CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Waiting.

The act of waiting was a form of torture, made even more agonizing when it involved the life of a loved one. The uncertainty and anxiety that came with waiting to find out if someone was going to be alright or not was unbearable. Every passing second felt like an eternity, and the not knowing made time seem to move even slower. The waiting game was a test of patience and faith, leaving everyone affected feeling helpless and desperate for answers.

Five long, agonizing months had passed, and Serena remained in a deep comatose state, showing no signs of waking up. Her family and friends continued to visit every day, holding onto the hope that each day would be the one where they would hear her voice, see her smile, and look into her beautiful dark brown eyes again.

The days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, but there was no change in her condition. Every visit was filled with a mixture of hope, a flicker of anticipation, and the crushing disappointment of seeing her still lying there, unresponsive.

Paul's usual anger was nowhere to be seen, replaced instead by long silences and a general air of detachment. The boys noticed that he was unusually quiet and withdrawn, finding him most often staring off into the distance. There was only one exception, Billy, who was the sole person he seemed comfortable talking to anymore.

The only time Paul would open up and discuss his feelings was with Billy. In those moments, he finally allowed himself to voice the pain, fear, and frustration he was feeling. Other than that, he seemed to retreat into himself, his normally fiery spirit extinguished by the weight of Serena's condition.

Embry stepped into Serena's hospital room and spoke up, "Hey, Paul, it's time to go." Paul stood beside Serena's bed, wearing his graduation gown. Today was the day he was finally supposed to graduate, but the circumstances could not be further from ideal.

"I know," Paul muttered, reluctantly getting up from the chair by her bedside. He leaned down and placed a tender kiss on her forehead, his sigh filled with a mixture of sadness and resignation.

Embry could sense the pain in Paul's eyes, knowing all too well how badly Serena would have wanted to be present at this milestone moment in Paul's life.

Paul wanted nothing more than to have Serena by his side, smiling proudly as he received his diploma. The fact that she was not there to share this achievement with him was a bitter pill to swallow.

As Paul stepped out of the hospital, he was greeted by the sight of the other boys, Leah, and Emily waiting by their vehicles. Just like them, he had secretly hoped that Serena would have awakened by now, but it seemed fate had other plans.

...

Carlisle went through his regular routine, conducting daily check-ups on all his patients, including Serena. As he touched her arm to check her vitals, her eyes suddenly snapped open, taking him by surprise.

Carlisle could hardly believe his eyes as Serena's eyelids fluttered open. A wide smile spread across his face as he greeted her with a mix of relief and joy.

"Oh, my," he repeated, his voice filled with delight. "Welcome back, Serena Black."

Serena looked at Carlisle, her voice slightly hoarse as she inquired, "How long has it been?" She attempted to sit up, and Carlisle instinctively reached out to assist her, but she gently gestured for him to stop, insisting, "It's fine, Dr. Cullen. I feel alright."

Carlisle confirmed, "It's been five months." 

Serena's eyes widened in shock, and she exclaimed, "What?! It only felt like..." Her voice trailed off, replaced by a mixture of surprise and realization.

Carlisle chuckled, both amused and amazed by her sudden surge of energy. He continued to examine her, making sure everything was in order.

He observed, "It's truly surprising that you are in good health, considering that people who wake up from a coma usually experience withdrawal-like symptoms." Serena chuckled nervously, still adjusting to the situation.

Despite not actively disliking Carlisle, she couldn't shake off a certain level of uneasiness around vampires, particularly given her traumatizing past encounter with one.

Serena's heart rate began to accelerate as she tried to calm herself, and Carlisle noticed her disquiet.

"Are you feeling alright?" He asked, unable to ignore the way her heart rate increased.

Despite her internal panic, Serena nodded, attempting to slow down her racing heart. Strangely enough, there was something about Carlisle that brought her a sense of calm. She found herself taking deep methodical breaths, gradually managing to compose herself.

Carlisle observed the change in her heart rate, pleased to see it returning to a more normal rhythm. He watched her take slow, deep breaths, and it was evident that she was regaining composure.

"That's better," he said encouragingly. "Just breathe."

Serena continued to focus on her breathing, slowly inhaling and exhaling in a steady rhythm. The more she practiced, the easier it became to regain control over her racing heart and anxious thoughts.

Carlisle kept a watchful eye on her, ensuring that she stayed calm and steady.

Serena glanced over at the digital calendar on the wall, her eyebrows knitting together in surprise. She pointed it out to Carlisle and said, "Dr. Cullen, please tell me that can't be the real date."

Carlisle turned towards the calendar and realized what she was referring to. He responded, "Ah, right. Today is Paul's graduation day."

Serena abruptly rose from the bed, her determination overshadowing any concerns about the IV still attached to her arm. She exclaimed, "No! I can't miss it!"

Carlisle could sense what she wanted and looked at her knowingly.