My fingers slid smoothly over the beard that covered my chin as I knelt on the sideline and thought. I glanced over my shoulder and looked at the faces of my players as they sat there on the bench and watched the events of the final regular season game unfold. I turned away from them and looked up at the scoreboard to see that the score hadn't changed any since the last time I looked at it. We were still down by ten with five and some change left to play in the fourth.
My competitive side was telling me to win the damn thing even though it was a meaningless game. It wasn't a big deal if we lost. We had already secured the number one spot in the district tournament that would start on Monday. Losing would mean we wouldn't finish undefeated in the regular season.
I glanced at the girls again. Taylor was focused on the game and trying to give direction from the bench. Nikki and Tessa talked and pointed about something. Tracy yawned and covered her mouth as she saw me looking and smiled. Bree was at the far end of the bench getting a drink. The five of them had been sitting here for most of the third and all of the fourth thus far. I was giving them a rest so they would be ready for Monday.
I stood and turned to them. "What do you think girls? Do you want to win this game and finish undefeated or should we let the underclassmen finish it out and take the loss?"
Taylor spoke quickly. "I'd like to win and finish the season perfect."
The rest of the girls agreed and added their two cents in as they echoed what Taylor had already said.
"Alright," I sighed as I glanced at the clock again. "The next stoppage in play, you five get back in there. If you girls don't have this lead cut in half by the two minute mark I'm pulling you out and we will take the loss."
"Two minutes," Nikki half joked. "It'll be tied up by the three minute mark."
"Fine," I smiled. "If not, its extra leapers tomorrow."
"Let's go," Taylor called as they left the bench and headed to the scorer's table to check in.
It took another possession for the ball to bounce out of bounds and stop the clock. There was four and some change left on the clock now as my starting five returned to the floor and attempted to make good on their promise.
"Texas," I called and twirled my hand around.
Taylor repeated my call as I turned to Rob. "Hey, get me the grease board please. I just thought of something."
I turned back to see Taylor slide to the left of her defender and take the three. It flipped the net and cut the lead to seven. She barked out orders for a full court press with the trap. I turned back to Rob as he grumbled about something then pushed the chair out of the way to reach the board. I heard the distant sound of something pop then a shrill cry of pain. I turned to see what the commotion was about but the lights in gym went out. All I could see was the dim red exit light at the far end of the gym before that faded away too.
I could hear a voice calling my name in the distance. I tried to stand and move towards the sound but I couldn't get myself going. I couldn't stand, my legs seamed helpless as I tried to go but nothing was happening. It was the last thing I could remember happening to me.
*
"Mr. Tillman." The voice registered in the back of my mind as somebody spoke. The voice seemed so distant and muffled. It was like I was underwater and somebody was shouting my name from the surface. It echoed before it faded away.
"We are going to pull the breathing tube shortly. You might feel some discomfort as we remove it."
Silence filled my head now. I could hear the voice but my mind didn't understand what was being said. There was no conscious thought or understanding right now. There was just the thinnest sliver of light entering my eyes as I tried to open them.
"Do you really think they can hear you?" another voice asked.
"I don't know?" came the reply. "I've been doing this for a long time, maybe it's more of a habit to say it then anything."
"I like to think they can," another voice said.
"Are we ready?"
"Ready when you are, Nancy."
"Alright, Mr. Tillman. You might feel some discomfort, just relax and it will be over in just a second."
Whatever they did, I didn't feel anything. The sliver of light was gone now, just blackness surrounded me as I heard the voice for the last time.
"You are doing good Mr. Tillman. Just breathe for me. Keep breathing..."
*
"Mr. Tillman, I'm here to check your vitals," I heard echoing through my head again. "I will be done in a minute."
My eyes opened to the blurry image of someone standing near me. I couldn't make out skin color, eye color, hair color, or what she was wearing. The only thing I knew for certain was she was a female by the sound of her voice. It was like I was still underwater in a pool with my eyes open trying to see somebody from ten feet away.
I didn't panic at the feeling of not knowing. It was the euphoric feeling I had been through a few times in my life after I had woken up from the surgeries. Everything was slow and peaceful right now. You couldn't take in much of your surroundings, you just knew you were waking up. I blinked a few more times and tried to get my vision to clear up further.
"Nurse Nancy," I heard. "He's waking up, his eyes are open and he's blinking."
I heard footsteps faintly until they grew louder. They stopped right next to me before another soft voice called my name.
"Mr. Tillman, can you understand me? Squeeze my fingers if you can understand me."
I felt her fingers touch the palm of my hand and rest there for a moment. My fingers moved and curled around hers to give my answer.
"Go make the call Gertrud," she ordered. "She will be thrilled he is starting to wake up."
"Mr. Tillman? Are you still with me?"
I squeezed again.
"Ok Mr. Tillman," she cheered. "You were..."
I faded before she finished. I shut my eyes and drifted off.
*
Conscious thought filled my mind as I opened my eyes again. This time my vision was clearer and I could take in where I was and my surroundings. My eyes focused on the ceiling first as the sounds of the machines beeped around me. I glanced around more and saw the source of the noise next to my bed. I followed the cords that hung from it back to my body.
It registered now that I was in the hospital. I had no idea why I was here and how I had gotten here. I was afraid now. Why was I here? What had happened to me and why was I here? I thought I was at a basketball game but now I was here. It confused and agitated me as I moved my hands and looked down at them. I had to get out of here. What the hell was going on? My arms felt so heavy right now, like I was strapped to the bed even though I wasn't. Why can't I move?
The machine next to my bed started to beep faster as my pulse quickened. Come on arms, move! I tried again and got one to slide across my body and touch the IV line that was in my arm. I couldn't coordinate my fingers enough to grab the line though. That made my pulse race more and the machine beep quicker. There was a shadow in the doorway as I tried to get my fingers to function and pull the cord.
"Mr. Tillman," I heard a voice. "Please don't pull that out."
I stopped what I was doing and looked up at her. She gave me a soft smile as she came to the bedside now and put her hand on mine.
"I'm glad you are awake," she smiled still.
I looked up at her and gave my own soft smile. I didn't know why I was smiling really. I was still scared to death. She moved my arm back to my side so I would stop trying to pull the IV out.
"Do you know where you are Mr. Tillman?" she questioned.
I didn't give a response. My eyes searched the room as I took in more of what was around me. She must have taken my silence as my answer.
"You are in the hospital," she answered. "You were in a pretty bad car accident a few days ago. You've been in a coma for about a week now. You suffered a pretty serious blow to the head."
I nodded softly as I processed the information she was telling me.
