Episode 50: Scene Three
Trace ran a trembling hand through his thick mess of brown hair. He'd been sitting in the small chair outside of Kim's doorway for over an hour, having been unmoving since Cliff's departure earlier. Doctors and nurses passing through the hallway had glanced at him in sympathy in pity, but that was the last thing Trace wanted.
Believing he had heard his name called out, Trace looked up from the floor. Running down the hallway were Kate and Chloe, who had called earlier to offer their support. He managed to smile weakly to give them a little of the hope that he lacked but desperately needed.
"Hey, Trace. Has anything changed?" Kate asked, out of breath.
Trace nodded soberly, his eyes pools of despair and his lips pallid and chapped. "She's awake, but they say she can't talk much."
"They say? Trace, don't tell me you haven't been in there to see your girlfriend!" Chloe exclaimed incredulously.
Trace buried his face in his hands. "I just can't do it, Chloe," he replied groggily. "I can't put myself through this."
"You can't put yourself through this? Try putting yourself in Kim's place. How do you think she feels?" Chloe interrogated, trying but failing to keep the harshness out of her voice.
"Chloe, this isn't the time," Kate whispered quietly.
"No, I think it is!" Chloe snapped. "Trace, you need to quit feeling sorry for yourself and get your butt in there!"
"I haven't been feeling sorry for myself, Chloe!" Trace sprang up, his eyes now flaring and angry. "I have been waiting outside of this room for days, hoping and praying that everything will be all right with Kim. I have stood by her faithfully and dutifully, yet you tell me I need to quit feeling sorry for myself."
Chloe's steely gaze faltered. "No, I-I just meant..."
"No, I know what you meant, Chloe. I understand that Kim is a good friend of yours. You have every right to be worried about her," Trace's tone softened as he looked back up at her. "We've just gotta hope that everything's going to be okay."
"Trace," a doctor's voice called to him gently, "Kim would like to see you now."
Trace's eyes widened in disbelief. He could only point to himself and mouth the word, "me."
The woman nodded and smiled. "She just woke up again, and she said she wanted to see you."
"Thank you."
Kate squeezed Trace's hand hopefully. "Maybe this is a sign. Maybe she's telling us that everything's going to be okay."
"Yeah," Trace responded almost inaudibly, "We can hope."