[ WP ] Tell me a love story that is not cheesy or cliche .

He has been sitting next to her comatose body for 3 days and 14 hours. After the paramedics called the emergency contact on her bracelet, he was in such a rush he ran two stop signs and one very late yellow light. His only regret of that day was being too emotional to note the time: only to calculate the minutes and seconds. Mark missed two shifts of work, several meals, one hockey game and countless hours of much-needed rest. Her family visited when they could but he kept posted in the cold chairs provided in her hospital room. Her best-friend said she would be there soon but he could n't imagine what to say when she got there. His only focus was her. He needed to be there if, no when, she woke up. 
 
 This could n't be the end of their story. They have n't gone more than a couple lonely days without each other for nearly two years. She once told him she drew a heart on her class notes every time she thought of him. A few months later she was working on a lab report and he saw her biochemistry notebook filled with hearts. 
 `` Does anyone ever notice in class?'' He did n't want a little habit like that to embarrass her when school was stressful enough. 
 
 `` Not really. Sometimes I feel like a middle-schooler but it reminds me what I'm working for... us.'' He would have proposed right then if he had a ring. He should have started saving up for one. He could have married her by now but he was still delaying it. Wishing he had, his only comfort was knowing that he could when she finally woke up. 
 
 The doctors were hopeful. They did n't promise anything but he suspected that it was just policy or something similar. They spoke about her condition a lot at first, filling the air with medical terminology he had no hope of understanding. With each round, the nurses and doctors had less to say to him. They could n't tell him what he wanted to hear but they empathized with the young man nonetheless. When a couple nurses entered the room this time, they did n't say a thing. The two made their usual checks of vitals and fluids when a moan escaped the body. The younger of the nurses was so startled she jumped two feet and seven inches away. His rose to his feet instantly and placed his hand on her arm. For the first time in a percieved eternity she moved her arm closer, into his warmth. Tears were starting to build in his eyes but one of the physicians led him out of the room. At first, he was outraged; but as he watched her move through the window he realized that they probably needed to help her wake up. Nervously he went into the hallway for some water. 
 
 
 `` Mark!'' he heard a familiar voice approaching. `` How is she doing? Did they tell you the extent of her brain trauma? Have her vitals stabilized?'' 
 
 
 Megan asked him questions that he did n't bother to learn the answers to. He only knew she was not awake but instantly felt guilty for not try to understand more. Before he could reply, she saw the closed door of the patient room and made her way to the window. 
 
 Mark followed behind her and saw one of the most beautiful sights of his life. Maria, the love of his life was off of the breathing contraption, looking excitedly back into the window. He could n't make out what she said to the doctor but they exited the room soon after. As the physician passed, he noted that she was coming off some strong medication and may not be completely there, but she remembered her name and address. The staff would return briefly for more testing but the man looked happy to have one of the few victories that made his position worth it. 
 
 Megan was the first to enter the room. `` Maria'' she said cautiously. 
 
 
 `` Megan, I feel like I was hit by a train... but luckily it was just a bus.'' Her speech was a little slurred, strained, and quiet but it was so good to her that laugh of hers escape her swollen mouth. Mark stood near the door, 
 
 
 `` Do you remember what happened?'' Megan was exhilarated that she remembered her name. She knew it was a good sign. 
 
 `` No, I ca n't remember it. The doctor explained the accident when I came to. I feel like shit... Is Ivan with you? I need to see him.'' Megan drew back and waited for a reaction from Mark. Ivan was the man she left to be with Mark. 
 
 He had no clue what to say. Maria never mentioned him much, if at all when they were together. The only things he knew of Ivan were that he was in her freshman math class and that they dated for less than a year. 
 
 `` Why do you need to see Ivan?'' He tried to comfort her by placing his hand on her shoulder. For the first time, her muscles tensed and she drew away from his hand. 
 
 
 `` He, he is my boyfriend. Can you get him for me? Are you a volunteer here?'' 
 
 Megan quickly moved Mark into the hall, giving Maria a short guarantee Ivan would visit soon. Once away from the doorway, Mark was ready to break down. No discernible thoughts went through his head while the heavy sense of loss brought him to his knees. Megan wrapped her arms around him, and tried to explain memory loss is common and it could all be temporary. He made a small attempt to listen but nothing she said provided any relief. She tried to convince him to go home overnight but to no avail. 
 
 Eventually he made it to the visitor's couch near the end of the floor. Overhearing Megan's phone calls down the hall, he found out Ivan did agree to come to the hospital immediately. It did n't sound like he was far. 
 `` Why would you bring him here?!'' His voice rang louder than he realized. `` This is n't his business.'' All attempts to veil his frustration were futile. Megan prepared for this. 
 
 `` Look, I do n't know what she remembers or if she will remember more when we go back in there. All I know is that she wants see a familiar face and if it is n't yours then I will do everything I can to help her. I did n't even think he would come but as some point he cared as much about her as you do so you need to suck it up and wait until it's your time.'' Her words penetrated him like rusted needles. He felt hollow. Restlessly he found himself looking into her window again. As time crept on, doctors performed their tests and she slowly gained the brightness he remembered her for. 
 
 At the conclusion of the test he stared blankly into her room. He hung on every word as the doctor explained to him the situation. She did n't remember the past two years of her life. It was unclear if she would gain it back but there was a good chance. 
 
 `` How is she? Is she scared?'' 
 
 `` No. Confused? Yes. I would n't try to expose her to a lot at once but she is trying so hard to remember. I want you to know that.'' Mark's eyes watched the man somberly step down the hall. As he looked on, he noticed another visitor make his way to Maria's room. 
 
 `` Are you Ivan?'' 
 
 `` Yes, Megan told me what's going on. Maria broke my heart but I've been over it for a while now. I'm not trying to take her but I want to be here for her. She deserves it.'' Mark did not trust this guy but he knew Maria truly deserved the world. 
 
 Mark looked on as Ivan made his way to Maria's side. Her excitement pained him. He wanted to be the one giving her that smile. Blocking out their conversation, he paced the hall intently. Scenarios played in his head like demons prying at his soul: Ivan falls for her again, she never remembers him, she does n't want to meet him, he loses her again. Time went on bogging him down with incessant doubt. Again he found himself at her window, just as the two said their goodbyes. Ivan said some minor condolences as he left. Mark returned to his post by her side. 
 
 `` Are you okay, Maria?'' 
 
 `` Yeah... Well I guess not. I do n't know the right terms in this situation. He broke up with me. No that's not quite the right thing to say. It feels like he did but he said I did that long ago.'' 
 
 `` Do you love him?'' 
 
 `` I never did really. I guess it's not that much of a loss but last I remember, he was mine.'' Maria watched on as the man in her room shuffled his feet. `` He told me about you.'' Mark looked up with enough curiosity to kill dozens of cat. 
 
 `` He went on facebook and showed me a picture of us. Look, I really have no idea who you are. I do n't really know if I'm ready. It's so compl-'' Maria tried to let him down easy but that would n't happen. Mark finally knew what he was going to do. 
 
 `` Let's start out easy. Hi, my name is Mark'' Maria smiled and put out her hand. 
 
 `` Hi, my name is Maria. Pleasure to meet you.'' 
 He was going to win her heart again. 

