CARLA'S POV
It had been a couple of weeks since we had found Santi in the cemetery all beaten up, and since that time, Jessica had done nothing but keep herself busy. She hardly spent any time in the hospital. She came every day what's more, she's alone with him in the room, that's what she asked for, but then leave.
I know she's doing all this to distract herself. Jessica was always one of those people who swallowed everything until she couldn't take it anymore, and no matter how much we insisted she stop doing so many things because she had to recover from the surgery, she didn't listen. In any case, we're keeping an eye on her in case we noticed something.
On the other hand, Santi hadn't woken up, and they had said the chances of him suffering from amnesia were high, and I'm almost sure that's what's bothering Jessica the most.
I had practically not left the hospital. I only do it when Jessica comes to see him at night. I took the opportunity to go take a shower and see the kids who spent a lot of time at Jessica's parents' house since my best friend wants to be alone, and we all know when Jessica wants to spend time alone, we have to give her space, because otherwise, we'll have a problem.
It's already six in the afternoon and soon no more visitors would be allowed, and what I wasn't liking at all is Jessica still hadn't shown up at the hospital. I had been waiting for her all day and I'm starting to worry something happened to her, so I'm going to have to call Sofía to go check on her house and maybe take the kids with her so they could try to cheer her up and not murder Sofía.
"Hello, how have you seen my sister today?" Sofia asked in a tired tone. "That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about." I said "What's wrong? Is she okay?" Jessica's sister asked, now in a worried tone. "I don't know, she hasn't shown up at the hospital." I answered honestly, "She what? She doesn't skip a single day to go see him."
"I know, and that's why I'm calling you. Do you think you can go to the house and see if she's okay?" I asked, "She's going to kill me for bothering her and you know it." Sofía answered with a sigh at the end "Take the children. I'm sure she won't kill you that way." I said, completely sure, "Okay, I'll go see. "I'll call you as soon as I know something."
"Thanks." With that she hung up and I sat in one of the chairs in the waiting room, until I decided it's better to go in for a while to see Santi so as not to think too much about where the hell Jessica is. I entered the room and sat on the chair next to the stretcher. "You better wake up soon De Luca, because if not I'll lose you both, and I don't want that to happen. And you better not forget anything, because otherwise you and I are going to have a problem." At that moment my phone starts ringing and I answer without looking at the screen, because I'm more than sure it was Sofia. "JessicaisnotathomeandeverythingismessedupandthingsarebrokeneverywhereIcanswear," she said so quickly I don't know what she's saying, "Sofia, I'm not understanding you at all." I said "I TELL YOU THAT PRACTICALLY THE ENTIRE LIVING ROOM IS DESTROYED AND THERE'S NO TRACE OF MY SISTER. THERE IS ALSO BLOOD AND…"
"Okay, okay, I understand. We must calm down before thinking anything." I said, controlling my worry, "HOW DO YOU NOT PRETEND ME TO NOT THINK ANYTHING WHEN MY SISTER DOESN'T APPEAR AND THERE'S BLOOD?" She yells "I understand you, okay? But that doesn't mean anything happened to her. Did you find her at home?"
"No." Sofía whispered "Okay, then get the kids out of there and try to calm them down, and yourself too. Don't say anything to your parents and your grandmother, we don't want them to worry about anything right now." I responded, "They can help us look for Jessica…" she started, but I denied, "Don't worry about her, I'll find her. Now you better go to Jack's and not to your parents' house until I find Jessica, okay?"
"What if you don't find her? What if something really happened to her?" Jess sister asked and I denied. At this moment we couldn't focus on that "I'll find her, and if something happens to her, I myself will take care of the person who dared to harm her, understand?" I asked "Okay… Call me as soon as you hear from her." She asked "I'll do it, don't worry. "I'll call Jack to come get you."
"It's not…" She began to protest, "There's no way I'm going to let you drive like you are right now, and if I find out you've done it, I'll kill you, Sofia." I said, "Okay, you just worry about finding her." She asked, "I'll do it, I'm going to look for her."
I hung up the phone, said goodbye to Santi and left the hospital, but not before calling Jack to go for Sofia and the boys and Jackson to go look at the cemetery in case she's there while I went to the one who's the sanctuary of the two, their home.
JESSICA'S POV
At this moment I'm in our house lying on the floor and looking at the ceiling. Tears are streaming down my face, and my hand stung like nothing, but at this moment everything is the same because Santi isn't here with me.
It had been three weeks since they had given him that beating and he hadn't woken up. What bothered me the most is he could suffer from amnesia, but I'm not leaving him. I can't help but relive everything we lost because of my memory loss, I don't want to imagine in case Santi don't have his memories, because let's be realistic, it's a possibility he'll not recover it, I myself hadn't recovered much of my memories after having surgery.
I'm fed up with everything, my head hurt from the headaches from all this thinking is giving me. It may be at this moment I'm being the worst fiancée Santi could have for not spending too much time with him in the hospital, in fact, I hardly even step on it, but if I'm there as long as I want, all I'll do is cry, and if I'm sure of one thing, it is I have to be okay for both him and our child.
After a while I closed my eyes to avoid the headache, at least try and shortly after I hear the front door of the house open. The truth is I don't care about anything anymore, much less who comes into the house, because I'm completely sure it's someone of my family and I don't want to get angry with anyone, I don't have the strength to do it.
I listened to them talking on the phone, but I didn't pay attention to it, more than anything I needed to relax a little at least, for my sake and for our child. "At least here you didn't make a mess." I heard Carla's voice from the entrance "I want to be alone, Carla." I said, "And I've given you enough time, now I'm not going to leave you alone, you're not fine."
"Yes I am." I stated, "That's not what your hand says or that you want to be alone." My best friend replied, "I don't care what all that tells you, I want to be alone and that's it." I said sharply, "I don't care. From now on you won't be alone. You two tend to destroy yourselves if you're not together."
"I'm not destroying myself." I assured, "But you are suffering for Santi, and don't tell me you aren't, because we both know it's not true." She insisted and I sat down looking at her "And do you think I'm going to tell you the opposite? Of course, everything is happening with Santi hurts me! But I know how to take care of myself."
"That's not what you're proving." She pointed out and I rolled my eyes. "I don't need to prove anything to anyone when I've been on my own for four years." I reported, "It's not fair for you to say that… We thought you were dead." My best friend said in a sad tone, "And at this moment I'm wishing for it, because if it weren't for me, Santi wouldn't be like this at this moment."
"You don't know that, Jessica." Carla responded "Of course I know, that's why I said it. I can't take this anymore, but I can't give up everything either, I have a child to think about and a fiancé to worry about." I said sincerely and lay down on the floor again. "Then why aren't you in the hospital with him?"
"Because one, Santi would have liked me not to go in there just to make sure he's okay, two, I have to take care of myself for our child, and if I'm there I'll go crazy, and three, my experience in hospitals is long and nothing good, and I would like not to have to relive anything that happened in the United States" I assured, "Okay, I understand the reasons, but you have to understand isolating yourself from everyone doesn't do you any good either."
"I'm not in the best mood to be around people." I protested, "But we understand you're angry and hurt. All we want is to support you at this time. You don't have to have a hard time alone." Carla assured, sitting next to me, "But I need time to think."
"In what exactly?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "Everything. Find a way to endure it in case he forgets about his life, about what we have." I whispered, closing my eyes "First of all, he won't forget everything. It won't happen to him like it did to you, and second, if that happens to him, he'll remember you. Didn't you remember him?" Carla asked, "That has nothing to do with it…"
"Do you know why you remembered him?... Let me tell you, you remembered him because you love him, and despite losing all your memories with him, your heart didn't forget him, because you love him more than anything and he does too. He will do everything in his power to return to you… to you two." I didn't want to cry, because if I started now, I wouldn't stop, and I had to stay calm, one, because I had to go to Santi's side and two, for the sake of our child and my mental health, which is being pushed to limits I didn't know it could. I could get there, but I noticed there wasn't much left for me to go crazy.
"I have to go out." I said, getting up from the ground. "Where are you going at this hour?" My best friend asked, raising an eyebrow. "I have to go out and that's it, I don't have to tell you everything I do with my life." I insisted, "No, of course you don't have to, but it's almost nine o'clock. Where are you supposed to go?" She questioned, "You don't care about Carla, and I can tell you plan to go alone." I assured, "Oh no, not that. I'm not going to leave you alone any longer."
"I don't care, I plan to go alone and that's it." I responded abruptly, "Okay, but in an hour and a half at home, because if not we're going to have a serious problem, and I can tell you I plan to call the police if necessary." Carla said, pointing in my direction. "They won't hear you." I replied, "You don't know the power of fame, dear."
"Well then I'm going to sleep." I said "Not before I heal your hand. And did you have dinner?" She asked and I nodded even though I hadn't done so. "I did have dinner and I know how to heal myself, thank you." With that, I got up from the floor and went to our room. I didn't want to know anything about anyone, and as I've been saying for three weeks, I wanted to be alone. I went to the bathroom to get the first aid kit and healed my hand, after that, I grabbed one of Santi's sweatshirts, put it on and lay down on the bed, because if there's one thing that's more than clear to me, it's that Carla Is going to come check on me, but I didn't care, I'm going to leave, but later.
After about half an hour I hear the bedroom door open, so I quickly slow my breathing to pretend I'm asleep, and after a couple of seconds, I notice the side of the bed sink a little. "Now she is the one who's having a hard time because of how Santi is." Carla whispered, "It reminds me of when Santi was like that for her."
"We can't let anything happen to her, Jackson. I know that Santi will get out of all this, and I don't want him to wake up with bad news." Carla said softly, "We won't let anything happen to her, we're watching her twenty-four seven." Jackson assured, "I know, and I'm sorry I have to make you work late, but I need a couple of bodyguards at the front entrance and a couple at the back door."
"For what? Is anyone coming for her?" Jackson murmured in a serious tone. "No, it's nothing like that, but before she came to bed, she said she had to go." My best friend responded "Don't you know where?" My bodyguard asked and Carla probably denied, "I don't have the slightest idea, but I don't want to take the risk going out there at this hour something could happen to her."
"We'll do it, don't worry. Now you should go rest at least for a while, you haven't been doing that for a couple of weeks, at least as long as you should." Jackson murmured, "Santi's not well and let's not even talk about Jessica, so no, I won't be able to rest until everything goes back to where we were before." My best friend responded, "You love them a lot, don't you?"
"We have been together practically all our lives, and they took me in when I was nobody and had no family. They were the only ones who wanted to be my friends despite not having parents and they supported me in following my dream of being a singer, if it weren't for them, I wouldn't be a singer right now." Carla responded and I did my best to keep the tears in place. "You owe them everything in your opinion." Jackson answered, "Well yes, I owe them everything, and they're my family, you can't leave your family."
"I understand. I'm going to organize the rest. Please rest for a while. You would be doing them a favour too." My bodyguard asked, "I was your boss, you don't have to tell me what to do." Carla responded, probably with a smile on her face "I care about you. And to begin with, it's a recommendation."
"Well, I don't need your recommendations, Jackson." Carla noted "I know, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to give them to you. I always tell Jessica that." The man reported "Wow, and did she ever listen to you?" She asked surprised. "Well, I don't know, I just drop it."
"Now I understand why Jessica trusts you so much and why I do it myself, and I think you're right, I'm dying of sleep." Carla said, yawning, "Well, that's why you have to go rest. Don't worry, Jessica won't leave the house." The bodyguard assured, "Thank you, Jackson."
After that, the two of them left my room leaving me alone again. I heard the door close to the guest room and the outside room so I got up and headed towards the window. I'm more than clear I'm going to leave the house, I had to see Santi no matter what since after the anxiety and anger I had throughout the day prevented me from going to see him.
I opened the window slowly and made sure no one is around. I quickly put on my shoes, sat on the window ledge, put my feet on the small roof that protruded from the living room window, closed the window and jumped off what's left.
I have to say I hurt my ankle a little bit, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be anything, and if it was, it would be worth it. I know very well they wouldn't let me leave the house, or at least without them, and I wanted to go to the hospital alone.
After almost an hour walking, I arrived at the hospital, I rubbed my hands to warm them a little and entered the hospital. I tried to avoid cameras, doctors and other staff, so as not to risk being seen.
When I finally got to the room Santi is staying in, I quickly opened the door without making too much noise and closed it to prevent anyone from noticing.
As soon as I closed the door, I slowly approached his bed and gave him a small kiss. I missed him, a lot. It had been three weeks, almost four I hadn't been able to hear his laughter, nor his love, it taught me, even though we had thousands of problems, my love for him had never gone away, and I know it won't go away.
What hurts me most of all is who knows how many days he's there like this and more than that during that time we were angry with each other. If I had listened to Eric none of this would have happened.
"Honey, I really hope you're hearing me, because I don't know what else to do without you. You know I love you, deep down I know you know it, and I miss you, too much... I want you to wake up more than anything, I doubt I can continue like this for too long, I love you and I swear I'm going crazy..." I took his hand and ended up looking at the ceiling. I didn't want to cry, I'm tired of it, but on the other hand I couldn't stop.
When I'm about to fall asleep, I thought I heard my name, but I'm no longer sure if it's my mind or not, and I'm falling asleep again when I noticed a small squeeze on my hand, that's what made me look towards Santi and I see his eyes are half open.
"What the fuck?" I murmured surprised and confused "Where am I?" my fiancé murmured, but I didn't even answer him, the first thing I did is get up and hug him like I hadn't done in a long time and this time, I couldn't help but start crying, but with joy. "Jess… you hurt…"
"Shit, I'm sorry." I separated from him, but continued to keep our hands intertwined. I didn't want to let him go now he's awake and apparently fine. "You don't need to apologize." He said with something resembling a smile on his face "You don't know how much I missed you, really. How are you?" I asked with a big smile on my face "My head hurts a little, but where am I?"
"At the hospital." I reported and he frowned "What am I doing here?" He asked "Three weeks ago you were beaten up and kept unconscious until now…" I started, but he stops me before I can finish saying what had happened "Three weeks?" He whispered and I nodded "Yes. Do you remember anything about what happened?" I questioned, hoping he remembers, "I remember I had gone to a bar after arguing with you… Jessica, I'm sorry for everything…"
"Honey, don't worry about it, everything is fine. Better tell me what you remember." I asked, giving him a kiss on the cheek "I remember I was ready to get drunk. I felt bad about everything I said to you, and out of nowhere some guys come out, take me out of the bar and start hitting me." He said "For no reason?" I asked, frowning. "I think so."
"Do you remember anything else?" I asked "No… Wait, I remember someone saying a last name I guess." He muttered "Which one?" I questioned "Miller" Somewhere in my mind that last name sounded familiar, but no matter how hard I tried to remember why, I couldn't remember anything. "Jess, are you okay?"
"Yeah, why?" I asked, pushing that question out of my mind. "It seemed like you were somewhere else." He pointed out and I denied "It's nothing… just that last name sounds familiar to me." I said sincerely, "It's a common surname in the United States if I remember correctly." He responded "It could be, but I don't know… it sounds familiar."
"Don't worry about it anymore. What happened to your hand?" He asked once he noticed my hand "Ah, it's nothing, a small cut." I responded "What? How did you do it?" He asked, "That's the least of it. Stop worrying about me, I'm fine." I assured, because I am "And about the surgery?"
"Everything went well, but I still don't remember many things." I answered, shrugging my shoulders, "You shouldn't stress out, love, you'll see how you will do." He said with a small smile on his face and I shrugged "I really don't have the slightest idea. "I'm tired of not remembering my life."
"Don't worry about it, okay? "I can help you with that if you want." He responded "Thank you. I love you Santi." I thanked "I know. I'm sorry for telling you..." he began, but I put my finger on his lips so he stops apologizing. "Santi, seriously, you don't need to..." I started, but he pushed my hand away and gave it a kiss. "But I want to do it... I know with everything I told you I hurt you, and I swear I don't believe any of it. I know you love me, and you were right, otherwise you wouldn't have been with me all this time... At that moment I didn't think... Let's just say I wasn't in a good place at that exact moment... Sometimes I can't help but think I'm not enough for you and you'll find someone who does deserve you…"
"You know that's not true. You deserve me more than anyone else in this world." I assured, running my fingers through his hair gently so as not to hurt him. "Now I know, after this I realized it." He said, "Do you remember what I told you when we started dating?" I asked, with a small smile on my face. "What exactly?"
"When you felt like that you could tell me and I would help you not think about it?" I asked "Yes, I remember. It really helped." He responded, "Well, that's still the same, love. I'm still here to help you with anything. That will never change." I assured, "I know, that's why I love you the way I do."
I leaned in to kiss him, and I swear it felt like he hadn't kissed me in years. At this moment I couldn't be happier with everything, but I would have to leave soon, because I didn't want to be caught here outside of visiting hours. "Honey, I have to go." I said once I looked at the clock "Why?"
"Let's say it's like three in the morning and I'm completely sure they'll come to check your medications in no time. I don't want to get caught." I responded, "What are you doing up so late? You should be resting." He protested, "I know, but I couldn't do it without seeing you, so I came."
"Well, you should go, I don't want you to get in trouble, but before you go, how are you and the child doing?" He asked, putting his hand on my stomach. "We're doing well, we've missed you a lot and we can't wait for you to come home with us." I said with a smile on my face "I'll do it soon, I promise."
"I know, but I really should go. I'm sure soon all the police will be looking for me." I responded laughing "Why?" He asked, frowning. "Carla." I said in response "You're right, you should go." He responded laughing, "I know, I love you, Santi." I said with a smile on my face "I love you Jess."
We kissed and with that I left. As soon as I walked out the door, I heard footsteps so I sped up so they wouldn't see me and I left the hospital without being seen, but in case they did, I wasn't going to care too much, because no one could take away the happiness I had in me. At this moment, Santi is fine and if everything went well, he would soon return home.
The moment I set foot outside the hospital I realized the temperature dropped enough to make me cold, so I walked quickly to get home sooner. After almost an hour, I got home and before entering I could see the lights were on, so I have to assume they already knew I'm not home and they would be looking for me.
When I entered the house four heads turn in my direction and I can see Carla's look change to one of complete anger with a touch of relief I think, so I prepare myself for the fight of the century. "CAN I KNOW WHERE THE FUCK YOU WER? WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU FOR HALF AN HOUR JESSICA, HALF A FUCKING HOUR." She shouted angrily and frustrated, "I told you I had to go." I said, shrugging.
"ARE YOU STUPID OR WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? YOU'RE NOT THE GIRL FROM LOS ANGELES WHO WAS UNKNOWN TO EVERYONE. HERE YOU'RE NOT ANY PERSON TO WALK ALONE ON THE STREET, ESPECIALLY IF WE CONSIDER WE HAVE THE BITCH ALISON WHO HATES YOU AND WHO WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET YOUR FIANCE AND THE CRAZY WHO GOES AROUND SAYING HE'S YOUR BOYFRIEND. DIDN'T YOU STOP TO THINK FOR A MINUTE?" My best friend asked "No, I didn't. I'm sorry, but as I told you and I repeat it, I had to go."
"AND WHAT WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAD TO…?" She started screaming again the moment Jackson had gotten next to me is when she notices the temperature of my body, he looks at Carla, then goes to the couch, grabs the blanket, and returns to my side and surrounds me with it.
"Carla, we have already found her and she's fine. Stop worrying." She said softly "IF IT WAS SO EASY…" she started to protest "I'm sorry Carla, really. I shouldn't have left like that, and I promise you next time I'll let you know."
"AH NO FRIEND, YOU WON'T LEAVE THIS HOUSE AGAIN WITHOUT ANYONE." I didn't even answer, I approached her and hugged her. After a couple of seconds, she hugged me too and I could see how she relaxed almost completely. I understand I had scared her, and that's not what I wanted to do, but like I had told her, I wanted to go alone, and I know there was no way that telling her would let me go alone.
"Shit Jess, you're frozen." She murmured in my ear "I'm going to make you some tea. Do you want one, Carla?" Jackson asked. "I would really appreciate it, Jackson." My best friend responded, "I'll be back in a few minutes." With that Jackson went to the kitchen and Carla directed me towards the sofa and the moment she made me sit on it, she covered me better, preventing me from getting cold.
"Please Jessica, I'm begging you, don't do this again." She asked and I denied with a small smile on my face "I won't, I promise." I said, "If Santi had known this, he would have killed me. How long has it been since you left?" Carla asked curiously. "Basically, since you went to sleep." I replied, shrugging my shoulders. "Are you telling me you never fell asleep?"
"No, I couldn't." I admitted "Then I must assume you heard our conversation. Where the hell did you got out?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "Through the window." I responded, "You're crazy, I'm telling you that. But I have good news for you." She said now with a smile on her face "What?"
"Santi woke up." My best friend informed and a smile appeared on my face "I know." I said, "Did the doctor call you?... No, that's impossible, you left your cell phone at home... How the hell do you know?" She asked with a frown. "Let's say I saw him wake up." I admitted "How …? Wait, are you telling me you were in the hospital this whole time?" She asked and I nodded.
"Oh, and you couldn't tell me? At least tell me you have everything settled, please, I beg you, I can't continue watching you two hurt each other." She asks and I nodded "Don't worry, everything is fixed. You know better than anyone we couldn't go on like this for long." I responded, "Ugh, I'm glad to hear that, but thinking about it now, I don't like to think my nephew or niece almost froze to death because of their stubborn mother."
"It won't freeze, I promise." I said laughing, "I'll take care of that, don't worry." She assured "As you wish." I replied "Girls, your tea." Jackson said appearing in front of us "Thank you Jackson, you're a sweetheart."
"I'm happy to do it." He responded, "Jackson, you weren't supposed to be here today, what are you doing here?" I asked "I came when Carla called me to make sure you wouldn't run away and then when she couldn't find you anywhere." He responded, "Well, you better go home, I'm not going to let you spend so much time with your daughter."
"Wait, you have a daughter?" Carla asked, frowning. "I have, but that's a story for another day." He answered "Why didn't I know?" My best friend questioned "Carla, let him go. Do you have your daughter tomorrow?" I asked, ignoring Carla. "I have her all week." He reported "Well this week you stay home and spend time with her."
"But…" he started to protest, but I denied, because he wasn't going to convince me. "But nothing, don't worry about us, we're going to be fine." I assured him, "I have to do my job…" he insisted, "And you will, but this week you have vacation, so if at some point you answer calls that have to do with work or show up here, you'll find out how angry I am, and not. You won't like seeing me angry."
"Okay, thank you Jessica, really." He thanked "Go and spend time with your daughter." I said "I will, see you next week." Please don't give anyone else a heart attack this week." He asked and I couldn't help but laugh "I won't."
With that, he left the house, leaving only Carla and me inside. We talked for about an hour until I started to get sleepy. The moment my head landed on the pillow I fell asleep.