Adaline sat motionless in her place. Her husband's body trembled violently, then convulsed momentarily. All the screens next to the man blared loudly.
Adaline could only stare at her husband with an empty gaze. Someone wrapped their arms around her shoulders, pulling her back just as the paramedics arrived.
"We're leaving, Honey," said Delila's voice. Adaline turned her head and shook it, but Delila kept urging her to go.
"Mamma... Altezza... he..." she pointed to her husband. Mrs. Delila only nodded and continued to escort her out of the ICU room.
Her mother-in-law settled Adaline into a long chair in the hallway. Adaline sat in silence. The commanding screams echoed only in her head. She twisted her hands, praying silently, hoping that God would return the man she loved.
This wasn't the first time Altezza had an attack. But it was always frightening for her whenever it happened.
Three months. Altezza had been in a coma for three months. Although the doctors said he showed progress, the man still didn't open his eyes.
"There was no error in the procedure. The operation went smoothly. Within twenty-four hours, he should have woken up," said the doctor who performed the surgery on Altezza's head. And that happened eighty-three days ago.
Altezza suffered a severe head injury. He even had to undergo surgery due to bleeding in his head. The right side of his body was the most affected. His right leg was broken, as was his pelvis bone. The doctor said it was because of the severe impact he experienced before the airbag restrained his body.
And twenty-four hours after the operation. The man still hadn't awakened from his slumber. And the doctor declared that her husband was in a coma.
Coma.
One word that made Adaline's world feel shattered because of it. She felt like she lost her footing.
She didn't cry then; she just sat there silently, staring at her husband. Wondering to whom, exactly. Why did this have to happen to him? To them? Could Adaline offer herself to switch places with her husband? Because honestly, she couldn't bear to see him like this.
Her days felt heavy since hearing that verdict. Adaline felt like she lost her spirit. Her spirit vanished along with her husband's sleep.
Adaline only held on for the babies in her womb. She hardly spoke.
They transferred Altezza to the hospital in Manhattan, and Adaline just went along. She had no will. She had no passion left. She just wanted her husband to wake up. That's all.
She became a permanent resident of the hospital. Being by her husband's side silently. There were no words she could say. She could only sit there, holding her husband's hand. Kissing him.
The doctor even provided a patient bed just for her, specifically for her. Just so she could rest beside her husband.
Altezza's family was often there, waiting for him. Occasionally, they talked to her. Invited Altezza to talk. Telling him about anything they experienced while they were out there. Even Gian often made silly stories to make Adaline laugh, but Adaline could only smile half-heartedly.
The woman truly lost her spirit. Everyone began to worry about her. They feared Adaline might collapse at any moment. They prayed incessantly for Altezza to wake up soon.
During his first attack, Adaline fainted too. The woman passed out because her physical condition was also weak due to lack of rest.
So it was with the second attack.
The doctor said Altezza's condition was fine, but not Adaline's. Her condition was not fine.
Her face always looked pale, her body growing thinner. The bags under her eyes appeared darker and larger, making her look like someone suffering from starvation. Adaline lost her cheerfulness, she lost her resilience. The Adaline of old seemed to vanish.
"Try to speak. Maybe all this time he's been waiting for you to call his name." Stefanie stood behind her and gently squeezed Adaline's shoulder. "Say everything you want to say to him. Let him hear all your grievances. Make him feel guilty. Ask him to come back to you to redeem all his wrongdoings," she continued persuading.
At that moment, a month had passed since Altezza was declared comatose, and Adaline only nodded in response. When they were alone, Adaline did what Stefanie suggested. She began to talk to Altezza. Discussing everything she wanted to talk about.
She murmured about her boredom during their time in the hospital. Talking about the nurses who always praised Altezza, which always irritated Adaline.
She also talked about her pregnancy. Discussing their developments. Talking about how they moved. Adaline also discussed Gian and Joanna's relationship development. Informing him that Duncan would postpone his marriage to Tessa until Altezza woke up because Duncan wanted Altezza to finance their wedding.
Trivial matters always became her topic of conversation. She mentioned all the names she knew. Except for that woman's name.
Adaline had never hated anyone as much as she hated Jovanka.
That woman, her greed and madness had put Altezza where he was now. Adaline would never forgive that woman. Even if something happened to Altezza, she swore that she would take the action she most wanted against that woman with her own hands.
Adaline wouldn't kill her. Her death would only make things easier. She'd prefer to hurt that woman in her own way.
She would make that woman disabled for life, so that every time she felt pain, she would remember Adaline and Altezza. The mistakes that woman had made against them. And Adaline made sure she would do it if anything happened to her husband.
Altezza had stabilized again. But the doctors still hadn't moved him from the ICU.
Adaline re-entered after putting on special clothing. She reached for her husband's hand, now looking thin.
"Al..." she called softly.
"Al... forgive me." Adaline lifted her husband's hand with both of hers. She kissed the back of his hand tightly before placing his palm on her cheek.
"Forgive all my mistakes," she said. Tears fell down her cheeks.
Adaline kept crying. She couldn't speak anymore. Oh God, is there a chance for your servant to apologize?
Can You give me a chance to fix everything?
Can I ask You to wake him up soon?
I beg you. Return him to me. Return him to us. Her prayer in her heart. Then Adaline fell asleep sitting next to her husband with her hand still tightly gripping his.