Andy learns the truth.

Doctor Hausmann looked around at the rest of us gathered about the hospital bed. His expression was one of defiant and smug excitement. For a moment I half expected him to start high fiving or scream "It's alive!" like a crazy Frankenstein when his monster wakes. He instead regains his composure and steps aside to give room to Doctor Rudkin.

The administrator was an attractive woman, perhaps in her early forties with wavy black hair. She spoke softly with an air of professional assurance that was in contrast to the much agitated state she had been in when we had met her over the previous week. I suppose she was back in a position she had experiance with now she was dealing with a patient waking from a coma and an operation and having to gently but clearly inform them of what had happened.

"That's right...Andy. There was a traffic accident. I'm afraid you suffered injuries, irrepairable injuries." The Doctor's voice was mellow and soothing as she broke this news.

"The students, were they hurt?" Her patient asked immediately.

Tears welled in my eyes and I even gasped quietly. This was why I had loved Andy. Despite his size and strength he was so compassionate and protective. That he had asked first about his students when told he had been injured was so in character and what I had learned to expect of him. Now despite the evidence of my own eyes I was certain that it really was my husband in that body.

"For the most part only minor injuries and trauma." Doctor Rudkin answered. "I'm sorry to say that one, Miss Rodriguez, Rosanna suffered a fatal head injury."

The patient's head turned to look at Mrs Rodriguez and I saw her slim fingers squeeze Rosanna's mother's hand. Her large brown eyes grew watery and a tear trickled down her cheek.

"I am so, so sorry for your loss Mrs Rodriguez." The patient's feminine voice cracked with emotion.

The latina mother began crying more loudly and still grasping the patient's hand to her cheek she reached out to stroke the girl's face.

"Mi nina has vuelto a mi. Esto es un milagro." Mrs Rodriguez cooed as she petted the face.

Andy as far as I knew only spoke a few words of Spanish so I doubt he understood exactly, but the look of love and joy in Mrs Rodriguez's face needed no translation. She looked confused and turned her gaze back to Doctor Rudkin seeking an explanation.

"Your body was injured beyond our ability to save you Andy." Doctor Rudkin told her. "At least not your body. Your brain was intact and Rosanna's body was only lightly injured although there was no brain activity. We could still save one life though."

"What...you mean...no...that's not possible?" Andy was obviously putting the truth together as Doctor Rudkin spoke and with the evidence of her voice and the slim female hand grasped by Mrs Rodriguez had reached the obvious conclusion. He was alive, but now in the body of his eighteen year old student Rosanna Rodriguez.