Chapter 3

Mark's Story;

I woke up in pain. Sleeping in a chair is not very good for your back. When I looked up, the sight I saw melted the pain away. Jenny was lying there sleeping. I just sat there and admired her while she slept. I had missed our time together so much. I was getting a second chance with Jenny and I certainly was not going to forget to tell her how I felt.

I must have been sitting there staring for a half an hour before Jenny woke up.

"Good Morning Sleepyhead. I hope you slept well."

"morning Mark. It's nice to wake up with you here for me."

"My pleasure. I'd be happy to do that everyday for the rest of my life."

"I think I'd enjoy that too. Could you do me a favor?"

"Anything you need."

"Could you get the nurse. I need to use the bathroom."

"Oh, why did you say that. Now I need to go too."

I got up and went looking for a nurse. When I got to the nurses station, I found my Mom working on some paper work. I think she could sense my presence when I came up. She suddenly looked up.

"Good morning honey. I hope you slept well."

"Not too bad. Mom, Jenny needs to go to the bathroom."

"Really, I thought that she had a catheter. Well, let's see what she needs."

"How about you see what she needs and I'll go use the bathroom as well."

"That works too."

My Mom got up and headed toward Jenny's room while I went toward the visitors bathroom. Upon finishing I headed back to Jenny's room to find Mom helping Jenny back into bed.

"Thanks Mrs. Andrews. I needed that. Could you leave the hands free please?"

"Jenny, you know that you're supposed to stay restrained. We're only following regulations."

"I know, but it doesn't hurt to ask. I can at least say I tried."

Mom strapped Jenny back into bed. Jenny didn't look too happy about it.

"Mrs. Andrews, I'm hungry. Could I please get something to eat?"

"I'm sure I could get you something to eat, but how do you plan on eating it?"

Jenny had a look of pain on her face when she heard that.

"Mom, I'd be glad to help her."

That brought a smile to Jenny's face. I could tell that she must have been hungry.

"Ok, let me call the kitchen."

My Mom left to get some food for Jenny. I turned to look at Jenny who had a joyous look on her face.

"It's so nice to see you happy. Yesterday, you were trying to kill yourself. Today, you look like you just hit the lottery."

"Yesterday, I thought that nobody cared. Today, I know somebody does. That makes a big difference."

I sat down and just stared into Jenny's eyes. She started to get this questioning look on her face.

She suddenly asked "What are you staring at?"

"Someone I care about deeply. Her beauty takes my breath away."

"Thanks. You don't need to lay the flattery on so thick. I already know how you feel."

"Hey, I assumed you knew that once. I'm not going to take the chance that you forget again."

"Touché."

A few minutes later, my Mom returned with a try of food. Jenny appeared to be quite happy seeing it.

"I hope you enjoy hand feeding her Mark."

I took the tray and started to take the covers off the food. My Mom decided to continue while I started feeding Jenny.

"Jenny, it's 7:30 now. At 9, the doctor will be here to evaluate you. He'll make Mark get lost for a few hours while he does his job. Mark, I brought your bike with me today. I want you to go home for a while and take a shower. Your odor is announcing your presence rather rudely."

"Yes Mother."

Jenny was eating like she hadn't seen food in weeks. I was actually having trouble keeping up with her.

"Good. Your sister and Janice are at Mrs. Emerson's. They decided that they wanted to play with Karen and her mom was glad to help. I want you to go down and check up on them before you get back here. I also think that Jenny will want you back here by noon to serve her lunch as well."

"Yes Mark, I'll want this same service for lunch as well" Jenny chimed in.

"Ok. I'll be here. Mom, I'll check on the girls as well. The shower will probably feel good anyway."

"Good. I have to run. I'll be back when I get a chance."

Jenny and I chimed in unison "Ok."

My Mom left us to ourselves for a while. She had other patients to attend to.

"I hope you got your fill. There's no more food left."

"I'm fine thanks. Mark, I would also like to thank you for yesterday."

"Which part?"

"All of it. I didn't know how you felt. If I had, I would have been at your house rather than trying to off myself. I feel better today."

"Any time Sweetie."

We sat there and talked about things for about an hour when someone came in the room. I turned around to see who it was. I was the first to speak.

"Hello Dr. Campbell. Are you doing Jenny's evaluation?"

Dr. Campbell did a double take at this. I think I shocked him more than anything.

"Mark Andrews, are you feeling Ok?"

"I'm fine Doc, how about you?"

"I'm great. I'm rather shocked since you've just said more words to me in the last minute than in the 5 months of therapy combined."

"Yeah, well you're looking at the girl who takes my breath away. We'll talk more about me on Monday at my next session. I guess this means that you're going to need me to get lost for a while."

"I will need to talk to Jennifer for a while alone."

"Ok. I know when I'm not wanted. Jenny, I'll see you at lunch. Maybe you can talk this guy into letting your arms free."

I smiled at the doctor with that comment. I gave Jenny a kiss gave both my goodbyes and left. I stopped at the nurse's station to let my Mom know that I was heading out and would be back later.

The bike ride home took all of ten minutes. When I arrived home and let myself in. My stomach started to remind me of the fact that though Jenny ate, I still needed to eat breakfast myself. I decided that the shower would feel much better.

I ran up to my room and gathered some clothes to wear. I then headed to the bathroom for a shower. After getting cleaned up, I went to the kitchen and found something for breakfast. After I cleaned my mess, I checked out the time. It's still only 10 o'clock. The next 2 hours are going to seem like an eternity.

I headed to the Emerson's house to check on the girls. When I arrived, Janice nearly tackled me.

"Mark, how's Jenny?"

"She's going to live if that's what you're worried about."

"Thanks for saving her. I would feel lost without her."

"Janice, nobody is happier about Jenny surviving than me. I would rather to have not needed to save her though. I'm just glad that I found her when I did."

Erin and Karen came out where we were about this time. I gave Erin a hug and we headed inside. The girls wanted to know more about what happened. After explaining what I did, I was given a hero's congratulations from everyone including Karen's mom. Janice still had one question though.

"Mark, what happened to my mom? I know she left a note about Jenny being at the hospital, but I haven't seen her since."

"Jan, there is quite a bit to this story that you don't know. When your mom found out about the whole story, she collapsed enough that she needed medical attention for herself. I expect that she'll be home tonight."

Jan smiled with that. Talking with Jenny for all those years, I knew that they didn't have any other relatives other than each other. Jenny and Jan had their father, but they didn't know where to find him. I knew from that alone, why Jan would be worried about Jenny and her mother.

Jan gave me a hug "Thanks Mark."

I stayed for over an hour talking with the girls. I left a little after 11. Erin and Jan wanted me to stay, but understood when I told them that I was wanted back at the hospital and why.

I arrived back at the hospital a little early. I first stopped to see how my mom was doing.

"Back already I see. Well, we need to talk. Come down to the cafeteria with me. It's time for my lunch."

We went to the cafeteria and found a table. After my Mom picked up her lunch, she joined me at the table.