Stephen Kubiak was dozing off. It was nine in the morning and his college class wasn't ending anytime soon. He hated history even more than he hated mornings. Bring those two together, and Stephen was in a living hell. When will this guy stop talking? I can't take this so early in the morning…
The instructor droned on about ancient China and how they built the Great Wall. What's so great about a stone wall? I could build a wall at my house and no one would appreciate it.
Sighing, Stephen kept doodling in his notebook. Smiling, he was thinking of the person he was doodling. Carmella Robinson, the girl he had a crush on for years, was slowly being formed in his notebook. He met Carmella in elementary school and quickly became friends with her. However, during middle school, he had a "revelation" about girls and quickly came to like Carmella. However, he was stuck in that dreaded "friend zone," the place no one wants to be in. Smiling slightly, he continued to draw her. Even if I get the courage to confess to her, it wouldn't do me any good. She has Nick…
Nick Sullivan, the coolest guy at Stephen's former high school, started dating Carmella in their junior year. Stephen wasn't a fan of this relationship for obvious reasons, but he still accepted it.
After several minutes passed, the drawing was complete. As he was closing his notebook, the instructor cleared his throat. "It looks like we'll have to continue with this on Wednesday. Remember, read chapters twelve through fourteen by next week."
Everyone started getting up, including Stephen. Stashing his books away in his backpack, Stephen was the first one to rush out the door. Finally! Freedom!
Walking down the hall, Stephen was thinking of the two hour delay between his history class and his next class. Hmm…maybe I should get breakfast somewhere.
Stephen nodded his head, agreeing with himself, not knowing that this was actually a life-changing decision. Soon, Stephen was leaving the college campus. Walking down the sidewalk, he kicked a stone that was in front of him to the streetlight. Looking around, he gasped. To the left, he saw Carmella and Nick walking together, hand held. Stephen immediately frowned and looked away, trying to blend in with the surroundings. However, he soon heard the revving of a car engine. Looking across the street, he saw a car barreling toward the light, directly toward Carmella and Nick.
"Guys! Get out of there!"
Carmella looked up at Stephen, puzzled.
The car zoomed faster, completely unaware of what was about to happen. Stephen saw the car come closer and closer, until he knew he had no choice. I can't let her die!
Running out, he shoved Carmella and Nick, only to be hit himself. Flying backwards, he skidded across the pavement and finally came to a stop feet away from the intersection. The last thing he remembered was screaming.
Stephen slowly opened his eyes. The harshness of the light in the dimly lit room was incredible. Stephen stared at a strange ceiling. "W—where am I?"
Stephen turned to his left and saw a machine to his left, showing numbers and a moving line. Am I…in the hospital?
Stephen slowly tried to get up before his muscles failed him. Collapsing back on the bed, he sighed. How did I get here? Stephen closed his eyes, before his mind took him back to that moment. Opening his eyes, Stephen was about to make a second attempt to get up when he heard the door open. "Oh? You're awake!"
Looking at the lady who walked into the room, he saw that she was in a nurse's uniform. "Excuse me, but who are you?"
"Oh, that's right, you haven't met me yet. I'm Sandra. I was your nurse while you were in a coma."
"I was in…a coma?!"
"Yes, for about a year. Your head took quite a beating from the car. It was a miracle that you survived, if you believe in them. However, I can't say the same for the driver and the others…"
"Others? Who's the others?"
"Your two friends you tried to save."
"Tried?"
"Well, you did save one…sort of. Your friend…Nick I think his name was, was killed when the car spun around trying to avoid you. Your other friend Carmella was knocked to the ground by you…only to hit her head hard upon the asphalt. It…"
"It what?"
"Her head…was struck in such a way…that…she's been in a coma ever since you were."
"She's…still in a coma?"
"Yes. You see, her head is still heavily bruised from the asphalt, and the force in which you shoved her. She's still alive, and her brain isn't dead. She's just been…asleep all this time…unfortunately for the baby…"
"Baby? What are you talking about?"
"You mean you didn't know?"
"Know about what?"
"Your friend Carmella was pregnant. We had to give her a C-section about three months ago. The baby is doing fine but—"
Stephen drowned out the nurse's voice. Carmella…was pregnant…
Stephen closed his eyes, hoping that this was just a sick dream. It can't be…it can't be…
Stephen's mind started having flashbacks to everything that had happened between him and Carmella, remembering when he first met her.
It was in third grade and Stephen was walking alone during recess, his nose bleeding. As a child, Stephen had to deal with constant bullying from the "popular crowd." Walking behind a wall, Stephen crouched down and tried to dry his nose. As he noticed how much red was on his hands, Stephen started crying. Why is this happening to me?! I've done nothing to them!
Stephen slammed his fist against the wall. Soon, he was crying uncontrollably. "It isn't fair! It just isn't fair!"
Stephen buried his face in his arms. As Stephen started calming down, he felt a hand on his shoulders, followed by a girl's voice. "Sometimes life isn't fair, at least that's what my mom told me."
Stephen looked up and saw a brown-haired, brown eyed girl. "W—who are you?"
"I'm Carmella. I'm in the same class as you?"
"You are?!" I wonder why I never saw her before.
Carmella smiled and tilted her head. "I sit in the very back while you sit in the front. That's probably why you've never seen me."
Stephen just blankly looked at Carmella. "Yeah, you're probably right."
Carmella sat next to Stephen. "So I told you my name. What's yours?"
"Stephen."
Carmella took a hold of Stephen's arm. "I like that name."
Stephen blushed. "Well, I didn't name myself, so you can thank my mom for that."
Carmella giggled. "I have a feeling we're going to be great friends!"
Stephen was brought back to the present, the horrible, ugly present. Stephen looked at the nurse. "You said the baby is at an orphanage. What orphanage is it?"
"She's at an orphanage a friend of mine runs. She is taking care of her until Carmella wakes from her coma."
Stephen tried to get up again. This time, his muscles obeyed, and Stephen sat up. Moving to the side, he dangled his feet over the bed.
"Sir, stay on the bed! Your legs are extremely weak and need rehabilitation!"
Stephen pushed forward until his feet touched the floor. Breathing deeply, Stephen replied to the nurse. "I have to see her! I have to see both of them!"
The nurse rushed to Stephen's side. "You'll see her later! You need rest right now."
Stephen tried to struggle against the nurse. "It's my fault she's in a coma! I have to fix it!"
"You can't fix anything right now!"
"Yes I can! I can give the baby a family until she wakes up!"
The nurse stopped in her tracks. "Wait…you aren't saying…"
"That's right, I want to adopt her baby, at least until she wakes up!"
The nurse stayed still. Stephen defiantly stared at the nurse, daring her to challenge him. The nurse sighed. "Are you sure you want to raise Faith?"
"Faith? So that's her name…and yes I do!"
The nurse sighed and shook her head. "Fine…I'll call my friend later today. Just do me a favor and rest."
Stephen shook his head and relaxed. It's my fault this happened! It's my responsibility to give her a family!
