Chapter 35
"No way, I'm exhausted." I didn't know how this man had so much energy - just using my hands, he'd already finished several times.
If we ever actually went all the way, I didn't know if I would even be able to get out of bed.
Michael kept rubbing against me, his tone softening a bit. "One last time, okay?"
Without thinking, I kicked him straight out of bed and firmly rejected him. "No way!"
I knew I couldn't trust a single word men said in bed.
Michael sighed helplessly but went along with me.
Just then, his phone rang.
He glanced at it, saw the caller ID, and answered.
In just a moment, his expression turned serious. "Yeah, I got it. I'll be right there."
Hearing his voice, I rolled over to look at him. "What's wrong?"
Michael grabbed his suit jacket nearby and explained seriously. "Something came up with Jeffrey. I need to go over there now. You get some rest."
With that, Michael hurried out the door.
I didn't think much of it and lay in bed, falling asleep without realizing it.
I woke up again to the sound of thunder and lightning outside.
I instinctively reached for the other side of the bed - Michael's spot was ice cold.
I reflexively checked the time - 3 AM, and he still wasn't back.
There were several missed calls on my phone.
My heart sank. A bad feeling quietly grew inside me.
Nervously, I called Michael back, but his phone was off.
I didn't dare let my mind wander and tried to stay calm.
I called Jeffrey.
The phone rang for barely two seconds before someone picked up, followed by Jeffrey's anxious voice. "Nancy, you finally answered! Michael was in a car accident. He's in the hospital being treated right now."
Without giving me a chance to speak, Jeffrey blurted everything out in a few sentences.
My mind went completely blank.
The person who had just been intimate with me was now in a car accident.
"What's the situation? Where are you? I'm coming right now." I appeared calm on the surface, but my hand holding the phone was trembling uncontrollably.
I could hear chaotic medical staff voices on Jeffrey's end, and immediately sensed something was seriously wrong.
Jeffrey sounded like he was running, breathing heavily while answering me. "Michael just went into the operating room. We don't know the details yet. Nancy, I'll send you the address - we'll talk when you get here."
After that, he hung up.
A message popped up with the hospital address.
I couldn't think - I grabbed some clothes and drove to the hospital as fast as I could.
The entire drive, I didn't dare think about what I'd do if something happened to Michael.
We'd just gotten on track, everything was heading in a good direction, and now suddenly this accident.
Was my existence somehow bad for him?
When I got to the hospital, I ran all the way to the operating room.
The red light above the operating room was still on.
Jeffrey sat by the door looking guilty, with Michael's parents standing beside him.
"What exactly happened to Michael?"
Seeing me arrive, Jeffrey guiltily slapped himself and explained. "Nancy, this is all my fault. Michael got in the accident because of me. I'm the one to blame."
The sharp sound of the slap echoed outside the ward.
Watching Jeffrey, I didn't know what to feel.
Should I blame him? Maybe not - after all, he was Michael's best friend.
But not blaming him felt wrong, too.
I looked at Jeffrey for a long time without saying anything, then finally sighed in compromise, stopping him and trying to comfort him. "Michael will be fine. He wouldn't want to see you like this. What exactly happened?"
I was saying this to Jeffrey, but also to myself.
"I had something to discuss with Michael. When he came to meet me, he got hit by a drunk driver." Jeffrey explained, unable to stop blaming himself.
"If I hadn't asked Michael to come now, none of this would have happened."
Seeing him like this, my resentment faded. "If it were Michael, I think he wouldn't want to see you like this either. Don't overthink it. He'll be fine."
"That's right, Jeffrey. If Michael wakes up, he won't want to see you like this." Amelia also tried to comfort him.
I stayed silent, not knowing what to feel.
I stared blankly at the red light above the operating room, praying constantly in my heart.
Seeing my state, Amelia came over and held my hand, apologizing to me on Michael's behalf with guilt. "Nancy, you and Michael's wedding will have to be postponed. We're so sorry."
I shook my head and said quietly, "Mrs. Johnson, as long as Michael is okay, we can have the wedding anytime."
As long as Michael was okay, I could even accept not having a wedding at all.
Amelia looked at me and continued trying to comfort me. "Michael will be fine."
But even as she said it, she didn't sound convinced.
The several of us waited together outside the operating room.
After what felt like forever, the operating room doors finally opened.
The moment I saw the doctor come out, I reacted immediately, running up and asking anxiously, "Doctor, how's my husband? He's okay, right?"
I hadn't even realized that Michael had become the most important person in my life.
The doctor shook his head, looking very serious.
Seeing the doctor's reaction, my heart clenched. I didn't dare ask more.
"The patient's condition is not optimistic. He hasn't regained consciousness yet. Who's the family member? We need someone to sign the surgical risk consent form."
Looking at the form the nurse handed over, I felt completely numb inside.
I never imagined Michael's condition would be this serious.
"Doctor... is he... very bad?" My voice trembled uncontrollably. I didn't dare reach for the form.
"The situation is still uncertain. We can only make a proper assessment after the surgery." The doctor answered and urged again, "Who's the family member? Who will sign?"
Amelia was the first to react, taking the risk consent form from the doctor and signing her name.
The operating room doors closed again.
My heart felt dead.
I didn't dare think about what I'd do if I lost Michael.
I stared at the operating room door as tears fell from my eyes without me realizing it.
"Michael, you have to be okay. For you, I'd do anything." I collapsed by the operating room door, murmuring to myself, praying constantly for Michael.