Chapter 47 Feel My Heartbeat
Iva’s P.O.V.
I reach the hospital, praying to God for Will’s safety, my entire body trembling with the fear of losing him forever. The fear of never hearing his voice again, never feeling his warm breath against my skin, never feeling his touch. I’m terrified of a world where Will doesn’t exist for me anymore.
The moment I step out of the car, I run inside without a second thought.
The hospital corridor is too quiet. Each step feels like I’m walking toward something I’m not ready to face. My heart is racing with worry.
“Please keep him safe.” Only these words, I’m constantly enchanting in my mind.
I walk toward the receptionist, my legs trembling.
“Someone called me from Will…” I stop in the middle of my sentence, my throat tightening. “From my boyfriend’s phone. They said he had an accident.” The word ‘accident’ breaks me, and fresh tears trickle down my cheeks.
She directs me to the emergency room.
Is this it? Is this how I lose him forever?
No. No. I’ll never lose him. He has to be fine. He just can’t leave me like this, not after promising he would never let go of me. He can’t break that promise. Not like this. Not now. Never.
I gather myself before walking, my entire body is shivering, and I never stop praying.
A nurse rushes forward. “Are you here for the man brought in from the car crash?”
I nod, terrified. Every worst thought begins running through my mind.
“He’s in room number 217,” she informs quickly and walks away before I can ask anything more.
Is he okay? Why didn’t she tell me how he is?
God!
I can’t think anymore. I just rush towards room 217.
My feet slam against the tiled floor, my chest burning, my eyes filled with tears. I push past people until I’m standing in front of the door.
My hand freezes on the handle.
What if I open it and he’s hooked up to wires?
What if he looks pale and lifeless?
What if he’s not okay?
The nurse informed that his condition was serious.
What if they can’t save him?
But I have no time for more what-ifs.
“Please God keep him alive.” After begging God for the last time, I push the door open, and for the first time since the call, I feel like I can breathe again.
He’s alive. Sitting on the hospital bed with a few bruises, a cut near his eyebrow, and a bandage wrapped around his forehead
But he’s breathing. He’s Alive.
My Will is okay.
Thank you… Thank you, God.
A small smile spread across my face. Tears trickle down my cheeks, not from fear this time, but from the most overwhelming relief. I press a hand to my mouth as sobs break free—soft, uncontrollable, drenched in happiness
I’ve never felt this grateful in my entire life.
Not until this moment, seeing him sitting there, hurt, yes, but here. Here with me.
If something had happened to him tonight, I don’t know how I would’ve survived.
The mere thought is enough to shatter me.
I lose control.
“Will!” I cry out his name like it’s the only word I know.
His head jerks up immediately. His eyes find me and widen. Shock flickers across his face, as if he can’t believe I’m really standing here in front of him, drenched in tears and trembling from the terror of almost losing him.
Without waiting for him to react, I rush to him. I crash into his chest, wrapping my arms around him tightly as I sit on the edge of his bed.
That’s it. I can feel him again! His heart beating against my ear, and that sound makes me feel alive again. When the nurse told me his condition was serious, I died inside, but now… now I feel like I can breathe again.
He gasps in surprise, but then his arms wrap around me just as tightly. His strong embrace locks me in, as if he’s afraid I’ll disappear.
For a moment, I can’t breathe, not from fear, but from the overwhelming relief. I truly thought I would never feel this warmth again, never hear the heartbeat that has always felt like home.
I break down in his arms, burying my face in the curve of his neck, letting myself finally fall apart where I’ve always belonged. “I thought—I thought I lost you…” My voice cracks as sobs escape. “Will, I thought you were gone. I thought I’d never get to see you again, or hear your voice, or fight with you, or feel this, feel you, ever again.”
“Iva…”
Oh God! His voice. I thought I’d never hear my name on his lips again.
“I got so scared,” I cry harder, clinging to him like he’s oxygen. “What if something had happened to you? What if that was the last time I saw you? The last thing I said to you was full of pain… and I would never forgive myself.”
I look at him with my moist eyes behind my glasses as he gently pulls me away just enough to see my face.
First, he sets my glasses properly, then cups my cheeks before brushing away my tears with his thumbs, though his own eyes are red. “Shh, hey… I’m right here. I’m okay. I’m okay, Professor…”
I shake my head, my eyes locked with his. “You don’t get it. If something had happened to you, Will, I would’ve died too.”
He closes his eyes as he presses his forehead against mine. “Iva…”
A fresh sob escapes my mouth, and I hold him tighter. “I was so terrified, Will. I thought I lost you forever.”
He doesn’t move his forehead from mine. Instead, he takes my hand and places it on his chest, right over his heart.
“Feel my heartbeat, Professor. I’m alive. I’m here, in front of you. Please, stop crying.” He requests, his fingers brushing lightly over my hand. With his other hand, he wipes my tears away.
As I feel his steady heartbeat, my own heart and soul begin to calm.
“I’m alive, and I’m not going anywhere. I’m not leaving you alone, trust me,” he reassures me, whispering against my lips, caressing my cheek gently with his fingers.
I smile faintly through my tears and look into his eyes. They’re still glassy, watching me with such softness, as if I’m the most fragile thing he’s ever held.
And in this moment, I don’t care about the past. I don’t care about the pain he caused me. Nothing matters anymore.
All I care about…
is that he’s here. Breathing.
And I didn’t lose him.
And all I want is him now. Till my last breath.