As Jonah slowly opened his eyes, he was met with the warm glow of morning light streaming through the hospital room window. His gaze fell upon Claire, who was sleeping in a chair across from him, her head tilted back and her mouth slightly open. Her chest rose and fell with each gentle breath, and her red hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall. She looked more mature.
Jonah's eyes gazed blankly ahead, his mind full of despair. The weight of his new reality crushed him, suffocating him beneath its oppressive yoke. He felt like a part of him had been severed, leaving him a fragile, fractured shell of his former self. His muscles had atrophied all over his body. He was weak.
The helplessness was a living, breathing entity, writhing within him like a venomous snake. He was trapped in a prison of his own body, unable to move his legs, unable to escape the constant reminder of his weakness. The thought of being a person with a mobility disability, reliant on others for even the simplest tasks, filled him with a sense of inadequacy that threatened to consume him whole.
But it was more than just his physical limitations that filled him with despair. He was the Protector, sworn to defend his sister Selena, the Golden Seer, with his life. And now, he felt like he was failing her. He couldn't even protect himself, let alone the woman who relied on him for her safety.
Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes as he thought of Claire; he was half of a man, less than half the man he was. And now, he was going to be trapped in this wheelchair, unable to even stand by her side.
His gaze drifted to Claire, and a sob caught in his throat. He had never gotten the chance to marry her, to spend the rest of his life making her happy. Two years gone. Stolen from him by the cruel hand of fate.
But it was more than just his own personal losses that filled him with grief. He had lost his purpose, his reason for being. He was no longer the strong, capable Protector he once was. He felt like a burden, a liability, a constant reminder of the fragility of life.
He stifled a sob, biting back the tears that threatened to spill down his cheeks. He couldn't break down now, not in front of Claire. He had to be strong, for her sake, if not for his own. But the weight of his grief was crushing him, and he didn't know how much longer he could hold on.
Jonah's eyes lingered on Claire's peaceful face, taking in the sight of her relaxed features. He felt a sense of calm wash over him, knowing that she was by his side. She stayed by his side all this time. He didn't remember much, he wasn't in pain.
The machines beside him beeped, his oxygen dropping briefly as he internalized grief; he cursed his body for betraying him as the door to the hospital room swung open. Selena walked in carrying a tray with coffee and breakfast. Her eyes scanned the room, and when they landed on Jonah, they widened in surprise.
"Jonah," Selena exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion. "Oh, we were worried."
Tears sprang into Selena's eyes as she rushed over to her brother's bedside. She set the tray down on the table and grasped Jonah's hand, her grip tight with excitement. "It is okay, it is normal to have some grief, let it out. Showing authentic emotions are better than hiding them and lashing out."
"We'll have a chat after you talk with a sleepy head over there. Selena flicked her name tag." Selena said, trying to compose herself. Jonah noticed the doctor's badge. How long was he out?
"I brought breakfast for Claire. I didn't know you'd be awake too. I will work on getting that tube removed, well all of them."
Jonah smiled weakly at his sister, feeling a sense of gratitude for her presence. "Hey, Selena, stay..." he whispered, his voice still rough from disuse.
Claire stirred in her chair, opening her eyes to find Selena beaming at her with tears in her eyes. "What's wrong?" Claire asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
Selena sniffled and smiled. "Jonah's awake again," she said, her voice trembling.
Claire's face lit up with a radiant smile as she turned to Jonah. "Hey Jo," she said, her voice filled with warmth. Her hand raised to touch his face. Selena backed away as Claire glomped onto Jonah as if no time had passed at all. Her heart warmed. Now that was love.
Jonah smiled back at Claire, feeling a sense of gratitude wash over him. He was alive and she stood by him. A woman rolled into the room with a stroller. Jonah looked. "Mu, mum." the infant age girl said as the woman pictured her up. Selena started to entertain the baby, and Jonah wondered who broke the pact they had made. Until the nanny addressed Claire.
"Ms. Gregory, she is washed, changed and fed." Nina offered a small smile to her boss's future husband. It was incredibly romantic how devoted she was. Some people would have given up in her shoes. She was younger than her and had a long life ahead of her. She was thrilled to hear the news.
Selena handed Rose over to Claire, who was sitting beside Jonah's bed. "Here you go, I got to start my shift," Selena said, smiling at her hopefully soon to be sister-in-law.
Nina, the nanny, excused herself awkwardly, sensing the emotional moment that was about to unfold. She left the diaper bag and stroller behind. "Call me, I will be in the waiting room." Nina said as she held up her cell phone. Claire smiled gratefully. Jonah was in for a hell of a shock.
Claire stood stiffly in the hospital room chair, her eyes fixed on Jonah's peaceful face. Rose, their adorable toddler, sat soundly in her arms, oblivious to the tension that radiated from her mother's body.
Claire's grip on Rose tightened, her knuckles white with anxiety. She had been putting off this conversation for what felt like an eternity, but she knew she couldn't avoid it any longer.
Jonah's eyes flickered open, and he gazed at Claire with a warm, loving smile. "Hey," he whispered, his voice weak but full of affection.
Claire's heart swelled with emotion, and she forced a smile onto her face. "Hey," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Claire's throat constricted, and she felt a lump form. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to reveal. "Jonah," she began, her voice trembling. "There's something I need to tell you."
Jonah's eyes locked onto hers, a questioning look on his face. Claire's heart pounded in her chest, and she felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead.
Claire took a deep breath and turned to Jonah, who was watching her with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. "Okay?"
"Jo, you've been asleep for two years," Claire said, her voice trembling slightly. "Before you had your accident, in September, at the racetrack clubhouse...when I had that ear infection, well the pill did not work." Claire bit her lip.
Jonah's eyes narrowed, trying to remember. They had done a lot of fooling around in that club house. But Claire's next words stopped him cold.
"I was pregnant when you had your accident," Claire said, her eyes welling up with tears. "This is Rose Lowrie, your daughter." Tears welled in her blue eyes.
Jonah's face froze, and he felt like he'd been shocked with a taser. He stared at Rose, who was gazing at him with big, blue, curious eyes.
"Rose?" Jonah whispered, his voice shaking. That was his great-grandmother's name; she died when he was just 2 years old. He had one warm, vague memory of her.
Claire nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Amelia said you would love it and to hold on. I've waited for you, Jonah. I've waited for two years, hoping that you would wake up and meet our daughter. I did my homework by your side. You were in the building when she was born. We have not lost time, baby. You were just asleep and healing."
Rose reached out her hands. She must have been sensing the difference in him, she was wrought with excitement and fascinated with him. She had climbed on him, napped between his legs and on his chest her whole life. Claire ensured she knew her father. "Da-da-da!"
Claire rose from the chair. Jonah's eyes met Claire's, and he saw the love and devotion shining in them. He felt a surge of emotion, and his eyes welled up with tears. "She knows her daddy. She knows you. She is happy you are talking and awake."
Without a word, Jonah reached out and to hold Rose from Claire. A huge serene smile on his face. He might be in hell, but he had two angels now. He cradled his daughter in his arms, feeling a sense of wonder and awe wash over him.
Sensing the emotion Rose "Da-da-da!" and smacked him with a sticky, chubby hand. The plump and tiny hand remained.
"Oh, she is just like you." Jonah cried, he hugged her. Claire stifled an emotional laugh.
Rose looked up at him and smiled, and Jonah's heart melted. He felt a sense of connection to this little person, this tiny human being who was a part of him.
Jonah looked up at Claire, his eyes shining with tears. "I'm sorry, my love" he whispered. "I'm so sorry I missed this. Thank you. I'll make it right Claire, I had the ring."
Claire smiled and reached out, stroking Jonah's face. "I found it, Yes! You're here now," she said. "That's all that matters."
As Jonah held his daughter close, he felt a sense of peace and contentment wash over him. He knew that he had a long road ahead of him. Selena and he had to talk, he can feel why.
The afternoon came as Claire updated him on everything that had happened in the two years. Jakob and Michael had joined the military after they recovered. They visited, but he felt a little abandoned. Liam showed up, and apparently, things were awkward between him and Selena. Claire wouldn't tell him why; he pieced it together.
Selena knocked gently on the hospital room door before entering. She smiled warmly at Jonah, who was sitting up in bed, looking a bit more alert than he had earlier.
"Hey, big brother," Selena said, walking over to examine him. "How are you feeling?"
Jonah shrugged, his eyes clouding over. "I don't know. I feel...different."
Selena nodded sympathetically. "I know it's a lot to take in. But I need to check a few things."
She began to examine Jonah's limbs, checking his reflexes and sensation. Jonah's face fell as he realized the extent of his injuries.
"I'm a paraplegic, aren't I?" Jonah asked, his voice shaking and faltering.
Selena nodded gently. "A form of it, called Paraparesis, Jonah. But we can work with this. It indicates that the damage wasn't as bad as I estimated. We can find ways to help you adapt and regain some mobility for now."
Jonah's eyes filled with tears as he thought about all the things he would never be able to do again. He felt a wave of depression wash over him, and he slumped back against the pillows.
"I'll never be able to protect you again," Jonah said, his voice cracking with emotion.
Selena sat down beside him and took his hand. "Jonah, you haven't been able to protect me for two years," she said gently. "And I've been just fine. You don't have to be able to walk or run to be strong, Jonah. You're still the same person you've always been."
Jonah looked up at Selena, feeling a glimmer of hope. Maybe she was right. Maybe he could still find a way to be strong, even if he was confined to a wheelchair.
Selena smiled and squeezed his hand. "And besides, I've been working on a way to heal your spinal cord. It's going to take time, but I'm optimistic. We can do this, Jonah."
Jonah's eyes widened in surprise. "You've been working on a cure?" Jonah felt his spirits rise.
"Bro, do you think I would not? Just like you were born to protect me, I was born to protect and care for you. So have confidence in me and get strong. I will not let anything stop me from doing this." Selena said passionately.
Selena took a calming breath, she felt. "I've been using your own Stem Cells to repair the damage to your brain. You were in a vegetative state for a year, and now you're talking and thinking."
"It will be cured with the same principle, but it took me a year to get the Stems, to do brain tissue, a spinal cord is made up of nerves, fluid, and it's just different cells. Now that I have a hang of it, I just have to program the instructions for them to heal the tissue and use a needle to inject them using ultrasound. " Selena explained.
Jonah felt a surge of hope and gratitude towards his sister. She had always been there for him, and now she was offering him a chance to walk again.
"I get it, it will take some time, Nerd," Jonah said, his voice filled with emotion. Selena laughed. "Thank you for never giving up on me."
Selena smiled and hugged her brother gently. "No thanks necessary, you would lay out all out to protect me, Jonah. You're my brother, I love you."
Jonah felt a sense of peace wash over him since he woke up. He looked up, his mother and father stood in the door, they were aged, mom had a white streak in her hair. Tears poured out of her eyes.
"Son…I'm..so..glad," Jonathan sobbed, his eyes filled with tears.
"Your Mom is going to stick to you, fair warning. I do not care how old you are. I am going to hug you." Jonathan laughed but choked on his emotions and closed the gap.
Eun Ho felt her eyes boil over with tears. Her hands shook, her heels clicked fast as she moved toward his bed. "Oh, Jonah. My baby. We have been waiting for you kid."
Jonathan sobbed, he held his son tightly. It was a miracle. He thought he had lost him. He came back from the dead, from a hopeless position. He shook with emotion. He heard his son sobbing. The experience was cathartic to Jonathan; the past years were miserable. He came every day and held his hand and talked to him. Told him how proud he was, he read books to him and talked about memories.
One thing he and Eun Ho agreed upon was him hanging up his Protector mantle, anything he missed over the two years of