Chapter 21
The city hospital
The machines beeped softly in Rhythm, Maya sat beside the bed, folding her hands neatly on her lap, Her eyes kept glancing at her phone screen every few seconds. There were still no new messages.
She noticed someone was watching her so she leaned forward, brushing Ethan's hair back gently
"You scared me, you know," she whispered. Her voice sounding convincing enough "You were bleeding, Ethan. God, I thought I lost you."
She reached for his hand and pressed her cheek against it.
"They all hate me now. Jenna wouldn't even look at me and your parents might think I'm the reason you crashed."
She paused, waiting, watching his face for a little movement but there was nothing.
"Do you know I haven't eaten since?" she said lower but louder enough for the person behind to hear "I've been here by your side like a wife should."
Her phone buzzed suddenly with a message, she looked at the screen and it was from Adrian.
"U still at the hospital? It read.
She quickly locked the screen, the door creaked open and Mrs. Vale walked in.
"Maya, it's late, you should rest. Come lie down for a few hours."
Maya gave a tired smile. "No, I'm okay. I just want to stay a little longer."
"You need your strength too," Mrs. Vale said, voice gentle but firm.
"I'll sleep here. Please."
Mrs. Vale hesitated, "You know Ethan wouldn't be happy to see you like this. You should rest and be strong for when he wakes up" She said and slowly walked out.
Maya sat back in the chair, this was exactly what she needed, for Ethan's mom to see her vulnerable becaude of her son. She exhaled deeply, then took her phone she quickly typed.
"I miss you. Can you come? Just for a bit"
" Not a good idea, His whole family's there." It read.
" I need you" She typed and click send
She waited for a reply but he didn't reply. She looked at Ethan again.
"You're mine," she whispered. "Whether you wake up or not, you're still my husband."
The lights in Ethan's room were dim, the mid night air was thick with the kind of silence that only hospitals carried quiet, but never peaceful.
Maya sat with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders, her phone was still in her hand, her eyes occasionally glanced to the monitor next to Ethan's bed. She hadn't moved much, every time someone entered, she played the tired wife and devoted partner everyone was expecting.
This time the door opened slowly and Jenna stepped in, a small overnight bag on her shoulder.
Maya glanced up, surprised. "Jenna?"
Jenna didn't smile at her she looked at her brother for a long moment before speaking.
"I want to stay here tonight."
Maya blinked. "What?"
"I haven't had a single quiet moment with him since he was brought in. You've been here, my parents and the doctors. I just want to sit with my brother."
Maya stood slowly. "Jenna, I understand you miss him, I do too. But I've been the one holding his hand since as his wife which he needs, If anything changes....."
"I can handle him, Maya," Jenna cut in gently, but firm. "I've known him since birth. And I don't need permission to be around him."
Maya's face twitched slightly, but she nodded, masking her irritation with a soft smile. "Of course. I understand."
She walked over to Ethan, her fingers grazed his hand as she leaned in and placed a soft kiss on it. "I'll be back by morning " she whispered, her voice laced with just enough sweetness to hide the bitterness.
Then she picked up her bag and walked out without uttering another word.
Outside
Maya slipped into the back seat of her car and shut the door, the night air was humid. She rolled the window down just a little and drove off.
"Drive" she commanded the driver.
Not far from the hospital entrance, in a black SUV parked near the edge of the lot, someone else was waiting.
She sat in the driver's seat, her hoodie over her head the face was barely visible in the dim light from the streetlamp. Her phone was on the dashboard but she wasn't looking at them.
Her eyes were fixed on the hospital building, she hadn't moved in hours.
Inside Ethan's Room
Jenna sat beside Ethan, her fingers brushing lightly against his wrist.
She looked tired, she pulled out her phone from her pocket then typed:
"Come now, use the back elevator.
She stared at the screen a second longer before hitting send.
Lara's phone buzzed once, she reached for it slowly, her heart raced as she read the message. She opened the door, pulled her hood lower, and stepped out into the night.
Lara stepped out of the elevator quietly, The hallway was silent she remembered Jenna had said it was room 214.
She walked slowly until she reached the door, it was slightly open so she pushed it gently.
Inside, the room was dim a soft lamp was by the bedside. Jenna stood up from the chair beside Ethan and nodded once when she saw her.
"You've got ten minutes," Jenna whispered. "I'll keep watch at the door."
She didn't wait for Lara to respond she jst walked past Lara and quietly closed the door behind her.
Lara stood still, her eyes went straight to the bed where Ethan laid. He was on bandaged and looked pale. Wires were connected almost everywhere, his breathing was soft, almost silent.
Lara didn't move at first, she just stood there, the weight of everything crashing into her at once. She walked over slowly and sat at the edge of the bed her hand hovered near his, then stopped.
"I told myself I wouldn't come," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I couldn't sleep. I can't even breathe properly."
She looked away, swallowing hard.
"I hated you," she said. "For everything."
"I still do."
She looked at his face again, then reached out gently brushed a strand of hair off his forehead.
"You almost died," her voice cracked. "You almost left without even saying goodbye."
Her fingers rested on the side of his face for a moment, then she pulled her hand back fast like she had touched fire.
"I shouldn't be here."
But just before she could turn to leave, Ethan stirred slightly, He didn't open his eyes and didn't wake up. He only shifted a little and that was enough.
She sat back down not saying anything this time just looking at him like she was trying to memorize every inch of his face.
Maybe because she knew she wouldn't be able to do this again or maybe because it felt like the only time she could speak without him interrupting or walking away or saying something cruel in return.
She leaned forward a little, her hands clenched together in her lap.
"I kept telling myself I didn't care anymore," she whispered, her eyes locked on his still face. "That everything between us was over....done."
She laughed under her breath, but it was bitter.
"But it's not. And it never really was."
She sat back slowly and wiped the corners of her eyes.
"I hate that you have this... grip on me. Even now.....even after everything."
Her voice shook and she hated that too.
"I wanted revenge, Ethan. I wanted you to feel pain. To feel alone. To lose things. Like I did."
She breathed in sharply.
"But when I saw you in this bed… I forgot all of that."
She shook her head, almost to herself.
"I forgot what you did. I forgot how you left me, I forgot the lies, The betrayal. All I could think was.....'What if I never get to see you again?'"
Her eyes dropped to his hand snd this time, she reached out and held it.
"I love you."
Her fingers wrapped tighter around his.
"I love you and I hate you at the same time. I don't know what to do with that."
She leaned forward a little more, speaking lower now, as if confessing a secret even the walls shouldn't hear.
"I tried to move on, I tried to forget. Adrian was there. And I know he deserves better than being second in a story that was already over but somehow never ended."
Tears fell, but she didn't bother wiping them anymore.
"I never stopped loving you, Ethan."
She closed her eyes.
"I don't know what happens after this. Maybe you'll wake up and go right back to her. Maybe this moment won't mean anything to you."
She stood, slowly letting go of his hand.
"But it meant everything to me."
She reached for the door slowly, paused and turned to look at him one last time before leaving.