Chapter 166 Tonight Or Never
Worry scattered her expression into an ugly look, tears blurred her eyes, her heart could be heard beating in her ear. Her heels wore her legs out as she ran along with the stretcher that carried Romeo to the intensive care unit.
His bloodied hand wrapped around hers, holding on to her like he never wanted to let go.
But every second that went by, his grip grew loose and loose until... He finally let go.
She felt like her heart had stopped, she didn't look ahead, behind, anywhere other than at him.
Tears poured down her face as she sobbed loudly. "Romeo! Please wake up! Please no, don't do this to me! Please!!!" She pleaded.
The nurse instructed her to stay back, only the staff were allowed inside from that section. But Cara didn't want to let go, she was too afraid to say goodbye, she was not ready for it.
Joshua's arms wrapped around his waist and pulled her aside so they could finally take Romeo in. She thrashed and struggled, shouting at first for him to let her go before her tone reduced to a soft plea.
"No... Please... Let me go with him... Please... I can't... I don't want to leave him alone... He's scared... He needs me..."
"Cara please..." Joshua fought back his tears, holding her firmly in his arms.
She crumbled to her knees. "No please... If I lose him... I lose everything..."
Joshua had never seen his sister in such a state before, he wondered just how much of her pain he had missed out on, not being able to be there to comfort her.
But he was there now and he would do everything he could to help her be okay.
Miranda crouched down next to them and hugged Cara close to her chest. Tears poured down her face as much as she wanted to hold back her tears.
"Cara..." She was speechless, nothing she could ever say-- not like she had anything to say-- could make Cara feel better.
Without bothering to say anything, she hugged her to her chest and patted her softly on the back.
Cara's loud cries reduced into soft sobbing until she was finally silent. She had allowed herself be lifted to her feet and placed on the seat while they waited for Romeo's operation to be over. Her legs had grown weak anyway.
Hours had gone by yet the operation still went on. His parents had signed all necessary papers and paid all the bills. They didn't leave Cara's side afterwards.
It almost looked like Cara was the one they were all worried about rather than Romeo who had been in the operation room for hours now.
They all checked in on her just to make sure she was okay.
Cara was alive, unharmed, though stained by Romeo's blood. But she was dead inside. She sat there like she wasn't there at all. Like she was blind, deaf and paralyzed at the same time.
She simply stared into nothingness, her mind as blank as a void. Her body was motionless, as stiff as a board. She didn't think, didn't move, barely blinked.
Joshua was right next to her, holding on to her hand so tightly. He didn't know what she was thinking, why she had grown so silent when she was obviously dying on the inside, so he refused to take any chances.
He would be right by her side.
After their mother passed, he remembered vividly how she was. How she acted. How many times she hurt herself, attempted to take her life. How many night she broke into tears randomly.
How many sleepless nights she had. He refused to relieve those moments.
If... Just if... Romeo did not happen to make it, he would do everything he could to make sure she did not fall back into the troubled young girl she was.
The doors to the operation room finally opened and all legs sprung to their feet, hurrying to meet with the surgeon.
Joshua, still, never let go of his sister's hand.
They waited enthusiastically as the surgeon spoke up. "I am glad to tell you that the surgery was a success, we managed to save his life."
A sigh of relief drew from Cara's mouth as she slumped into her brother's arms. He kept her up with his firm body and hands.
"But..." the surgeon continued. "He is still unconscious for now and it cannot he predicted when or if he will wake up. He could wake up right now, tomorrow morning, next week, or a year from now or ten years or... Never..." The last word left her mouth reluctantly.
Silence fill the hall as they stared at her, wishing it was no more than a joke.
Cara stared at the surgeon, hoping Romeo would walk out of the room any moment. Hoping soon turned to wishing, wishing soon became pleading.
She didn't know what to do, she didn't hear anything the lady was saying anymore.
The surgeon's words faded out. "Let's have hope though. We are going to leave him in the ICU for now but will monitor..."
Cara's knees gave in and she crumbled to the ground. All sounds went mute and she heard... Nothing.
Fear crawled all the way to her heart, trapping her breath in her lungs. The surgery was successful, for what use? If it was successful then why wouldn't he just wake up already?
Was that really going to be the end for them? Would she lose the only man she truly wanted to love just like?
Her vision blurred, silhouettes of her family crowded her, trying to call her back to the real world.
But she saw nothing. It was growing dark slowly until it went black completely.
Her fears haunted her even in her sleep, she didn't know what would become of her if Romeo would never wake up.
Springing awake, she panted heavily, beads of sweat decorated her forehead. The sound of the gunshot on her wedding echoed in her ears, threatening to return the moment she tried to fall asleep.
Looking around, she was alone in a vvip hospital ward, an IV attached to her wrist. A large curtain draped over the mighty window, obscuring the sun that fought to shine through.
Then she saw what she had so much wished to be a dream folded on a couch not too far.