It's been about a week, there were no signs of Jane waking up. Jason would stay by her side day and night while the monitor beeps, as long as he could see that she's breathing he had hope of her waking up. 

These days with so much time on his hands just lying in bed, Cody began learning the guitar to waste time before his transfer.

The hours passed by slowly while the soft strumming of strings echoed in the halls from his room. The sound of a lullaby waiting to be sung by someone with a voice rather than a melody filled with no words. Either than that, the strumming of his music reflects his feelings towards Jane.

It was time for Cody to leave the hospital he took his time packing his things in the room. He held his guitar case behind his back towards his last stop to Jane till it was close to his plane flight.

He opens the door as it creaks with silence and with Jane sleeping peacefully in the bed of white sheets and the monitor beeping every two second. He sat by her side then carefully took out his guitar. He crosses his legs then gets his guitar into position. Slowly one strum at a time, a soft melody of goodbye played. The way Cody's finger moved after each note was natural as his fingers jumps from one note to another. He only smiled hoping for the best that this song will reach her once she wakes up.

He kissed her forehead goodbye and left without a single word. The footstep of his fading away in the empty hallway as his view gradually becomes blurry from a puddle of tear waiting to fall from his eyes.

______________________________________________________________________________

Two Years Later

 

"One, two, and three!" Snap went the camera Kerri was holding. The biggest smile she has ever had on her face grinning from ear to ear. Looking at the picture she squealed of happiness.

The hope they've waited for and never giving up even though the doctor said that there won't be a chance of her awaking. 

Jason was holding onto the shoulder of Jane who was sitting up straight from her bed. He smiles at her holding a bouquet of dark red roses wrapped in clear wrapping. Although she had heavy bags under her eyes she was slightly confused yet happy to be able to see Jason and her parents first once she woke up from her two year sleep.

Kerri ran up to them and hugs Jane squeezing the life out of her. "Oh...my little girl," she sighs, "I'm so glad you're awake. You don't know how long I've been worried and waiting."

Jane couldn't help but laugh at her mom while wiping away her tears of joy. Together they rocked in each other's arms and her father joining in. Just a second later he backs away and pats Jason's shoulder telling him to follow him out of the room.

"Uh..." Micheal seemed hesitant about something, "How do I put this?"

"Go on. It's nothing big isn't?" Jason asks leaning towards him with a smile.

"Now that Jane's awake, shouldn't we contact Cody? Since you know Cody's condition, Cody knows our condition."

"Cody? Hm...yeah, I'll contact him about Jane. Don't worry, I'm sure he'll be glad."

 

Micheal gave him a smooth rub on back and sighed heavily. Jason nods his head in silent watching him walk back into the room and Jane laughing and talking with her mother.

Gradually Jason's expression looked cold in a way as if he never had any intention on contacting Cody ever again. He never did have the intention of telling Jane where Cody went, another reason was that Cody didn't even tell him about his whereabouts.

"Is Cody coming over to visit?" Jane asks Jason with a grin of hope. It was just the two who sat in the hospital room in silence. Jason couldn't get himself to tell her – to lie to her about Cody's existence in another place.

"No...he's not coming." He lowers his head and grabs her hand to hold onto. She could feel the cold trembling hands of his.

"Why not?"

"He moved, he moved 2 years ago about four weeks after you got into your accident and fell into a coma."

There was awe in silence. Jane couldn't comprehend why Cody would move all of a sudden; he never mentioned it to her. She wanted to ask Jason the reason why but was scared to hear the answer. Was it because of her? She thought. 

Her only memories stopped when she saw headlights and it still felt like days after Christmas.

Jason groans, "Let's stop this awkward silence." He chuckles, "I've been waiting for two years for this."

She smiles, "For what?"

Suddenly he grins widely showing his straight white teeth, "We're going to NEW YORK baby!" He began to cheer and laugh throwing his arms around Jane.

"You're lying!" She screamed.

 

He shook his head, "I've been working three part-time jobs a day and been planning on taking you to New York whenever you woke up."

"You jerk." She kissed him on the cheek making him have rosy cheeks as he turns to look at her gulping. It's been so long since he felt the feeling on her lips and he thought he would never get to feel them again. He locked eyes with her as she stares back at him.

He gave her a peck on the lips, "Muah! Miss my lips?" He joked stupidly making Jane burst out laughing till her stomach hurt."

"As if I did...not."

"You're lying."

"Do you have the trip planned already?"

"Way to change the subject Jane. We'll leave by next month so that's three weeks from now I suppose."

 

_______________________________________

 

The sound of the trunk closes and Jason lets out a big sigh, "Alright, we all set?"

"Yeah we are" Jane answers as she wraps a gray scarf around her neck.

"We'll be staying there till Christmas. Are you happy?"

"Christmas?..." The last Christmas she remembered was only spending it with Cody. After realizing it, she searches under her scarf and forgot that she still wore the necklace.

A smile of relief came upon her lips, "Yeah, Christmas." She says, "It seems like it was just yesterday."

"You did have you accident a few days later after Christmas you dummy." He pats her on the head roughly, "They're probably the only memories you have at the moment. Don't worry; I'll fulfill those missing memories from two years ago."

"And how are you going to do that? Wait, don't tell me. You're planning it all on our trip to New York aren't you?" She folds her arms squinting her eyes up to Jason.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Come on get into the car before we miss our plane." He laughs as he quickly shoves her in the passenger seat then closing the door.

Inside the plane, passengers we all seated and ready to take off.

The speakers came on and a deep husky voice spoke "Good morning this is your pilot speaking..." 

 

 

"How you feeling Jane?" Jason asks as he fastens his seatbelt.

"Fine, why."

"You have such an uneasy face on." He grins at her, "Something's wrong right."

"No, no nothing's wrong. I'm just thinking."

He cocked a brow, "Don't play that game with me."

She bit her lower lip nervously, her eyes gazing everywhere, "It's been bothering me for a while."

"Go on." He sat up straight then crosses his arms, "What's been bothering you?"

"Well you see, I know this happened two years ago but to me it feels like it just keeps happening yesterday. And I feel guilty if I don't tell you." She ran her fingers through her hair and takes a deep breath, "Okay. Let's just get this over with. Two years ago during Christmas was the day Cody gave me the necklace and we um..." Her face suddenly began turning rosy red.

Jason's eyes widen and he coughed, " 'We um' what? What did you too do?"

She mumbles, "Kissed..."

He leans in closer, "Huh? I can't hear you."

"Kissed, we kissed. Yeah it was just a small kiss?"

Jason let out a ridiculously loud sigh, "That's it? Whew I thought you were talking about something else."

"W-What do you mean something else?"

"Anyway it's fine. It's all in the past. Plus we weren't on good terms remember."

"Ah...right." She lowered her head. She felt embarrassed confessing such a thing. It didn't seem like a big deal towards Jason but it did to her. But then she realized it wasn't the first time she's kissed Cody and Jason. Just now their kisses came naturally.

Hours later, the pilot announces their arrival to New York.

 

 

 The announcement woke up Jane as she could see the night life of New York City. Every building was lit up. It seemed like everyone was working 24 hours. The brake lights flickering from the traffic could be seen up in the plane. Quickly she wakes up Jason and makes him watch the night view through the window. Still half asleep he tried to act pleased about it, but he felt too jet lagged to enjoy the moment.

A closer view of traffic was worse than up in the sky. There were hardly any open taxi, it was cold out, people were bumping in their way, and their hotel was farther from the airport.

"Great, first fifteen minutes of New York paradise and we have no taxi to get to our place." Jane mumbles while sitting on her luggage and resting her chin on her palm.

"Calm down, how about we walk around and stop wasting time?" He checks his phone and the time is currently eight o'clock. "We still have time, come on." He grabs her hand and held it tightly.

"Where are we going Jason?"

"Exploring." He smiles at her softly as she smiles back dragging their luggage along.

After walking for a while, there were so many things to see from tall buildings to bakeries, stores, companies, and more. Just on the streets it was still busy with people riding their bikes, walking on foot, and cars honking at each other.

Then, they came across a park. The park was filled with Christmas lights and people were still around with their children, dogs, and just people doing their own things. A group of girls were doing a late night jog, some couples were having their own time up on the bridge, and kids were circling around the public Christmas tree that probably stood up as tall as thirty feet. The lights bling of different colors and the star that shined the brightest at the top and from small to large ornaments were hung on the tree. Gingerbread men wrapped around the tree hand-in-hand and wishes of others hung on each branch. It was like a miracle tree that once Christmas comes, all these wishes will be fulfilled.

 

 

Although it was still loud and busy in the night, Jane could hear a faint sound. It sounded original, as if she heard in a dream. The strumming of a guitar. She tugged on Jason's jacket while staring from crowd to crowd.

"Jason do you hear that?"

"Hm?" He looks down to her, "Hear what?"

"That sound, a guitar playing."

Jason took a second to listen carefully for a guitar playing, "Hm...I don't hear anything. Are you sure you aren't hearing things?"

"No, I know what this song is. I just can't remember where I heard it." She began to drag Jason with her everywhere around the park wanting to find out where that melody was coming from.

 

A lovely atmosphere it was with people gathered sitting on the cold grass with blankets. Parents were holding their children and rocking them in their arms, couples holding each other stood in the back. And lastly up on the small stoned stage was a young man. He stood up tall, wearing a thick leather jacket and a black scarf that hung loose around his neck. He wore a beanie that covered his head completely.

He held the mic as his guitar hung around him

" Uh... Hi, I'd like to dedicate this original song to one of my most beloved friend, hoping one day she will wake up although it's already been two years – close to three years now actually. Here we go, I hope you will enjoy."

He got his fingers in position of his guitar. He inhales deeply and smiles softly at the crowd and they cheered on for him. The sound of his melody began. The song he played for her in the hospital. As she lays there in the bed hoping the song will reach her. His fingers jumped from note to note, eventually he began to sing. It was soothing, loving, quiet, it made everyone rock side to side. A song filled with loving words making the couples hold onto each other tighter. 

 

Jane continues to drag Jason and shouts with a smile running faster and faster. "Come on Jason, we're getting closer."

 

 

"Because sometimes love can form from child's play to friends to eternity....Thank you very much everybody. Have a good night." The male said cheerfully as the crowd claps for him some even shedding tears from experience. Slowly the people left one by one. Some were even coming up the stage to ask the male for a picture and he gladly said yes.

After taking pictures with them, he packed his guitar, puts his leather gloves on and grabs his black helmet with flames of green designed on it. He sighs seeing his breath from the cold, "Another upcoming Christmas without you, Jane."

Off he went walking in the cold towards his motorcycle parked in the lot.

"There's nobody here Jane." Jason exclaimed to her.

"B-But I swear, I heard someone playing the guitar."

"Let's go back. I'm tired and-

Suddenly the loud engine of a motorcycle bursts out riding past them with a flamed designed helmet.

"!" Jason shouted from the sudden motorcycle.

Jane couldn't help but laugh, "Even you can get scared."

"Crazy riders here doing it on purpose I bet. In the night too."

"Alright, let's go. I'm getting tired too. Maybe I did hear wrong."

But for sure, Jane knew she heard the strumming of music. 

 

They finally made it to their hotel and went straight to bed. Their beginning of their New York time will start tomorrow fresh with new experiences. 

________

The night was late and the door of a quiet apartment jerks open. The pale hands flicks the light switches on. An apartment filled with emptiness, lifeless, and loveless. The man living there places his guitar by a shelf of pictures. The pictures shows a family of three, a mother, a father, and a young man in a beanie. 

Inside the apartment, there were two rooms but one was filled with boxes stacked upon each other dusty as if they were never touched for decades. Like no one stepped foot into that room. 

The male sat in his bed and grabs a picture frame of his parents holding each other and smiling. He stares into the photograph and smiles sorrowfully. 

"I'm home. It's been almost three years since Jane left me. And now it's been almost another two years with you two to support me. And I'm still going strong living the best normal life I possibly can."

And on the pin board he had always kept the post it note, 'I Promise to Never fall in Love.'