More waiting ensues, but this time it's not as difficult. Of course, I would be thrilled if Harry would just hop up on his crutches - or on his own two feet would be even better- and walk out of the hospital with me like nothing ever happened. But I know he's coming back, and that's enough to keep me going.

Late in the evening, Harry opens his eyes again and seems to be looking around a bit more. He looks at me with confusion, like he's trying desperately to figure out what's happening. I try to help him calm down but he looks at me with fear in his eyes.

Doesn't he recognize me?

Then he starts to groan and twitch a little and it really freaks me out. I try to ask him simple questions but he can't quite answer me for some reason. He hasn't spoken yet, which concerns me, but the doctors have said that his abilities will come back slowly but surely. Still, I push the nurse call button because it's unsettling to see him like this.

When Kelli shows up, I am so relieved. "Why is he doing that? What's wrong with him?"

Kelli walks over and starts speaking to him in a soothing voice. "Hi Harry, I'm Kelli. I'm glad to see you're awake. You're in the hospital, but you're doing great. Your fiancée has been waiting for you. She's a keeper, you know." She talks to him a bit more and he calms down, thankfully.

I resume my place by his side, running my hand through his hair as she explains to me that it's very common for coma patients to feel confused and agitated when they're first waking up. He may have a hard time making sense of what's going on for a little while, until he can stay awake for longer periods and begin to communicate with us.

She tells me that the best thing I can do is to just talk softly to him and tell him that everything is going to be okay. Stroke his hair, tell him I love him. Do all the things I've been doing. I can handle that.

Another option, which is sort of a last resort thing, is that she can give him a sedative if he ever gets too agitated or upset, but none of us want him to fall back to sleep when he's just waking up.

I continue comforting Harry as Kelli leaves, assuring me that she will be back to check on him soon. His eyes are fluttering closed and then opening again, but I know he can hear me. His face is relaxed and there's even a hint of a smile in his cheeks. "Hi, Baby. Your surgery is over and you've been asleep for a few days. Your mom and dad are here. They just went to get a snack. They will be back very soon. We'll be here whenever you need us. Don't worry. Everything is all right."

I stroke his hair for a long time, until he drifts back to sleep. When Harry's parents return, I update them on his agitated state and how Kelli told me to calm him down. Then I brush my teeth and resume my position on the tiny sliver of Harry's bed. I soon join him in dreamland.

It's still a little scary to see Harry so confused when he tries to wake up. He's clearly upset and we want to calm him down as quickly as possible. When we're attempting to calm him, we always start with "We're here, Harry, and we love you."

His parents sometimes remind him of funny stories about his childhood. They tell him where he is, how old he is, how long he's been here.

I try to replay everything that has happened over the past few weeks, our whirlwind romance, our engagement, his surgery, the coma. Except I never use the word coma; I'm not sure if it will alarm him. I tell him what day it is and that he slept for a few days after his surgery.

We all tell him, "Don't worry. You're getting better. We're all taking good care of you."

Sometimes I kiss his cheek or hold his hand. But he always seems to calm down when I stroke his hair.

About lunch time one day, Scarlett shows up. "I hope you haven't eaten yet," she tells me. I look worriedly at Harry and then at Dr. and Mrs. Styles. I could use a break, but Harry needs me so much right now. I'm not sure what to do.

Mrs. Styles finally says, "Kate, GO! You need a little respite. I will take perfectly good care of Harry." Well, of course that's true. I have known Harry for two months. His mom has obviously been caring for him all his life.

"How about some really good Mexican?" Scarlett asks. "We can walk there from here and be back in an hour." I nod with a sigh of relief.

The delicious smells and bright colors of the restaurant remind me that there is a world outside the ICU. I look around at the smattering of people, a few college students, some men in suits, a family with five kids. They're all here for the same reason as me, to get some great food, probably enjoy the atmosphere. But they can't possibly understand what I've been through in the past days. I feel a bit envious of their seemingly carefree lives.

"Tell me how you met Harry," Scarlett's exquisite eyes draw me back to the present. She's so beautiful.

I am very happy to tell her the tale of how Harry swept me off my feet. "I know we moved really fast. But we both just knew. Something told me that it was right." I feel a little funny saying it out loud but I continue, "I'm starting to realize that God must have wanted us together." And then, "Harry told me that you were a huge support for him after his accident. And that he is a Christian because of you."

Scarlett smiles a knowing smile. "Well, it's not exactly my doing that he's a Christian. I just like to think that I helped a little." She takes a sip of her iced tea, then asks," What about you? Are you a Christian?"

Why did that question seem so loaded? Of course I'm a Christian. My parents made me go to church on Sundays. I used to be really involved. But is that what makes me a Christian?

"I think I am." I'm more ashamed of my answer than I know I should be.

"Do you have a relationship with God?" She gently nudges.

Okay, so yes, I grew up going to church. The concept of a relationship with God isn't completely unfamiliar to me. But my concept of being a Christian is still stuck at an elementary school level. Is there than just going to church, being a good person, and doing all the "right" things?

"I go to church with my family. We've always been pretty involved. I used to do all sorts of things with the other kids in my church, but eventually I stopped. You know, when life handed me more responsibilities." I feel like I'm still a grade school kid trying to answer an adult question.

"Well," Scarlett ventures, "God wants a personal relationship with you. Church is important, of course. But God wants you more than all of the good things you do for Him."

"How do I have a relationship with someone who's not right here in front of me?" I wonder.

"It's a conversation. God speaks. All the time. You just have to practice listening."

A new realization takes over. "Yeah. I think I heard Him in the chapel the other day, telling me to trust Him. And before the surgery, Harry gave me a Bible verse to read. I read it while I was in the chapel, and I felt like God was telling me something from that, too."

Scarlett nods emphatically in agreement.

"So, what does it mean to trust God? I mean, really trust him. You could tell me that you're going to do something for me tomorrow, and I will believe you. I will trust you to do it if you said you would, even though I haven't known you for very long. Trusting God seems so much harder even though He can do anything."

"Trusting God is hard because He doesn't always do things the way we want Him to," Scarlett replies with conviction.

"So," my voice cracks, "Harry might not be the same when he fully wakes up?"

"Oh, I think Harry is coming back." Her warm smile comforts me. "But there will always be unexpected circumstances in your life. God hasn't put you in charge of your life, He wants to be in charge, and for you to trust Him like a little child trusts his parents. So, even if Harry isn't exactly the same after this, God wants you to trust Him even if things don't turn out the way you wanted them to. And he will also help you to accept things the way they are."

I sigh. I'm not exactly sure I understand, but I'm quite sure that I have more letting go to do. Letting go of the way I want things and letting God work things out the way He wants to.

"Don't worry, Kate. Just ask God to help you find your strength in Him. He always answers that prayer."

"Thanks, Scarlett, I really appreciate it."

 I check my watch as we pay the bill and I'm horrified to see that we've been gone for over two hours! Scarlett catches the glance at my wrist and assures me, "It's fine. Mrs. Styles would have called you if anything changed."

On the way back to the hospital, Scarlett tells me how she used to torment Harry when they were kids. "It was so easy to upset him because he has such a tender heart. I would push him and he would never fight back. I used to kick his butt in sports, too."

I laugh at her descriptions of him trying to outdo her in every sport imaginable. She finishes, "He never gave up on anything, but I think that's why he liked running the best. He was always faster than me."

"I'm a runner," I blurt and look at Scarlett apologetically. "I...I think it might bother Harry that I am, you know. I mean, he says he's accepted the way things are but I wonder if it will be hard for him if I keep running and he can't."

"It might be," she admitted. "That's all part of the acceptance and trust stuff I was just talking about. And you and Harry need to be talking to each other about this. Be open with each other. If it bothers Harry enough, I'm sure he'll eventually talk to you about it."

"Do you think maybe I should just...stop? Like, find some other way to work out?"

"Not necessarily," she answered. "We have to wait to see how the surgery went anyway. Who knows? Maybe he will be able to walk and run with you some day. But if not, he'll have to accept that there are things he just can't do and I think that's more about him than about you. But if you feel like it's really painful for him, then yes, maybe you'd want to consider switching your workout. There's no clear answer. Just keep talking to him."

I'm happy I brought it up and I'm so thankful for this past few hours with Scarlett. I've gotten a whole new view of Harry and his life from someone who has known him for years and it's made me love him even more.

When we return to the room, Mrs. Styles apprises me of everything I missed while I was gone. Dr. Carbondale had checked in. He said that Harry's incision is healing very well and that he will be able to take out the stitches soon.

Also, Harry had opened his eyes once and became very distraught. Mrs. Styles said she had a hard time calming him down. "I think he wanted you, Kate."

I gulp down a feeling of guilt. "I'm sorry."

"Oh, don't be sorry, Kate. You needed the break and he's fine now. You look refreshed. You must have had a great time."

"I did, thank you!" Turning to Scarlett, I give her a hug and say, "Thanks so much!"

Even though he's asleep, I stroke Harry's hair and assure him that I'm back. I'm here for him.

The next morning, I awaken in my standard spot next to Harry. I hear the most wonderful sound I've ever heard. A faint, dry, crackly voice next to me whispers, "Katie."

* * * * *

Don't forget to tell me what you think.

Oh, and because it's my BIRTHDAY, (Yes, I still shamelessly tout my birthday because it only comes once a year!) I wanted to share my oldest daughter's sweet message to me from this morning. She's the one who's in Dublin, Ireland for a year, so I was thrilled to get this: