Days droned by, turning into weeks, and Justin visited Gabby as much as his
schedule permitted. Dani, who was usually occupied by FuMan Skeeto, was too
distraught over Gabby to do anything other than spend time at the hospital.
The curtains were drawn back, sun cascading into the normally dim room, flowers
in every nook and cranny of the room. On a large bulletin board, cards from friends and
admirers were pinned. Tinkerbell’s pictures sat on top of a bureau in a delicate silver
frame. A dozen red roses from Justin sat on the nightstand next to Gabby’s bed in a
crystal vase. The sunlight frolicked off of the vase, sending rays of rainbow colored light
cascading every which way in the room.
Smiling to himself as he entered the room, Justin
thought aloud, “Gabby would love a day like this. And these flowers...”
Taking his place next to her bed, Justin picked up a hairbrush that Dani had
retrieved at Gabby’s apartment. Silky strands of hair strayed from the brush, and Justin
plucked them out. Never in his life had he imagined that he would have enough dedication
to stand by someone like he did Gabby. In all honesty, neither did anyone else that knew
him.
Running the brush through her hair, Justin began the song that had become an
anthem to him. Without giving it a thought, he began singing,
“ I never thought that I would lose my mind
That I could control this
Never thought that I'd be left behind
That I was stronger than you
Don't wanna lose to loneliness
Girl I know we can win
Don't wanna lose to emptiness, oh no
Never again”
Grinning sheepishly Justin looked at Gabby. “I do declare that it’s time for you to
get outta bed, sleepy head... Wake up Gabby. Tinkerbell misses his mommy. I’m not
about to try and stow a cat away in the hospital. Tinky misses Mommy. Justin misses
Mommy.. C’mon. We haven’t even had a quarter of the good times that we’re supposed
to have, Gabrielle. You gotta wake up so we can get on with our lives. You gotta open
those big beautiful eyes that I fell for that day that I met you.”
Realizing that his
persistence wasn’t working, nor had it in the past weeks, he announced, “Faith’s coming
to see you. She misses you.. We all do...”
Both Dani and Justin were trying to keep her up to date with what was going on,
even if she didn’t hear him, “The press has been camped outside of here for weeks. We’re
always telling them the same thing, that you haven’t woken up yet. Gotta get up outta
that bed....”
Walking into the room silently, Dani grinned to herself at the sight before her eyes.
Justin was talking to Gabby, as Dani often found him. The gorgeous day seeped into the
gloomy hospital room, somehow, almost magically, renewing their hope. Flipping her
golden hair behind her shoulder, she leaned against the door frame. “When’s Gabby
gonna wake up, Curly?”
Jumping at the sight of Dani, Justin sighed loudly, “Soon I hope. Come on in
Dani. Don’t just go scaring people.. I’ll need a double bed with Gabby if you scare me
like that again.”
Grinning devilishly, Dani replied, “You’d enjoy that, wouldn’t you?”
Ignoring her comment, Justin announced, “The doctor said that after this next
week, the chances become even less that she’s ever going to wake up.” He looked
thoughtfully at Dani, “That’s not gonna happen. She’s gonna wake up, Dani. Some day..
Some day soon.”
JC shivered and pulled up the collar of his jacket. For a late summer day in
September, there sure was a bite to the air. The familiar gloomy scenes of the hospital
greeted him. Smiling, the security guard at the front desk smiled, “How are you today,
JC?”
Nodding in his direction, JC answered, “Little cold out there, Tom.”
The older man smiled, and turned back to the view of the dozen TV screens that
were in front of him, meant to monitor the first floor.
Taking the elevator up, JC glanced at the dismal faces of his companions in the
elevator. A man in bright green scrubs asked, “You’re in that band? *NSYNC, aren’t
you?” JC nodded, weary of what the man’s response would be. “Sorry to hear about
your friend, Gabby. I hear no one up there is taking it too easily.”
Frowning, JC replied, “She’s going to be fine. She’s going to wake up any day
now.”
House put his hand on JC’s shoulder, spinning him around. “C’mon Jaycee. This
is our stop.”
Inhaling the scents of the hospital, JC wrinkled his nose. Disinfectant filled the air,
the thick smell, still unwelcoming to JC. Looking up, he was greeted with a piercing
stare from House. “You don’t need no bad press, JC. Keep your mouth shut in front of
these people, or I will.”
Frowning, JC barked, “Yeah, whatever.”
Fed up with JC’s constant mood changes in the past few weeks, House slammed
JC into a wall roughly. “Now you listen to me. We all care about Gabby. Justin more
than anybody. You have got to get over this. What are you gonna do if she never wakes
up? What then? You can’t keep acting like that! You’re acting like a pansy. Deal with
life!”
At the raise of the tone of House’s voice, a nurse came running, a security guard in
tow. “Sir! Is there a problem?”
Letting JC off the wall, House looked back at JC for his response. “No problem
here, ma’am. Sorry for the disruption.”
She frowned and replied sternly, “Keep in mind this is a hospital, sir!”
As soon as the small crowd of onlookers left, JC glared at House, and House
asked softly, “Aren’t you scared? Aren’t you scared that, maybe one day.. Gabby’s father
is just gonna tell them.. tell them to let her go? Aren’t you scared that her voice will never
fill a room again? Scared that... scared that Justin won’t be able to let her go?”
Shaking his head, JC replied persistently, “No. No. We can’t give up hope like
that. I won’t. I... can’t.”
Frowning, House began softly, “You see what’s going on with the press. The first
few weeks, they were camped out there day and night. Now there are less and less of
them. They’ve given up on Gabby...”
The sun streamed in, warming JC’s face. He stiffened and replied, “Who cares
about the press? All we care about is Gabby.” His gazed fell towards a large picture
window for a moment, taking in the day outside. However chilly it was, it was definitely
the kind of day that Gabby would have liked. Then JC’s thoughts turned, to Macy. It was
time Macy got out of that hospital bed, and if JC had anything to say about it, today was
the day.
A silent tear dripped down Justin’s cheek as he rest his head on his hand. Things
were looking grim. Gabby had moved slightly, but nothing uttered from her mouth other
than moans. Unfortunately for Justin, the demand was rising for *NSYNC to return to the
road. In a pop world, it was imperative that a band stay on the road and kept their fans
happy, or they’d be gone in 60 seconds.
A shattered heart was all Justin had left. How could he go on without Gabby by
his side? How could he go on without Gabby? Days and nights would come and go.
There would be new cities, new fans, and new girls screaming his name every night. In a
way, none of it mattered to Justin anymore. He felt as though he were an old man. In all
reality, Justin had grown into a man. A man that people looked up to and respected for
his sincerity and dedication to the love of this life. “Gabby. Gabby.. Baby... I sooo badly..
so badly want to be here when you wake up. Come on Sleeping Beauty... Please wake up.
I’ve got to go soon.. and I can’t stand to leave you like this.. You’re so young. We got
so many things that we still have to do- together.”
Sighing loudly, he peered out the
window. Instinctively, his hand fell into Gabby’s own and he choked back tears. “Don’t
you die on me Gabby. We didn’t come this far for nothing. Breathe. Just open those
eyes and breathe.. The whole world just fades away, the only thing I hear is the beating
of your heart.”
A small squeeze shocked Justin. Jumping, he looked down at
Gabby’s hand. Her knuckles were white as she held tightly to his hand. A yell escaped his
mouth, causing him to laugh. “That’s it Gab... Do it. Open ‘em!”
Thick eyelashes that had been shut for what seemed like an eternity now fluttered.
A vision of her deep blue eyes glittered in Justin’s mind, and within seconds, there they
were, open right in front of him, staring into his own eyes. Excitement overwhelming him,
Justin’s lips crashed on Gabby’s cheek.
Instead of pulling her beloved boyfriend to her, however, Gabby pushed him away.
A horrified look on her face, she spat out, “Who are you?!?”
