Chapter 60

Rudolf's POV
“I’m fine, honey. I will always try to take care of your health for you and Mommy,” I replied, trying to reassure him even though my own heart was in a fragile state. As a father, it was important to me to show resilience, so that my children wouldn’t have to worry more than they already did.
“When Mom wakes up, we should all be together. Right, Dad?” Emma added, her voice shaky but hopeful.
“Yes, we will be together again. We will all get through this,” I said, trying to build confidence amidst the uncertainty.
The children sat closer to Mikayla’s bedside, and despite my cheerfulness, my eyes could feel the depth of their pain. I wanted so badly for them to feel some peace in their hearts, so that the burden wouldn’t feel so heavy.
“Can we sing for Mom?” Daniel asked, suggesting something sweet.
“Right! We could sing her favorite song,” Emma replied, her face seemingly glowing with renewed enthusiasm.
I smiled, touched. “Sure, that would be a great idea. Let’s do that.” We began to sing softly, the songs Mikayla had always sung with such love. My hope is that she can feel our voices and know that we are here for her.
While singing, I feel as if we are sending love to Mikayla. These simple moments may not change the situation, but I am sure that with sincere love, everything will change over time.
Suddenly, I saw a small movement in Mikayla's hand. My heart was beating fast, a mixture of hope and anxiety inside me. Without waiting any longer, I immediately called the doctor to check Mikayla's condition.
"Doc! Please come here, quickly!" I shouted, my voice trembling with excitement.
Not long after, the doctor and several nurses rushed into the ICU room. He looked at Mikayla and checked the monitors around her. A greater sense of patience than before was spinning in my mind. I couldn't wait for good news.
"How is it, Doc? Is that a sign that she will wake up?" I asked, full of hope.
The doctor focused on examining Mikayla, then looked at me with a faint smile. "We need to see if it's a spontaneous response. Let’s watch for a while longer,” she said, and picked up the medical records.
I just wanted Mikayla back in my arms, to feel her warm hold and her soft voice that always soothed my soul. As we all waited in silence, I felt my heartbeat competing with the beat of the machine that was watching her.
“Come on, Mommy! We’re here for you,” I whispered, hoping that every word I said would send positive energy into her.
After what felt like hours, Mikayla suddenly moved again, this time more clearly. My eyes widened with hope. “Doc! She’s moving again!” I exclaimed.
The doctor immediately took a step closer, then examined Mikayla more carefully. “These are good signs. Let’s try to wake her up slowly.”
With a pounding heart, I waited for the moment. Seconds passed, but they felt like an eternity.
The doctor began to slowly call Mikayla’s name, “Mikayla, can you hear me? We’re here for you.”
Every second felt like a hidden hope. I just wanted to see her smile, I just wanted her to know that we had waited and missed her so much.
“Open your eyes, honey. We missed you so much,” I urged, holding back the tears that wanted to flow.
Soon, we saw Mikayla’s eyes moving behind her eyelids.
My heart fluttered; I had been waiting for this good news for days.
“She… she’s starting to open her eyes,” one of the nurses said excitedly.
I could hardly believe it. After a week of anxiety and hope, Mikayla was finally awake. “Rudolf,” she called me in a weak voice, and my heart melted hearing my name come out of her mouth.
Tears of joy welled up in my eyes. “Mikayla, I’m here!” I answered, trying to hold back my overwhelming emotions. Look, she’s back. She’s back! However, the situation was still unstable, and the doctors immediately took action.
“Okay, we need to monitor the patient’s condition further. The family is asking to leave for a while,” the doctor said in a firm but gentle tone.
“No problem, I’ll wait outside,” I said, even though my heart wanted to stay by her side. I had to give the medical team space to do their job and make sure Mikayla got the best care.
As I stepped out of the ICU, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Finally, after all the sadness and worry, hope had come. Mikayla was awake!
The children also heard the movement outside, and I hoped that they would soon hear the good news. “Emma, Daniel, your mother is awake!” I called them, and saw their faces light up with enthusiasm.
“Seriously, Dad? Mommy is awake?” Daniel asked, his eyes wide with hope.
“Yes, she called my name. We have to be patient a little longer, so the doctor can make sure everything is okay,” I replied, trying to keep their spirits up even though the impatience had not completely disappeared.
We gathered in the waiting area and all shared a sense of relief and happiness, waiting for further news from the doctor. The next steps would be our shared steps as a family, and I promised to always be by their side.
We waited outside the ICU, praying and hoping that Mikayla would recover fully and be able to return to our arms.
Not long after, the doctor came out of the ICU with a calm face. He approached me and asked me to sign the paper so that Mikayla could be transferred to a regular care room. My feelings immediately overflowed with gratitude and relief.
“Finally, she will be moved to a more comfortable place,” I told the doctor, feeling hopeful.
“Yes, she has shown very good progress. However, we will continue to monitor her condition in the regular ward. This is a positive step towards recovery,” the doctor replied, giving me a reassuring smile.
I immediately took a pen and signed the necessary paperwork without hesitation. Every stroke of the pen on the paper seemed to symbolize my hope that Mikayla would recover fully soon.
After finishing, the doctor directed us to prepare to welcome Mikayla to the regular ward. “We will move her in a few minutes. Let’s get everything ready so she will be comfortable when we get there,” he said.