Dear Diary

Chapter 113

*Two months later*

"No, I can't come back to work yet, Kruger."

Sophia's eyebrow twitched as a deep voice filled her ears. It sounded familiar.

"Because my daughter still hasn't woken up from her coma, and I told the people who needed to know that I was taking time off work to be by her," the voice continued and Sophia pulled her eyebrows together slightly. 

Was that her dad talking? What was he saying? She's in a coma?

"Watch who you're talking to, Kruger. I have half a mind to have you disciplined. Don't forget that you are talking to your superior here." Cole stayed silent for a moment. "That's better, now I will repeat myself one last time: my daughter is in a coma and I am making it very clear that I am not leaving until she wakes. I have not taken a day off in eighteen years so don't get your pants in a knot that I suddenly need some time away. If there is any problem - you call, but don't force me to go back to the base because I will not unless a World War Three for some reason breaks out. Do I make myself clear?"

Sophia frowned as she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment before slowly prying them open. The minute light entered her eyes, she winced and closed them again before attempting to open them again. It took her a moment to adjust to the lighting in the room and for her eyes to clear. When they did, the first thing she noticed was the cream-coloured room with linoleum floors along with a figure whose back was facing her, phone pressed to his ear.

"Good. Now don't bother me for nonsense again. I did not train you to crumble at the first obstacle you face without me there." 

Sophia watched her dad rack a hand through his hair and she noticed its considerable length. He hasn't had it cut in quite a while, she could tell. 

"Alright."

And with that her father turned around and their identical gazes met. She watched her father freeze, staring at her shocked before shaking his head and quickly recovering. He slowly made his way towards her. 

"You're awake," he said in a considerably softer tone than that he just used on the phone. 

It was also a tone he had never used with her either.

Sophia blinked away the shock and remained silent as she watched her dad slowly sit on the chair positioned next to the hospital bed. Her gaze flitted over his face and she noticed that he didn't look as strong as he used to. His face looked thinner, his eyes weary and a dark shade of stubble spread over his lower face. The look shocked Sophia. She's never seen him not cleanly shaven. It made him look older than forty-six.

"How are you feeling?" Cole asked and Sophia's attention drew back to him. 

She didn't know what to make of it all. She's just found out that she was in a coma for who knows how long and her father was acting the most caring he's ever been her whole life. 

She frowned. Had she missed something? Didn't he not want her? Why was he acting caring all of a sudden?

But although her dad was acting completely out of character, she couldn't help but notice the tenseness in his posture and the way he would rake a hand through his hair. She knew now that he did that when he felt anxious or awkward; thanks to her mother's diary. This was clearly not easy for him to do.

Sophia said nothing as she turned away her father's gaze and looked to the opposite side of her bed. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in all the presents, flowers and cards that piled up on the cabinet beside her bed.

"Mainly from the Woods family," her father said as she continued to stare at all the presents. "Some from a few people from your school along with a few from Susan, Rachel and Ashley."