Chapter 52 - Don't Tell Me That!

Chapter 52: Don't tell me that!

The brain is a complex thing. Even after years of professionals studying it, no headway has been made. So McKenna has no way of knowing how to react. Normally, grieving people would yell or scream or share their grief somehow but she was McKenna. She wasn't normal.

Her feet stayed rooted to the ground, like electricity had passed through her and she was unable to move. But one thing she knew for sure was that, time slowed down and she was caught in a loop.

"I am sorry; I did everything I could..." 

It was about the only thing McKenna heard before she was caught in a time loop. 

McKenna focused on her breathing.

Slowly, everything else faded into the background. And just the sound of intake and exhaling of air remained behind.

She stared at the lady with wide open eyes as if she blinked it would be a reality....her reality. 

"We did everything we could but we couldn't..."

The lady repeated herself like McKenna didn't hear her the first time. 

"I am sorry but he is dead. Is there anyone I can call for you?"

There was no one, stop talking now! McKenna would love to yell those words at the lady. She was talking while her whole world just exploded.

"McKenna! McKenna!"

Someone was shaking her. McKenna turned and it was Elena. She blinked to refocus her brain.

"What are you doing standing here? Are you not going to go inside the reception?"

McKenna looked around and she was outside not inside. There was no lady and there was no time loop anymore.

"I don't think I can, Elena. I just created everything in my head just now where I walk up to that lady and ask of Jason. And the lady behind the counter tells me she is sorry that she did everything. She told me he died"

Elena held her hand and stared right into her eyes.

"Jason is not dead. Come on, we've got to find your man, babe"

Slowly, McKenna entered the hospital and met the woman behind the counter.

Elena waited a second or so for McKenna to ask the question but she didn't and Elena did it for her.

"We are to see Jason Ekoh-Yagazie" 

The woman smiled warmly before asking "Are you family?"

And again, Elena waited for McKenna to answer but she didn't and so again, she answered for her.

"She is his wife" Elena smiled but her smile didn't reach her eyes.

"Mr. Ekoh-Yagazie requested that only his family members were allowed in his room"

"So, he is alive?" McKenna said something at last.

"Yes ma'am"

McKenna let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding in and to stop her left hand from shaking, she placed it at her back.

"Can I see him?"

"Yes ma'am. Take the elevator, last floor room 2" 

Ten seconds later, McKenna was standing in front of the room. She hesitated. For two seconds she hesitated. It was long but it was enough for Elena to notice.

"Go on in, I will grab some snacks in the cafeteria. I haven't eaten anything" Elena smiled softly at her before walking away.

McKenna opened the door and she saw him.

He was on the bed hooked up to a machine.

"Hey" His voice was steady. He stared at her like he wasn't expecting her.

McKenna felt tears on her cheeks "Are you okay?"

Jason always hated seeing her cry. It made him uncomfortable and he hated it. He hated seeing her hurt.

"Baby, I am alright. It's not actually a heart attack, okay? It's kind of funny, you know"

McKenna moved closer to him. She wanted to see him fully.

"What did the doctor say?"

Jason smiled weakly before answering "It turns out that… my heart broke due to emotional stress or trauma. I didn't even know that was a thing. It's called broken heart syndrome, I think. I guess it the universe's way of telling me I can't live without you. So, joke's on me for thinking for a second that I can. I am sorry. I am so-so sorry, Oma"

McKenna moved closer and hugged him tightly, her tears wetting his back.

"Oh my God, I did this to you" 

Jason pulled her back and he placed both his hands on her face.

"No. No baby, you didn't. I did this to us. I made you feel like you are not a priority to me and as soon as that happened, I broke a promise. I love you, McKenna and you will always be my priority"

McKenna hugged him again and kissed his neck. "I broke a promise too. I shouldn't have left because it got difficult. We are McKenna and Jason. We don't take the easy way out. Because I did, I broke us. I broke you. And I am sorry."

Jason pulled harder and she almost fell on his body.

"Get in bed with me" Jason asked her.

"You are in the hospital, Jason. I shouldn't and you are hooked up to that thing"

"That thing is just here to monitor the drug dosage, is all. Do you want me to heal?"

Jason watched her as a frown appeared on her face like she was saying she couldn't believe he asked her that.

"Of course, I want you to heal"

"Then heal me by getting into bed and make out with me. You broke me, you fix me"

He took a deep breath before he adjusted just a little bit to give room for her body. McKenna took off her shoes and climbed into bed with him.

She kissed him on the lips and he pulled her closer to himself. For the past month, McKenna felt like she didn't belong anywhere. She had never had that feeling before. It was like sitting in a bus stop with ten buses and none of them were going to the address written on the paper she was holding. She didn't know her place in the world anymore. And so, she went to work every day for the past month with a big old smile, like she ate the cookies made for Santa on Christmas Eve and now, she has to smile to hide it.

It was the worst feeling in the world...not knowing where one belonged. She felt empty all the time.

But now, lying on a semi comfortable bed with a man she could step in front of a bus just to push him out of harm's way, McKenna realized that emptiness in her was gone. Jason was her place in the world and she needed him to be completely alive. 

"Go on a date with me, Oma" the hot air from his breathe caressed her ear.

"A date?"

"Yes. We never actually went on a date...you and me. We went from afraid to be in a committed relationship to realizing we can't live without each other to married forever. Go on a first date with me and help me figure out how we can make us work because I love you and I love my daughter. And can't live without you yet I am willing to die for her. Help me figure out how to do this right"

McKenna knew he was saying the truth. Until they find a common ground and work through the reason she left in the first place, something was bound to slip through the cracks again.

"You know, I see a little bit of you in her. Kara is stubborn and opinionated and she knows what she wants. She is my brave little girl just like you. Oma, she knew something was wrong with me even when I didn't. And somehow, she got me to the hospital. She found a way to force me to listen. I am not like you or Kara or my mother, I don't always see what's starring me in the face and many times in the future I will need you to force me to see it. But you can do that if you run away and I die of a broken heart… I am doing something wrong with both of you. Something so wrong that my six year old was forced to be the adult today and my beautiful wife was forced to flee-"

McKenna decided to interrupt him.

"Fine. I will go out on a date with you but on one condition, Jason"

"If you want my mansion, it is yours"

McKenna chuckled. "I don't want your mansion but I do want to try and be a mother to your little girl. And you have to let me be that to her. That means, no more undermining my authority to sooth her or do some crazy shit without checking in. And Jason, you will have my back and learn how to say no and treat her like a kid"

McKenna watched his face.

"Yes. Okay, yes. So will you go out on date with me?"

"Okay.. Let's go on a first date but Kara comes too. If I am going to do this, I want it done right"