I was suddenly aware of acute pain in my head.
I became aware of the noise around me, machines bleeping and the general noises related to a hospital ward. I could feel that I was gradually regaining my sight, although movement or talk seamed beyond me.
48 Hrs Later...
"Dave is responding well, we have stopped the sedative and he will come round gradually over the next few hours." The sister told Clare, I could hear them very clearly.
I opened my eyes, I could see, more than that, I could see clearly.
"Sister! He's opened his eyes." Clare screamed, I could feel her grab my hand and squeeze it tightly.
I managed to squeeze her back very weakly.
"Oh my god, he's grasped my hand!" Clare was nearly hysterical with excitement.
"Mrs Philips, please do not build too much hope, it could just be reflex action as the sedative wears off, and we need to wait for a few more hours before we can be sure he's past the worse."
Like hell! I wasn't having that; I gripped Clare's hand and held it is tight as I could muster. With all my strength I tried to move my head to look at Clare, I only managed a very small movement, but it was enough. I could see her, still as beautiful as I remembered but looking very tired.
"No look, he moved his head, and you should feel the grip he has on my hand." Clare was pleading with the sister to get the consultant to look at me.
"Ok, I'll page Mr Sissons and ask him to take a look." The sister replied.
"Dave, take it easy, you had an accident; you crashed the car. Try not to do too much just yet, the consultant will come and check you out." Clare was sounding a lot happier.
Accident? Crashed the car, I didn't remember anything. I felt exhausted; I fell asleep.
"Mr Sisson's, I think Mr Philips is showing a good amount of response, when Mrs Philips held his hand he held her quite tightly, also moving his head a little when he heard her speak." The sister said to the consultant.
"Ok, let's try him breathing on his own; please have the team ready in case he can't manage it himself. We will need to keep a close eye on his vital signs for the first couple of hours, any signs of distress and we'll have to put him back on ventilation."
"Yes sir, I'll keep an eye on him myself, I want to keep an eye on his wife, she's completely exhausted but she will not leave now." The sister responded.
"Very well Sister, Would you like me to speak to Mrs Philips, see if I can persuade her to take a break?" Mr Sissons asked
"You could try Sir, but I doubt you'll succeed." The sister replied.
I awoke suddenly, it felt like someone was trying to choke me, I opened my eyes and could see some sort of tube. Then I realised it was being taken out, that is why I cannot speak I thought to myself. It suddenly felt very strange, not having the tube in, and quite painful.
"Take it easy Mr Philips, just relax you'll be fine." The sister said, "Nurse, could you let Mrs Philips know she can come back in now if she wants."
"Yes Sister." A voice answered.
I felt a hand take mine, I turned my head, it was Clare! I managed a very weak smile; I thought Clare was going to cry.
"You Bastard! Don't you ever do that to me again." Clare cried, "I thought I'd lost you as soon as I got you. It has been a very long three months Dave. I don't care how long it takes now that you are back with me." I could feel Clare rest her head on my hand.
"Clare." I heard this croaking voice, realising it was me. "Clare, I love you." I managed at not much more than a whisper.
"Mr Philips, please try and rest, you're still a very weak man." The sister wanted me to get some rest, but I wanted to carry on watching Clare. In the end, I only managed to stay awake for a couple of minutes before falling asleep again.
"Mom he's awake, he spoke to me and he held my hand." Clare broke down in tears as she finished telling our Mother the news, as did my Mother. Jane took the phone from her sister but Clare had hung up.
She brought my Mom to the hospital, when they arrived Clare had been put in a side room and given some sedation to allow her to get the rest she badly needed.
"Hey Jennifer, he looks a lot better, some colour coming back to him." Jane said to my Mother.
"Thank god. Jane I could not cope with losing Dave, it was bad enough when his Father died. It would have been like losing both children, because I have no doubt it would have destroyed Clare." My Mother said.
They both sat next to my bed, I could hear them talking, and without thinking about it I reached out and held my Mom's hand. She nearly jumped out of her skin when I grabbed her, but it made her feel a lot better to finally see some response from me.
I opened my eyes and turned to see my Aunt and my Mother sat next to me, "What happened to me Mom?" I asked.