no pov -

it's been 7 days since leilani slipped into a coma.

everyone has been coming to see her and check on her, leaving gifts and their thoughts and prayers.

billie has not left her side though. not once. she has slept in the chair next to lani since she arrived to the hospital.

the staff would bring billie food from the cafeteria because they felt so bad.

after 2 days, margie came back and politely forced billie to take a shower in the hospital's bathroom, saying that'd she'd sit next to lani while she showered. because of course billie did not want leilani to be alone at any time.

"billie," margie sighed as she walked in the room. "cmon you gotta at least shower."

"marg-"

"billie," she said sterner. "have you even eaten anything?"

"yes, the staff has been bringing me their nasty ass food," billie rolled her eyes. "they're sweet though."

"okay well please go shower or something. i'll sit by lani," marg insisted.

billie sighed. "okay," she got up and went into the bathroom.

she showered and then came back out.

margie was rubbing her thumb on leilani's forehead with her lip poked out.

"marg?" billie said sadly as she watched.

margie just looked at billie and then back at leilani. the look she gave billie spoke for itself.

billie teared up. "do you think-"

"i don't know," margie cut her off. "i don't know. what i do know is that you should get some fresh air. how bout we take a walk?"

billie agreed to walk so the two went outside and walked down the street.

"are you hopeful?" billie looked at margie, but margie shook her head no without saying anything.

"not to be pessimistic but," she shrugged. "i think it's best for me to not get my hopes up."

billie nodded in agreement. "if that was her last time conscious, i'm glad that we did something sweet right before. the picnic was so cute."

"me too," margie nodded. "i'm glad y'all got to have that time."

"margie i really hope that wasn't our last time together," billie started crying.

"me neither billie," margie hugged her. "me neither."

"i don't want her to go," billie sobbed into her arms. "i don't know what to do without her."

"we're gonna get through this b," margie cried too as she squeezed her in the hug. "i promise."

"i'm not leaving until she wakes up," billie said as the hug broke.

margie sighed and nodded as she knew billie was serious. probably more serious than she's ever been in her life.

margie had went back to their (leilani and billie's) house and packed an overnight bag for billie since she knew she wasn't leaving anytime soon.

she packed clothes, toiletries, snacks, books, etc.

"thanks marg," billie hugged her as she took the large duffel bag from her.

"your welcome billie," margie grinned.

marg was hopeless, as was the rest of leilani's loved ones. they didn't wanna be but based on her family's genetic medical history, it was all lining up to be the same.

it had been a week and she had not waken up. billie was subconsciously hopeless, not wanting to admit that she didn't think leilani was coming back.

                                 billie's pov -

everyday since lani went into a coma, i wake up, go in the bathroom and just cry.

cry at the fact that she's not coming back.

cry at the fact that i have to plan her funeral.

cry at the fact that 6 months after i married the girl of my dreams, i'll become a widow.

cry at the fact that i would now have lost my daughter and my wife.

kaia was mine.

this is day 7 of lani still being in a coma. no one is hopeful, not even me. but none of us wanna face the fact of losing the biggest light of our lives.

i was in the bathroom, staring into the mirror. thinking of what i'm going to do once she passes.

keep her house in hawaii? live out here for good?

or sell the house and go back to california??

should i sing at her funeral? no, i'd break into pieces.

i don't know.

i walked out of the bathroom and walked over to her bed. i leaned over and kissed her forehead before sitting down in the chair next to the bed.

i grabbed her hand and held it, as i've done everyday. i then leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes.

then i heard a knock on the door.

"huh?" i answered.

one of the nurses, meg, came in. she was one of the younger ones, the one who's been coming in to check on me and lani all day, everyday. "mrs. o'connell? ready for lunch?"

"no thank you," i shook my head.

"mrs. o'connell," she started with a straight face. "you haven't eaten in days. i cannot sit and watch you-"

"i don't have an appetite!" i snapped, kinda scaring her.

meg didn't take it personal as she knew i was stressed out. she took a deep breath, being patient with me. "have you at least been drinking water?" she asked calmly.

"no," i shook my head and looked down.

"okay you're probably very dehydrated," she started. "if you don't drink some now, i will put an iv in you billie."

i looked up at her and realized she wasn't playing around. "alright fine," i sighed.

"okay," she grinned. "i'll be right back."

once meg left out, i kissed lani's hand, still intertwined with mine.

"lani please," i said sadly. "i can't do this without you."

then i felt her finger move.

i slightly gasped. "lani?" i tapped her leg.

but nothing.

"leilani," i got closer to her. "can you hear me?"

but still, she was sleep.

"if you can hear me please do something," i begged.

her finger moved again.

"oh my god," i slightly gasped again. "lani! oh my god!" i started to get excited.

"billie?" meg came back in the room frantic. "what's wrong?"

"meg she moved!" i smiled probably for the first time in a week. "she moved i swear to god!"

"what? where?" she got closer to lani.

"her fingers!" i exclaimed.

"leilani," meg said, putting equipment on and what not. "can you hear me, love?"

nothing.

"hold her hand! hold her hand!" i shouted to meg.

meg grabbed lani's hand while i stood back in distress. "leilani if you can hear me, do something," she said.

nothing.

"billie, it may have just been a nerve of hers," meg looked at me. "that can happen sometimes."

"no i'm telling you," i got sad again. "i swear like she answered me. here move let me do it!" i lowkey pushed meg out the way. not rudely though.

i grabbed lani's hand and squeezed it. "lani please," i started. "i love you," i said lowly in her ear as i squeezed her hand 3 times to sync with i love you.

10 seconds passed by.

"billie," meg started, shaking her head.

then, lani's fingers moved against my hand but this time, they moved 4 times.

4

as in i love you too.

meg slightly gasped. "oh my god," she said. "i'll be right back," she rushed out.

"lani baby," i said, cupping her face with my hands. "don't give up please. we see you. keep pushing."

then two doctors busted in the room. "watch out mrs. o'connell," they said as they quickly approached the bed.

meg then gently pulled me back and held me as they gathered around my lani.

"so is she awake?" i asked meg.

"i don't know billie that's what they're trying to see."

several minutes passed. several minutes that felt like forever.

"holy shit," one of the doctors said lowly.

"what? what?" i exclaimed as i ran up to the bed.

i slightly gasped at the sight.

"lani?" i said before covering my mouth in shock.

she blinked at me and slowly smiled.