I lie still, absorbing the sound. I don't move at first because I just want to bask in the joy of hearing Harry's voice. Eventually, though, I sit up and look at his fluttering eyes. "Welcome back, Baby. I missed you."

His eyes open and his mouth is able to twitch up into a small smile. However, when he tries to speak again, his voice barely cooperates, a crackling, whispering sound. "I...I'm...sorry."

"Harry," I shake my head. "Please. You have nothing to be sorry about. You're here now and I'm not afraid any more."

Mrs. Styles wakes up to our whispered conversation and hurries over. "Good morning, sweetheart. It's so nice to see you awake."

"Hi, Mom," he croaks. Even with those simple words, I'm overjoyed. Harry is awake and he is alive and I couldn't be more thankful. His mum leans over and kisses his forehead.

I press the call button and ask Michelle, the nurse for this shift, if I can give him some water. I don't want him choking if he's not ready to drink, but his parched tongue must be so uncomfortable. She brings a small cup of water with a straw and helps Harry to take a sip. I ask her if she can also bring something for his dry lips, and she returns with a small tube. I take a bit of the petroleum jelly on my finger and smooth it on for him.

Michelle informs us that Dr. Horowitz will be in soon to check on Harry's progress. I desperately need a bit of food and some coffee before that happens. I hate to leave, but I need sustenance. "Mrs. Styles, I'm going to get some food. Would you like anything?" She shakes her head, saying she will get something a little later. Michelle gets to work on Harry's vitals while I slip out the door.

I order a breakfast wrap and a large coffee from the snack bar down the hall. Just as I'm approaching Harry's room, I hear a familiar voice behind me, "Kate?" It takes me several seconds to process that voice, but I'm sure I wake up every other patient in ICU when I squeal, "Dani?"

Subsequently, I am shushed by the nurses. "Sorry," I whisper my apology.

My best friend strides toward me and hugs me tight, trying not to disturb the hot drink in my hand. She plants a giant kiss on my cheek and then hugs me again. I motion for her to follow me into the room. I set down the food and launch into, "What...How...? You're here!" I finally sputter.

She giggles and says, "Of course, I'm here. I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner, but today is the only day I've had off in weeks. And I didn't even know about Harry until I called your house last Saturday. Oh, my gosh, Kate, I'm so sorry." She hugs me again.

"He woke up two days ago!" I sound like a little kid on Christmas morning. "Obviously, he's sleeping right now," I motion to Harry who has dozed off again, even while Michelle was finishing his vitals. "But he's out of the coma, and he said my name." The emotion takes me by surprise, but I start crying tears of joy as Dani grabs me for yet another hug.

Mrs. Styles is sitting off to the side, watching our reunion with a smile on her face. I turn and make introductions and tell her that Dani is here to visit for the day. She extends her hand, "Nice to meet you, Dani." Then she closes her eyes to catch a few more winks until Harry reawakens.

Dani smiles and returns her focus to me. "Oh, Kate, I'm so happy. I can't imagine what you were going through. First my bestie falls in love and gets engaged over Christmas break," she stops and dramatically drops her mouth open to convey her absolute shock. "But then your fiancé is in a coma! It's like a soap opera." I know that she is not intending to make light of our situation at all; that's just Dani's drama-queen way of processing things.

"And, oh my gosh, Kate," she whispers. "He's hot!" And then we're laughing and giggling just the way we used to in high school.

Soon, the room is bustling with activity again. Dr. Horowitz arrives for his evaluation. He gently wakes Harry up and asks him to respond to a number of commands. Harry's eyes follow the doctor's penlight, he can wiggle fingers and thumbs, and he is able to nod or shake his head in response to the doctors many questions. Dr. Horowitz finishes by telling us that Harry is doing remarkably well in terms of return of his cognitive abilities. He will still be very tired for a few days as he comes out of the fog. Over all, though, the doctor tells us that he is very encouraged by Harry's progress.

Sighs of relief are breathed around the room, and I move in to introduce my best friend to the love of my life. Dani touches Harry's arm and tells him, "It's wonderful to meet you. I think you've made my best friend very happy."

Harry smiles a bit more and says, "She makes me very happy, too. She's awesome." He turns his focus to me and very slowly asks, "Did we get married?"

I bite my lip to stifle a laugh and answer, "Not yet, Babe. You asked me on New Year's Eve and I said yes. But that was only ten days ago. You haven't been sleeping for that long. Maybe I confused you because I went on and on about planning our wedding."

Dani and I step out while Harry's parents take over, catching up with their son who has been missing in action for five days. The Styles have been exceptionally gracious to let me take a front seat during his hospital drama, so it only seems right that I give them some space while my best friend is visiting. We leave the ICU and stroll the halls of the hospital. We visit each little gift shop and coffee shop nestled in every corner of the hospital.

We spend hours catching up. I take her through every detail of our whirlwind romance. I tell her about the proposal and then remember, "I found my dress already!" I pull up a picture of it on my phone so she can "ooh" and "aah" over my bridal gown.

"Of course, I want you to be my maid of honor," I tell her.

"Absolutely!" She agrees.

"Great! We'll have to get to work on choosing bridesmaid dresses then," I continue.

I confide in Dani that I thought I was in love with Harry after the first week, but I second-guessed myself, thinking it couldn't possibly happen that fast. "Oh, and then my mom freaked when I told her we were engaged," I say dramatically.

"Ha ha, I bet she did!" Dani agrees, knowing that my mom can be a little too over-protective. "Kate, you've never rushed into anything in your life. But I know that Harry is right for you. You're ready for this. I can see it in you."

"So, how did you like Dani?" I ask Harry after she's left. "She drove all the way from Chicago just for the day."

"She's nice," he utters in a husky voice.

"And she thinks you're hot." I watch as the words cause a small smile to appear on his lips. Lips that I can't wait to kiss again. "But that's too bad. You're all mine now." I lean in and he is finally able to weakly kiss me back.

We sit silently for a bit and then he starts talking more than he has all day.

"When I get out of the hospital, I'll have to take you to my high school. I want to introduce you to my friends. They will love you. Especially Dave and Scarlett. They're my best friends."

"Oh, honey, I met them already! They came by to visit and-" I decide not to tell him about their engagement. I'm sure they'll be eager to tell him now that he's awake. "Well, they came to visit when we were waiting for you to wake up."

"Oh," he says with a crooked little smile. "That's cool. So, yeah, I think you guys will get along. Did they say anything about spring break? We were talking about driving down to South Padre."

My eyes widen in confusion. "Um, no, they didn't mention that."

He starts talking aimlessly about high school sports and extracurriculars and how he's excited for baseball to start in the spring. I listen patiently and I don't correct anything he's saying but I start to wonder if he thinks he's still in the hospital after the car accident.

"Try to get some rest, okay?" I finally suggest as he yawns. I begin to stroke his hair and as he dozes off, I choke back the lump of anxiety in my throat.

Gemma and Mike bustle in around 6:00 PM. There is much celebration as we retell the story of Harry's waking. Gemma moves to Harry and asks him, "Do you want to feel the baby moving? Right here." She puts his hand directly on her belly.

His eyes pop wide open. "I felt it!" Harry becomes more animated than I've seen him in a long time as a giant grin spreads across his face.

Gemma continues, "I've been telling him all about his uncle." She exaggerates the words so Harry will get the hint.

"It's a boy?!" He is so excited that his monitors start beeping. He keeps pushing on Gemma's belly to feel his nephew squirming around.

Dr. and Mrs. Styles throw their arms around Gemma in delight. I'm sure they couldn't be any happier. Harry is alive, and now they know they will have a grandson in just a few months. My face flushes an entirely new shade of red when Gemma nudges me and says, "You and Harry will have to get to work on a cousin after you get married."

Not only am I thrilled for Mike and Gemma, but I relax when I see glimpses of the real Harry. However, before drifting off to sleep for the night, Harry asks me again, "Did we get married yet?"

Why is he asking me that again?

"Not yet, Baby. We've only been engaged for ten days. How about May? I've started to plan the wedding already, and we discussed a spring wedding a few times."

"Oh, yeah. I remember that now." He relaxes and closes his eyes.

I know that everyone keeps saying that confusion is normal for a coma patient who is just waking up.

Then why am I still so scared?

* * * * *

One step forward, two steps back...