Note from Slickman: As requested here is Coma III. Someone wrote that I need to stick to my own storyline so that’s what I did. Thanks to all of you for your wonderful feedback. All characters in this story at least 18 years old. Make sure you are too before proceeding. If you haven’t read Coma I or II you should do so first.
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20 Seconds remained on the clock. James Buchanan stadium was full of screaming fans as they watched the final seconds tick away on the second overtime. Coach Jennie McCormack gathered her team together as the medical team helped a limping player off the field. The game was full of yellow cards and warnings to both teams. These two teams had split their regular series which showed the only losses on each team’s record. This game was for all the marbles.
Amanda Sperry was holding her best friend Samantha’s hand as they listened to Coach Mac give out the final instructions. The Gladiators had a corner kick in the sudden death’s final ticks.
“Amanda.” Jennie said looking over at her all-state striker. “I’ve seen you and Sam working on that corner kick play for two years now. Don’t you think it’s time to try it out?”
Amanda smiled and looked at Samantha. “Yes coach.” They heard the ref’s whistle and headed back on the field. Amanda glanced up behind the bench to see her parents and her boyfriend Alex as they stood clapping. This was the moment all the practice and sweat was about.
Amanda’s defender already had a yellow card for kicking her. The girl was jeering at her as she held up her hand. She waited until Samantha broke from the bunch of players. Instead of kicking the ball across the front of the goal Amanda passed it back to her friend. All eyes were on Sam as Amanda sprinted behind her to take a return pass.
16, 15, 14, 13…the seconds ticked away.
Amanda maintained her dribble as the tall defender stuck with her like glue.
10, 9, 8, 7…..
Sam broke back and Amanda passed it back to her. The tall girl didn’t realize Amanda had dashed past her to the goal until it was too late.
6,5,4, ….Samantha watched only the ball as she smashed it hard to the opposite goal post.
The defender almost made a great save as she flung her body up to defect the ball as it headed towards Amanda’s forehead. Amanda saw only the ball as her body rose to time the contact at the right moment. As the ball headed into the open net the defenders head crashed into Amanda’s forehead.
3,2,1..GOAL!
Sam was running towards her best friend and teammate as she saw the back of the net fling backwards from the flight of the soccer ball. She got there before her other teammates and saw Amanda lying on the ground under the defender’s body. Her glee propelled her on top of Amanda’s body as the defender sat upward while holding her forehead. The rest of the team piled on top of her. It was one of the happiest moments of her life.
“SHE DID IT! SHE DID IT!” Alice Perry screamed as she turned to hug her husband Bruce.
“STATE CHAMPS!” Alex screamed as he pumped his fist up in the air. Not even his football team had done so well. He couldn’t wait until he hugged and kissed his girlfriend since the seventh grade. He watched as the players moved off the pile-up. He expected to see her familiar blonde ponytail as the pile suddenly pushed back quickly. Suddenly the players, even from the other team, were yelling and waving their arms for help.
Samantha was the first to notice something was wrong. She was talking to Amanda while others were on top of them but Amanda never responded. As her body was freed she pulled Amanda back but could see she was unconscious. “HELP! HELP!” She screamed as she cradled her head in her lap.
“OH GOD. WHAT’S WRONG?” Alice shouted frantically. “IS IT AMANDA?”
Bruce didn’t wait to find out as he ran down the stairs pushing onlookers aside. He vaulted the chain link fence and raced behind a man carrying a medical bag.
“Stand back!” Coach McCormack screamed. “Clear the way for the doctor.”
“What is it?” Bruce Sperry yelled. Two men grabbed him as he watched the doctor checking to see if Amanda was breathing.
“Call 911. She unconscious but is breathing.” The doctor said to one of the coaches.
“Amanda!” Alice cried as she pushed through the crowd. Bruce grabbed her and held her as they waited for the ambulance.
Coach McCormack drove Amanda’s family to the hospital trying to keep up with the ambulance as much as possible.
The coach left the car behind the ambulance and threw an orderly her keys. They raced trying to keep up with the stretcher carrying Amanda.
“Please stay here.” A large nurse said as she stood in front of the emergency room door. “There’s nothing you can do right now. Leave it up to the doctors.”
Bruce pulled his wife to sit at a large sofa outside the door. Alex came rushing in and they all huddled together praying for Amanda.
It was more than an hour later until one of the nurses came out. “She’s stable but still unconscious.”
“Will she live?” Alice cried out.
“Her vital signs are OK. She’s in a coma.” The nurse said.
“A Coma. How long will she be in a coma?” Bruce asked.
“There’s no way of telling. Maybe on hour maybe a lot longer?”
Alice tried not to cry as she thought of her daughter lying asleep in the other room. She felt so helpless. None of them left and all of them but Bruce fell asleep as they waited word.
“Why don’t you get some food?” Alice asked her husband when she awoke. “I’ll stay.” Bruce agreed and took the others down the hall to the elevator. Samantha and one of the other players, Julie, had arrived early to see if there were any changes. When they returned Bruce saw his wife talking to a young man.
“Wait. Start over. I’m Amanda’s dad. What is going on?” He asked as he wedged between his wife and the man.
“Hello. I’m Dr. Ellis Joiner. I was just telling your wife that we will be doing some tests this morning to see if we can evaluate how much damage was done. We know there is brain activity but that’s about it. Some of you should go home and get some rest.”
“Doctor. Tell us the truth. How bad is it?” Bruce asked as he grabbed the man’s arm.
“I wish I could tell you.” He said patting the father on the back.
Alice forced the others to leave while she sat staring ahead. She sipped on her coffee as she watched others come and go. She noticed one large nurse look her way a few times but never walked her way. Finally when the waiting room was almost empty the woman walked over and sat next to her.
“I’m sorry about your daughter.” The nurse said. If you want to see her I’ll take you to her.
“You can do that?” Alice asked as she stood up. “Yes. I have cleared it with the doctor.” Alice thanked her and followed close behind as the nurse lead her down the corridor. She pushed open a critical care door and walked ahead to pull open a curtain. Alice peeked through to see her daughter with tubes and wires connected to her mouth and nose. She had an i.v in her arm.
“Oh god.” Alice cried seeing her child strapped up like she was. She walked over and picked up her lifeless hand. Her fingers lay on her palm but Amanda’s hand did not squeeze it.
“Amanda. It’s me. Mommy.” She whispered in her ear. “Come back to us.”