For seventeen long years, Renata had been in a coma, her body stuck in a never-ending sleep as the world went on without her. Heath, her husband, and Olivia, their daughter, had become used to living without her voice, but they continued to visit her. Heath tried his best to raise Olivia by himself, telling her about her mother’s love and how happy she would be if she ever woke up.
However, nobody anticipated the hospital’s call.
The doctor remarked, “Your wife is awake,” in a calm but firm manner. Heath almost let the phone drop. With equal amounts of excitement and trepidation in their hearts, he and Olivia hurried to the hospital.
Olivia was stopped by Heath before they could enter Renata’s room. “Wait,” he urged. “Allow me to enter first. She has no idea how much time has gone by. It will come as a shock.
Nerves pounding in her stomach, Olivia nodded. She had sat by her mother’s bedside for years, holding her hand, reading to her, and dreaming of this day.
As Heath entered the room, he was taken aback to see Renata sitting upright in bed and looking around the room. When she saw him, her face softened.
She cried out, “My love!” in a raspy voice from lack of use. “You’re present! Was the procedure successful? Why am I feeling so frail?
Heath froze as she realized she believed she had just had surgery. She was unaware that seventeen years had gone by. He sat next to her and gave her a gentle hug. He answered, “You’re safe now,” eschewing her inquiries for the time being.
Then he summoned Olivia to the space.
The young woman’s auburn hair and piercing green eyes were so familiar yet unplaceable that Renata’s smile wavered as she walked in.
Olivia whispered, “Mom,” her voice cracking. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Renata’s response was abrupt and startling. “GET THAT GIRL OUT OF MY ROOM!” she said as her smile transformed to a frown.
Olivia staggered back with tears in her eyes. It’s me, Mom. Olivia.
Renata gestured at her with a quivering finger. “No! My daughter is not like that! My darling, where are you? Heath, what’s going on?”
Heath attempted to soothe her. “Listen to me, Renata. Olivia is that person. She is now an adult. It’s been seventeen years.
Renata’s face contorted in shock and rage. “Seventeen years? “No, no, that is not feasible.” Her brows narrowed in suspicion as she turned back to Olivia. “You’re telling lies! You’re not my child, and I have no idea who you are.”
Renata was sedated by the nurses as they hurried in to stop the issue from getting worse. Heath and Olivia stood in the corridor, heartbroken and in shock.
Although Renata’s physical condition improved over the next few weeks, her mental state continued to fluctuate. She accused Olivia of attempting to take her place and refused to acknowledge her. She insisted on answers, and gradually the reality of those 17 years came to light.
As it turned out, Renata had hazy, fragmentary memories of Heath and Olivia fighting over how to care for her while she was in a coma. She had a skewed impression that Olivia had attempted to “take her place” in the family.
These perceived betrayals gave Renata the energy to start acting out. She wouldn’t let Olivia come see her, and she wouldn’t listen to Heath or the doctors tell the truth.
When Heath entered Renata’s room one day, he discovered her looking through old photo albums. She gestured to a photo of herself with little Olivia.
She said, “This is my daughter,” in a cold tone. “Not that stranger you brought here.”
Beside her, Heath knelt. “You’ve been through a lot, Renata. Your thoughts are deceiving you. For all these years, Olivia, your daughter, has been by your side, hoping you’ll wake up.
Renata’s barriers didn’t completely collapse, but her expression faltered.
Her mother didn’t begin to soften until a few weeks later, when Olivia brought a homemade scrapbook filled with all the letters, pictures, and memories she had preserved during Renata’s coma.
Olivia gave her the book and added, “I’ve been waiting for you, Mom,” with tears in her eyes. “I have always loved you. Don’t push me away, please.
As Renata turned the pages and saw years of commitment exposed, her hands shook. She reached out to take Olivia’s hand for the first time as the barrier of rage she had erected around her heart started to come down.
She muttered, “I… I’m sorry,” as tears poured down her cheeks.
Although it didn’t happen that away, healing started that day. Renata gradually began to forgive and accept the daughter she had missed.
Even though it wasn’t the reunion anybody had anticipated, love ultimately triumphed over the suffering.