Sungmin went back to the dorm to change before going to see April.  He was feeling a lot better after talking to Ryeowook and he realized that no matter what he needed to take better care of himself.  When he went into his room he found a covered plate with a note on it.  “Eat it,” the note said.  Clearly the work of Ryeowook, he had made Sungmin a sandwich obviously still concerned.

            Sungmin hadn’t heard anything about April in while as everyone had been so busy, he wasn’t sure what kind of situation he was going to be walking into when he got there.  He made sure to eat, freshen up and take some vitamins before he left.

            Siwon was sitting peacefully when Sungmin arrived to relive him.  “How’s it going?”  Sungmin asked tentatively. 

            “She’ll be coming around slowly.  She’s sedated but they’re bringing her around step by step.  If you give her hand a little squeeze sometimes she squeezes back.”

            Sungmin was a little nervous, “she’s not going to freak out like last time right?”

            “No, I don’t think so.”

            “Thanks, man.”  He gave Siwon a pat on the back before he left.

            Sungmin resumed his position in the chair at April’s bedside.  He watched her for a while and thought about what Siwon had said about squeezing her hand.  With trembling fingers he reached out and took her hand, he waited and then gently applied a little pressure.  At first there was nothing, he wasn’t sure if he should feel relieved or not but then came the faintest little squeeze back.   Sungmin quickly pulled his hand away.  He wasn’t sure why but he was actually quite scared on the girl.

            She looked warm.  Slowly he reached out again, this time to brush the hair off her face.  As he did this her eyes fluttered just the tiniest bit.  He took his hand away and backed up.  Her eyes were open, a very small amount but they were open.

            Though her eyes were open Sungmin became frightened yet again.  He was standing in front of her in her field of vision and it was like she didn’t see him at all.  “Umm…April?”  He said and moved his hand in a small waving gesture. 

            Her eyes didn’t move, it was a fixed glassy stare forward.  Sungmin called for a nurse.  He was asked to leave the room while they ran some tests.  When he was allowed back in it was explained to him that although her eyes were open it was kind of like, ‘the lights are on but nobody’s home.’  It would still be some time before she was fully awake.  It was recommended to him though that the boys should continue to come, talk to her, hold her hands and even put things in front of her for her to ‘see’. 

            Soon it was Yesung’s turn to stay and Sungmin passed the message off to him.

 

            April didn’t see or hear anything.  She felt fuzzy and numb like she was wrapped up in a giant roll of bubble wrap.  April could only thing in sensations; her thoughts couldn’t find words or linear sequence.  Although her eyes saw a room and a person standing in front of her, all her brain saw was light.