The Coma (Part 37)

“You leave Emily alone, she’s mine. She will always be mine. I am her father.” Sam shouted back to her.

“I don’t care if you’re her father! She is mine and I want her…now!”

“You wouldn’t do anything for this baby! Why in the world do you want her? Probably just to get the fucking tax money isn’t it?”

The screamed had gotten louder and louder by the time the police showed up and knocked on the door. So loud in fact that Sam and Sheryl didn’t even notice until the police actually walked into the living room.

“Why are they here? Did your little toy call them?” Sheryl demanded as she backed away quickly towards the back door. An old policeman quickly stopped her and pulled her back, cuffing her.

“She’s the one the restraining order is against I take it.” He said as he pushed her against the wall and held her there. Sam eyed Lydia with a worried expression before nodding.

“Yeah, she’s the one.”

“Alright; thanks, sir, ma’am.” He tipped his hat to Lydia and nodded at Sam as he left, pulling Sheryl along behind him. After Sam was sure they were gone he began to talk again.

“Why did you do that Lydia? You don’t know how Sheryl is. When she gets out, she might hurt you. And you don’t have a restraining order.”

“Do you honestly think that’s any more dangerous than tricking Death?” Lydia laughed quietly. “I was just trying to help anyways.” Sam turned around and walked into Emily’s room to make sure she was okay, leaving Lydia to stand there looking defeated.

The day ran on slowly. Sam and Lydia didn’t speak to each other much at all. Sam was locked away in Emily’s room the remainder of the day and Lydia sat on the couch watching videos, mainly the ones with Enphinious.

Finally it was time to go to bed. Lydia slowly walked towards the bedroom, but Sam stopped her. His eyes bore into her with a pleading look. His lips seemed to be quivering slightly.

“I’m so sorry.” He whispered and leaned in, hugging her tightly. She hugged him back and sighed.

“Sam, you know its okay. I’ve done worse to you.” She smiled sadly and grabbed his hand, pulling him to the bedroom with her. She felt a wet spot on the shoulder of her shirt and knew he had been crying.

As they lay down in the bed together, Lydia leaned over and hugged him tightly, kissing his cheek and wiping away his tears. She wanted so much to make it him feel better, but she didn’t know how.

“It’s okay Sam.” She whispered into his ear and kissed it softly. He gave a sad, soft smile, and closed his eyes against Lydia’s.

“I love you Lydia.” Sam whispered softly after a few minutes.

“I love you too Sam.” She replied, knowing it was the truth.

“How much do you love me?” He opened his eyes and looked up into hers.

“I don’t know, probably too much.” She smiled and he smiled back momentarily, until he began to talk again anyways.

“Lydia, if I ask you a question, will you promise not to get mad at me?” There was a certain sadness in his eyes that Lydia couldn’t quite understand. She nodded, nervous now of what he might ask.

“You know you can ask me anything Sammy.” He smiled momentarily again at the nickname.

“I know that, but I’m scared that you will be mad. You promise not to go storming out or yell at me or throw me out the window or something?” Lydia giggled and Sam smiled again.

“I promise.” She raised her hand to her chest, “Cross my heart, hope to die.”

“Aren’t you forgetting part of it?” He asked laughing. “Stick a needle in my eye?” They laughed together before forcing themselves to be serious again.

“Lydia…” He paused, his voice shaking. “If you had to choose between Joey and I, who would you pick?”

“What?” Lydia asked quickly, forgetting her promise not to be mad. “Why would you even ask that? Joey’s dead!” Tears streamed down her face and she wasn’t sure if they were from anger or pain.

“Lydia, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. Forgive me please?” Sam said quickly and reached out for her. She slowly leaned into him and fell against his chest crying. When she had finally stopped crying she leaned back and looked up into his eyes.

“Of course I forgive you Sam.” He smiled and leaned down to kiss her lightly, before lying back down so they could go to sleep.

“Jacob!” Lydia screamed as the knife hit Jacob in the chest. Red covered the walls and the room seemed to be melting away. Red surrounded her, consumed her. Her heart pounded faster and harder. Jacob lay on the floor, his lifeless eyes staring up at her. Enphinious had disappeared, the entire room had disappeared.

The only light seemed to be coming from Jacob’s eyes. His face seemed to be changing as she watched. His cheeks became chubbier, his eyes bigger, his lips puckered. Lydia looked down his body, he had gotten smaller, he was getting younger again.

In only a matter of minutes her small baby boy was lying in front of her, just as lifeless as he had been at his visitation. Lydia leaned down and picked him up, but as she did his body turned to dust and seeped through her fingers. She heard a scream erupt in the room; then realized it was her. Falling to the floor, she pulled the knife and put it against her chest; willing it to go deeper.

Lydia awoke to the sound of Sam’s snoring on the bed beside her. Her hands were at her chest; formed as if she was holding the knife. Sweat surrounded her and her body was shaking. She wanted to cry, she wanted to scream out; but her tears seemed nonexistent, and her voice came out only a whisper.

Quickly she stood up and ran out of the room, to the back door and out of the house. She was greeted by the brisk air of the summer night. It was colder than usual for this time of year. The darkness surrounded her, consumed her. She felt her thoughts being pulled away, leaving her empty: yet fulfilled.

The silence was deepening. Dogs barked in the distance and crickets chirped. There was a roaring of cars driving by on the side streets, but where Lydia was standing they all seemed nonexistent.

Lydia felt her nightmare being taken away with the gentle breeze that trickled down her spine and made her shiver. She felt alone and wonderful, as if nothing would ever harm her again. The night air always did this to her. It was the one thing she could use to escape from everything else.