Night at the boardwalk with Luke
Reagan and Shane leave & Luke asks me out
Luke meets my family at dinner
Classy date with Luke where I learned about his life
Fourth of July & incident with Luke’s Uncle Roger
Breakfast with Uncle Roger & meeting Luke’s grandma
Party in the woods
Luke got Poppy
My dad came to visit & met Luke
My dad took my mom out & Gia’s turtle died
Luke gave me a promise ring
Ziplining
Aquarium
Home videos
Visiting his grandma with Poppy
Surprise party
Staying up almost all night
Waking up in this bed
By the time I finished my timeline it was almost midnight. I left space for Gia to add pictures to it. I looked the whole thing over, held it up in front of me, and silently sobbed into my pillow. How could all of this be a lie? How could my brain have fabricated all of these events? And how could my feelings be so real for someone who I really haven’t ever met?
“Sutton?” I opened my eyes to see my mom sitting at my bedside.
“Hi, mom.” I stretched and smiled at her.
“Hey, I know this is a lot where you just woke up but sweetie, you made this timeline?” She had a concerned look on her face holding it in her grasp in front of me.
“Yes. Is something wrong?” I put my hand on hers.
“No no. I just want to talk to Dr. Weston before you go see him.” She forced a smile and handed the timeline back to me. “Did you see Gia added pictures?”
Later that afternoon I took the walk to Dr. Weston’s office with my timeline in hand. As I approached the door I saw my mom standing there talking to him. I knocked on it and they both turned around to look at me.
“Sutton, come in! Take a seat!” Dr. Weston said pointing towards the couch.
“What are you doing here mom?” I asked. She wiped a single tear from beneath her eye and before she could reply, Dr. Weston said “Sutton could your mom join us for today’s session?” I nodded and sat down confused.
“So let’s see that timeline!” Dr. Weston rubbed his palms together and took a seat in his chair.” I passed the timeline to him. He put on his glasses and started to look it over. I sat in silence playing with my hands.
Dr. Weston said something under his breath and rubbed the black of his neck with the palm of his hand.
“Okay. Now. Mom, since you’re here along with the medical records we can help make a timeline of the chain of events that actually happened.” He walked over and stood next to the large whiteboard in the back of the room and started sketching a line with tick marks in it.
Together, my mom and Doctor Weston made a timeline of the events that actually occurred using my timeline as a reference. Their bodies covered the whiteboard most of the time but when they stepped away and took a seat again I noticed something. The timeline they had, obviously had fewer events on it because I wasn’t conscious, but some of the events on my timeline and their timeline lined up.
“Wait a second..” I said out loud standing up and approaching the whiteboard. You’re telling me the end of June was the first time Luke came here and that’s when you met him?” My mom nodded and appeared noticeably upset. “And Luke brought a golden retriever puppy here and her name was Poppy?” A single tear rolled down my mom’s cheek and she nodded again. “And at the end of July, dad and you actually did go on a date and on the same day Gia’s turtle died?” My mom nodded again and started to bawl her eyes out.
Dr. Weston put his arm around my mom. I felt my face getting red and I tried to swallow the knot in my throat before I exploded with tears. “I don’t understand any of this. I thought I was in a coma you’re telling me it’s just a coincidence I knew this stuff?”
“Sutton, if things were discussed in front of you, your brain could have been making connections all along. It’s not uncommon for coma patients to recall actual events. I have actually never heard of a patient doing so, but this isn’t anything to be upset over. Your brain and your story are remarkable.”
“Mom, what’s making you cry?” I looked over at her as she tried to pull herself together.
“I just feel like you have been in there this whole time and I wonder if there’s more I could have done as your mom to help you.” She sniffled.
“Lynn, I can assure you there is absolutely nothing you could have done. She was still unconscious and she was not stable enough to be the Sutton you know and love at that time. I think it’s important I meet with Dr. Grebs and we look over all of Sutton’s records again so we can assure you that she has received the best care possible and everyone has done everything they could for her.”
“Dr. Weston we appreciate this hospital more than words can describe and everything you have done for Sutton.”’ My mom replied.
“I know that but it’s important for me to discuss this case with my colleagues and assure you Sutton received the best care possible. Sutton, how are you feeling? Once again. I know this is a lot to take in.”
I sighed. “I just don’t know what to think. I have never been so confused in my entire life and I’m grateful to be here but I just feel lost and I also feel like something’s missing.”
Dr. Weston nodded. “I completely understand why you feel that way. Let’s schedule a meeting
