Over the next few days, the results come back just as I had feared. The feeling in my legs never return either, leading the doctors to pronounce me as numb from the waist down. They’re quick to proscribe me medicine and lots of other things, but eventually I tune them out and let my parents handle the paperwork. Honestly, I’m still in too much shock to let the truth register.

Fortunately, Katie arrives just as I feel like losing hope. I’m so happy to see my fiancée that I start crying when she enters the room.

“Zane!” She whispers, rushing over to embrace me with a tearful face.

I squeeze her tightly. I’m so happy to finally hold her again. “I’m so glad you’re here!”

She pulls away and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Me too! I couldn’t believe it when your mom called and told me the news. The doctors said you might never wake up!”

I try to hold up one arm and make a muscle. “Even a car crash can’t kill someone as strong as me!”

Katie laughs, making my heart soar with joy. “You have no idea how relieved I am to see you finally open your eyes.”

I smile, reaching over for another kiss, this time on her lips. To my surprise though, she pulls away, dodging my advances. I frown, confused by her rejection. Is she still too shaken up or something?

“Hey, Zane…”

“Yeah?”

Katie fiddles with her thumbs, her biggest sign of anxiety. I can see that there’s something important on her mind.

“Zane…I…I thought you were never going to wake up, you know?”

I nod. “Yeah. They keep telling me it’s a miracle!”

“Well, um, based on that, I have something to tell you…”

Why do I get the feeling this isn’t going to end well?

“What is it?” I ask, feeling impatient now.

She sighs. “Well…I’m, I’m seeing someone else.”

“What!?” I snap.

Seeing someone else? What does that mean!?

“I’m so sorry Zane. It’s just, you were dead to the world, dead to me.”

I scowl. “I was only asleep for six months!”

She frowns. “Well, six months is a long time. It’s not like I ran right out and got a new boyfriend! Look, your accident, your coma, it was hard on me too. I came here every Saturday for two months and sat by your side. I tried to talk to you, thinking you might hear me and wake up.”

Katie looks away, tears in her eyes. “But, unlike in the movies, you never even flinched at my voice. It was like you might never stop sleeping. That was a fact I found hard to accept, but at the same time my heart couldn’t bear to hope anymore. After a while, I started coming to the hospital only every other week. Even then though, the pain and sadness I felt just ate away at me. I wasn’t happy. I couldn’t eat or sleep. That’s when I stopped coming altogether.”

I let out a shaky breath. I feel like I can understand her feelings, but it’s still hard to hear.

“Then, one day while I was out shopping, I ran into Mike. He was really nice and seemed like a good guy. He asked me out, and due to my depression and loneliness, I accepted. We went on a few dates, ate dinner, saw some movies. Somewhere during that time I started to like him back, and that’s when things got serious.”

I gulp. How serious?

“But now I’m back. You don’t have to feel lonely anymore. You don’t have to keep seeing this guy! I’m here for you again.” I whisper.

Katie just smiles and shakes her head. “You don’t get it Zane. I’m in love with Mike.”