Maya
I am beginning to panic. No, I have been panicking for the last hour; it is just getting worse. My anxiety is through the roof. Conrad should have been home over two hours ago. I texted him to see if he had been held up. The message hasn’t even been read. I tried calling, but there was no answer. He always lets me know if he is going to be late. Tonight, he didn’t, and I am worrying. I am terrified something has happened to him. I may possibly just be paranoid, but I have the right to be with my ex still around somewhere. I am scared something has happened to him.
I have been pacing the floor for the last twenty minutes. I sent Joshua home because I had the night planned for Conrad and me. I cooked dinner and did a little shopping for some lingerie. I had the entire night planned for us.
I stop and try calling him again. Something in my gut is telling me something isn’t right. The phone rings a couple of times, and then there is finally an answer.
“Conrad, where are you? Are you okay?” I ramble.
“It isn’t Conrad.” A female voice replies one I know.
“Bridget, why are you answering Conrad’s cell? Where is he?”
“Because he is in the hospital.”
The second she mentions the hospital the worse possible scenarios run around in my head.
“What do you mean? What happened? Is he okay?” I whimper.
“No, he is not okay, Maya. Your fucking ex knocked him down with his car.” She hisses.
“What? No, Bridget, please tell me he is, okay? What are his injuries? What hospitals are you in.” I whimper.
“He is not critical, but he has a lot of different injuries. I am not telling you where he is.” She snaps.
“Bridget, please, I need to see him. I need to know he is okay. Tell me where he is.” I sob.
How dare she try to keep me from him? I knew my ex was a monster, but I never thought he would do something like this.
“No. You shouldn’t come. His parents or I don’t want you here. All of this is your fault. I knew you weren’t right for him. Now, because of you, he is in hospital. Stay away. They know who you really are and how you have been lying to them.”
“You have no fucking idea about what I went through with my ex, so don’t even judge me. Tell me where he is. Why are you even there? I don’t care if none of you want me there. Fucking tell me which hospital he is.” I yell.
“No,” she states firmly.
“I will find out for myself.” I hiss and hang up the call.
My hands were shaking, my heart pounding in my chest, and the tears streaming down my cheeks. She is right about one thing: this is my fault. I should have left when my ex started showing up. Now, Conrad is hurt because of me, and I don’t know how badly because she won’t tell me anything. I don’t blame any of them for hating me. To them, I am the one who caused this to happen, caused the pain he was in.
I am sure they would all be happy if I disappeared, but I won’t do that. I can’t do that. I need to be with them, and if they try to stop me, I will lose my shit. There are multiple hospitals around, and I plan to call every one of them until I find him. I don’t understand why Bridget is there with him. Did the hospital call his parents, and they called her rather than me? I don’t know, but none of that matters right now. All that matters is I get to him. He might not want to see me either. I wouldn’t hold it against him if he blames me, too and breaks up with me.
****
I rushed through the corridors of the hospital to Conrad’s room. I should have been here sooner, but the nurse at the nurse’s station wasn’t going to let me through at first because Bridget was already there. I had to explain to them what was going on. Apparently, she is still his emergency contact.
I finally reach the room and pause outside. I stare in at the window, and the tears start again as I look at him. He seems to be sitting up, but he has stitches in his head, a cast on his left arm, bandages around his ribs, along with other cuts and bruises. It takes everything I have in me not to drop to my knees and completely break down.
His parents and Bridget are by his bed. I take a few deep breaths before I step into the room.
“Conrad,” I whimper.
All eyes were on me, but my focus was on him.
“What are you doing here? I told you not to come.” Bridget snarls, coming to stand in front of me.
“You are not welcome here.” His dad adds in.
“All of you back off,” Conrad warns.
“No, if it weren’t for her, you wouldn’t be here, son.” His dad says.
“None of you have no idea what she has been through with that bastard. Bridget, move out of the way.” Conrad demands.
She glares at me but does as he tells her. I ignore all three of them and rush to his bedside.
“Conrad, I am so sorry. This is all my fault. You are hurt because of me. I didn’t think he would do something like this.” I cry, struggling to catch my breath.
“Yes, it is your fault. You should never have come. He doesn’t even want you here.” Bridget snaps from behind me.
“All of you out right now. I want to talk to my girlfriend. None of you have any idea, so don’t you dare judge something you know nothing about. I do want her here, Bridget, more than I want you here. Leave, now.” He hisses.
They don’t look happy, but the three of them leave.
I take Conrad’s hand in mine, “I am so sorry. You must hate me.”
“None of this is your fault, Maya. You weren’t driving the car. I don’t hate you. I don’t blame you either. This doesn’t change anything between us.” He smiles.
I shake my head, “It is okay for you to hate me. Look at you. Things could have been so much worse. He could have killed you, Conrad.”
The thought of it was enough to make me feel sick to my stomach.
“Come here, sweetheart.” He says softly and pats the spot next.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” I whisper.
“You won’t.” he smiles.
I climb on the bed with him, being careful not to hurt. He slips his untouched arm around me.
“What happened?” I ask and gently stroke the cuts on his face.
“I thought I saw Callum hanging around outside of my office earlier this afternoon. I was completely sure, though. Then, when I left the office, he came out of nowhere and hit me with his car, driving off.”
“I know he is evil, but I didn’t think he would do something like this.” I whimper.
“The police have been to take a report. They also got eyewitness statements, including his plate number. The police are currently still looking for him but have now put more officers on. With any luck, they will catch him soon.”
I can hear the anger in his voice.
“I hope when they do, they lock him up and throw away the keys.” I snap.
I worry they won’t be able to find him. He knows a lot of people and won’t be lacking in places to hide, but I can’t tell him that, not now.
“Me too, my love.” He says, kissing the top of my head.
“Why don’t you hate me right now, Conrad? This wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t show up in your life. Your life wouldn’t be full of worry and drama. I would hate me if I were you.”
He reaches in and wipes away from my tears, “I could never hate you, angel. I love you. Nothing will change that. Please, stop blaming yourself.”
“I got so scared when I didn’t hear from you and then when Bridget told me you were in the hospital. She wouldn’t tell me what exactly was wrong. I thought I had lost you.” I weep.
“You aren’t getting rid of me that easy, my love. I will be okay. Everything will heal in time.”
“I don’t want ever to get rid of you. I will take care of you until you are better. I promise.” I say and kiss his cheek.
“What about your work?”
“That doesn’t matter. I probably don’t even have a job now, anyway. I am sure someone has told Meredith what has happened. Even if I do still have one, I don’t care. You are my priority until you are on the mend.”
“We will work it out.” He smiles and kisses my forehead, “We always do.”
I nod and cuddle into him the best I can without hurting him. I will not leave his side again until I know Callum has been locked up.