RAYDEN
"The bleeding might occur after the surgery has been performed, and it can be attributed to several factors. Cut blood vessels might initially go into spasm, not showing any signs of bleeding. They might later relax and start bleeding many hours or even days after the procedure has been completed. Similarly, stitches, staples, or clips could become dislodged, leading to bleeding from a blood vessel..."
The doctor continued his explanation, but I was losing my mind outside the operating room. I couldn't hear anything other than the loud pounding of my heart. I was crying uncontrollably, a waterfall of emotions cascading down my face.
I had so many plans, so many things I wanted to do with her. I hadn't even had a chance to recover fully. I hadn't managed to wipe away all her sadness, the hardships, and suffering she'd endured since meeting me.
Why did this have to happen? Why did she have to suffer repeatedly? She deserved happiness, damn it... with me!
Oh, for crying out loud! I fought with everything I had for her! I was willing to give up everything just to be with her! I almost lost everything, and my wealthy family saved me from that disaster. But they couldn't save her from this! God damn it, I can't save her!
I punched the floor in frustration. My legs felt like jelly, unable to hold me up any longer. The thought of losing her was like a dagger through my heart. I admit it—I'm weak. I'm tired of pretending to be stronger than I really am. I growled and rumbled with anger.
God, I despise you for making her suffer like this. Every ounce of pain she's felt, every tear she's shed—it's all my fault! Why does she have to endure this? If you want to punish someone, then punish me! Not her! Not her! Not my Sidney!
I was a mess, sprawled on the floor. My feet and hands felt like lead. My tears flowed freely, saturating the hospital floor. And then I felt a comforting touch on my back.
"My son," a soft, familiar voice called out—it was my mother.
I turned to look at her. She was there, with my father by her side. Seeing her tear-streaked face only made my heart ache even more. She rubbed my back gently, her touch like a balm for my wounded soul. And then I broke down completely, my sobs echoing through the hospital hallway.
"We're not pursuing the money her father took from us anymore. Her mother died because of that good-for-nothing Vincent. I hope Sidney pulls through this. I'm sorry we used her as bait. I'm sorry."
"Please pray for her, Mom. Please pray for my Sidney."
My mother enveloped me in a warm hug, her embrace offering a fleeting sense of solace amidst the turmoil.
My cries continued, resonating throughout the hospital like a mournful melody. "Mom, I love her! I love her! I can't lose her, Mom! Mom..."
My mother cried with me, no longer the opponent of our love but its reluctant supporter. Her hug tightened, and I gave in to the waves of grief that washed over me.
"We believe she'll make it through, my son. Sidney's a fighter. She'll be alright."
"I saw her pain. I saw it all. It's my fault!"
"Shhh. Calm down, my son. No one wanted this to happen, except for one person."
I paused, realizing the weight of my mother's words. "What do you mean?" I asked, slowly putting the pieces together. And then it hit me. "Is my suspicion right?"
My mother nodded, tears welling in her eyes.
My father joined the conversation, taking a seat on a nearby bench. "The police were able to trace her phone logs from before the accident. She was calling the same number repeatedly that night. The owner of that phone number is the person who owns the car that hit Sidney." My dad sighed before continuing, "The van driver who hit her confessed that he was paid by Sylvia to kill Sidney. She was arrested last night, and the evidence against her is strong. She won't be able to get bail."
"Thank you, Dad," I said, my voice heavy with emotion.
"I'm sorry, son. I'm sorry for involving you in something you never signed up for. I'd rather you marry a fierce ballbuster than a criminal." My dad patted my back, his gaze filled with regret. "I hope Sidney makes it through this. I'd like to know her better, beyond what the television shows."
"Yes, Franco. Sidney will pull through. Our son can't afford to lose her. I can't bear to see him like this." My mom's soothing words accompanied her comforting touch on my back, attempting to ease my pain.
We remained in that hallway for hours, the night growing darker. I dozed off on a bench, my head resting on my mother's shoulder. When I woke up, Meg and her boyfriend had arrived, followed by Carson and Sidney's family.
Even before Sidney's aunt reached the operating room, her cries were already audible. Tears flowed from her eyes, and her cousins and friends joined her in her anguish. Emotions were palpable, and the atmosphere was heavy with concern and fear.
As Sidney's aunt approached the operating room, her sobs grew louder. My heart raced, the anticipation almost unbearable. It was as if time was moving in slow motion, each second dragging by.
The door of the operating room finally swung open. Three doctors hurried past us, while one doctor, a familiar face, waited for us. The slump of his shoulders told me that the operation hadn't gone as planned.
Sidney's aunt and my dad approached the doctor first. I gathered the courage to move closer, my legs feeling like lead. It was a tense moment, and I felt my heart pounding in my chest. My world seemed to crumble as Sidney's aunt broke down in tears, my dad holding her up as she received the news from the doctor.
I stood there, rooted in shock and disbelief. The room seemed to spin, and the silence was deafening.
But despite my best efforts, despite the love that surged through every fiber of my being, I was helpless. I watched as the light in Sidney's eyes dimmed, as her breaths grew shallower and more infrequent. And with each passing moment, my pain deepened, my heart breaking over and over again.
I wanted to scream, to rail against the unfairness of it all. To demand answers from whatever higher power would allow such agony to befall the person I loved with every ounce of my being. But all I could do was watch, my voice lost in the storm of emotions that engulfed me.
As Sidney's life seemed to have slipped away, so too did a part of me. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces, each shard a painful reminder of what I was losing. And as she fought for her life, I felt a soul-deep emptiness settle over me, a void that nothing could fill.
"Sidney..."