"Every second here without you I pretend we're skin to skin. Every single breath reminds that you never ever left.

Every time I think about you I can feel my hand give in. Cuz you're keeping me safe and warm, even when I'm home alone.

Wearing nothing but your cologne."

- Selena Gomez

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I PUBLISHED CHAPTER 53 AND 54 BEFORE THIS.

Don't miss out.

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"We are going to remove his ventilator today, he's breathing on his own," the doctor explains. "We'll keep him under observation for the whole night. If he has no problem in breathing he'll not go back on the ventilator."

They removed his ventilator but later Christian had difficulty in breathing. He's back on the ventilator.

We don't know what to expect next.

I pray everyday for his health. But along with it I'm slowly losing myself. He has showed little signs of improvement but the doctors say it's been only a week. We can expect good news soon.

I hope what they are saying is true.

"He is breathing fine on his own now, Ms. Forbes. He'll not be needing the ventilator now. He's improving. He's very better than he was three weeks ago."

I close my eyes in relief. Finally some good news.

The doctor leaves me alone with him. I sit next to him and after three long weeks I feel his lips on mine. They're not responsive so I rest my lips against his what feels like forever.

A tear escapes my eye and lands on his cheek. I gently wipe it away and rest my head against his hand.

"I love you, baby. Please wake up soon."

"You are going out and that's final. You can't stay here forever. It's been six weeks," Rico argues while Amara behind him agrees with her small baby bump showing.

"Guys, I have to be there when he wakes up. Did you but see? He moved his hand. I saw it. The doctor saw. Lorenzo say it."

"That was hours ago and he has not moved an inch since then," Rico groans.

I flinch back at his statement and it doesn't go unnoticed.

"I'm sorry, Tori. I didn't mean it like that," he starts.

"But you did, Rico. You guys can leave. I'm about to read him a book anyways," I wave them off going back in the room.

He was shifted to a room from the ICU a while ago. He's looks way better. His bruises have faded. His skin is very slowly going back to it's original color but he's still healing. His bullet wound is still very sensitive.

I sit there next to him on the small sofa seat that Lorenzo arranged for me and read the Great Gatsby to Christian. His favorite classic novel.

I finish the two chapters and set aside the novel.

My mind wanders off to the incident that happened a week ago. He had a seizure and things took a turn for the worst. It had scared us all so much. Karla was visiting as well.

Lorenzo somehow convinced her to rest because her health weakened. Lorenzo has made it his own mission to nurse him back to health.

Another good news I got was that Ricci and his son were killed during the blasts and as per the rules, the Vasquez's got a hold of all his properties, all his business and shares making them the biggest mafia in Italy.

Many hours passed by without any movement or sign of change from Christian.

Rico could've been right.

"I was thinking of cutting my hair short. God knows what kind of tantrum you'd throw if you found out about it," I giggle as I file Christian's over grown hair. "But I do have an appointment today and I am going to do something new with my hair. Hopefully you like it."

"You know how boring it gets withouts you around? Rico is a total ass, as usual. Amara is... pregnant. Very hormonal and Karla? She's planning our wedding."

"I wish you were with us. She asks for my opinion but I know nothing," I chuckle.

The laughs suddenly turn into cried when I know he's not going to wake up anytime soon.

I peck his forehead and his lips until the feel of his lips on mine is embedded in my brain.

I get into be next to him with my hand intertwined with his and close to my eyes to get a much needed sleep.

Three months. It's been three months since he's been in a coma and I can't help but let go of all the hope I had. The doctors are saying it can take years until he wakes up. Nothing is known for sure.

My uncle has been blasting my phone non stop. They've not seen me since the last five months. I've started working in this hospital with cancer patients. It has taken my mind off of things.

Lorenzo has his house under renovation but he bought a really huge mansion for us to live in. Lorenzo didn't say it but he bought it for Christian and I so we don't have to go back to that place ever again.

And I've done it. I chopped off my hair till my shoulders and got some golden highlights. When I went to the hair appointment I couldn't do it. But this time I knew I wanted a change so I did it.

And I absolutely love it. It's exactly what I needed.

Amara is also five months along. They were suppose to get married when they announced so they would've been a married couple before the baby arrived but Francis couldn't do it without his best man.

Everyday reminds us how Christian is absent from our lives. But I know he is going to wake up. And when he does everything will be alright.

I'm hopeful but some days I'm not.

I never saw him move his hand ever again. It was just a one time thing just like Rico said. I was obsessing over it too much.

As I end my last round of the night I think about how much Christian has changed my life. For the better.

I open the door to Christian's room and with a smile I strut over to him. He looks so much better. If someone got a look at him now, they'd think he's asleep. He's gotten his glow back. His lips are again nice and full. I had shaved some of his hair from the sides of his but from the top they are long but it's kind of growing on me.

It makes him look younger than he already is.

I sit next to him and give him a kiss making sure my lips linger as usual. I'm thankful everyday that I get to see him and he's not buried six feet under the ground.

"Good evening, babe," I comb back his hair with my fingers while I gaze at him.

Then the most unexpected thing happens. His eyes flutter open and he gives me a cheeky smile, "Good evening to you too, baby."

I shoot up from my place and put a hand to my mouth, gasping for air.

"What? Christian?"

"That's me, Thea."

"Oh my God," my eyes tear up as I walk back to him and cup his face. "You're up. I'm not dreaming."

"You're not dreaming," he takes a hold of my shaking hand and kisses it.

I laugh and cry at the same. "Can I kiss you?"

"Kiss me a million times baby. I missed you."

I slowly put my lips on his and after three whole months his lips respond to me. He kisses me back tenderly. It makes me cry harder. I press the bell that calls the doctor from where I sit then kiss him again.

He's up.

Gosh, he's up.

"I love the new hair," he plays with the short strand.

I laugh and kiss him again. And again.

The door opens and the doctor and nurses rush in the room and a look of surprise registers on their face when they see Christian up and grinning.

"When did he wake up?" The doctor asks as he checks Christian's vitals.

"I came in two minutes ago and sat next to him. The next thing I know, he's opening his eyes," I explain breathlessly.

"His vitals look absolutely fine," the astonished gaze if the doctor meets mine. "It's a miracle that he's up."

"Do you remember what happened before you got hurt, young man?" The doctor asks him.

"Yes," Christian nods but he doesn't elaborate. We haven't told him the cover story.

Even though everybody knows what exactly happened no one can really say it out loud. The police can be involved and they'd be arrested.

I look at at Christian and he gives me a nod confirming he remembers everything.

"You've been in a coma for about three months," the doc informs him.

"Three months?" Christian looks at me, completely lost.

I nod, confirming what the doctor said.

"How are you feeling now?" One of nurses ask him as they give him a shot of glucose.

"I feel totally fine."

They stay there for a few minutes asking all type of questions while I call Lorenzo and tell him the good news.

I honestly think Lorenzo cried in relief hearing this.

"Your fiancee was here with you the whole time. You are a very lucky man. I'd say you're up here only because of her live and support because what just happened is a miracle."

"I don't disagree for a moment doctor."

He looks at me with such intensity that I almost melt at the spot.

They all leave and sit next to him.

"So about that wedding planning?"

Gosh I love him.

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I could write this for forever but I don't wanna drag it. It's almost the end. Thank you all for sticking around. ❤️

Two more left ◀️