Chapter 129 Lights Out
Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Nine
Valenticia’s POV
I slept in the chair beside Nona’s bed all night. My back hurt, my neck hurt, and my eyes felt swollen. I didn’t care. I just wanted to hear her voice again. I wanted her to look at me and say she was fine.
Around seven in the morning, the machines near her bed started beeping fast.
I jumped up. “Nona? Nona, can you hear me?”
The nurses rushed in. One of them held my arm and pulled me back.
“Ma’am, please stay behind the line.”
“No!” I tried to move forward. “Please, let me stay with her!”
But they didn’t listen. They surrounded the bed and spoke in quick medical terms that made my head spin. The doctor came in next. I could feel my hands shaking. My breath kept breaking in my chest.
Dimitri stood behind me. I didn’t even hear him walk in. He placed a hand on my shoulder without saying anything. I felt myself leaning toward him because my legs were weak.
The doctor called out instructions. The nurses pressed buttons. Nona’s body jerked when they shocked her chest. I grabbed the wall to stop myself from falling.
“Please,” I whispered. “Please get up, Nona. Please don’t leave me.”
They tried again.
The beeping changed.
Then it went flat.
I froze.
“No… no, no, no.” My voice cracked. “Do something! Please do something!”
The doctor lowered his head and lifted a hand. “Stop. Time of death, 7:18 AM.”
Everything inside me broke.
My knees gave out and I fell to the floor. A loud scream left my mouth before I could stop it. I felt hands around me—Dimitri's hands. He pulled me against his chest and wrapped both arms around me.
“Val… I’m here,” he whispered into my hair. “I’m here. I’m not leaving you.”
I shook so hard I could barely breathe. “She’s gone… she’s gone. Dimitri, she’s gone. She can’t be gone…”
He held me tighter as I cried into him. My voice kept breaking. My chest hurt like it was being crushed.
Footsteps came into the room. I looked up and saw Stefan standing in the doorway, breathing hard like he had run the whole way.
His eyes went straight to me in Dimitri’s arms.
He froze.
He didn’t move. He didn’t speak. He just stared like the floor had dropped under him.
I looked away from him. I didn’t have the strength to face anyone.
A nurse came closer. “Ma’am… you need to stand up. The doctor needs to speak with you.”
I didn’t move. I didn’t even think I could.
Dimitri lifted me gently, supporting almost all of my weight. My legs felt like noodles. The doctor walked closer, holding a clipboard.
“I’m very sorry for your loss,” he said softly. “We did everything we could.”
I stared at him without blinking. I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t find my voice.
He continued, “There are forms we need you to sign. And decisions that need to be made about—”
“I’ll handle it,” Dimitri said before I could fall apart again.
The doctor nodded and walked away.
Stefan finally stepped forward.
“Val…” His voice was rough. “I’m so sorry.”
I didn’t answer him.
I couldn’t.
I felt numb all over. Like I wasn’t inside my body anymore.
Dimitri helped me sit on a chair outside the room. He crouched in front of me so our faces were close.
“Look at me,” he said gently.
I turned and looked.
“You’re not alone. I’ll do everything, okay? I’ll take care of all of this. You don’t have to decide anything today.”
My lips trembled. “She’s gone, Dimitri.”
He nodded slowly. “I know.”
Another tear fell down my face. I wiped it with the back of my hand, but more kept coming.
Stefan stepped a little closer.
“Val… is there anything I can do? Anything at all?”
I shook my head without looking at him. “I can’t talk right now.”
He swallowed hard. I could see pain in his eyes, but I didn’t have any space in my heart for him. Not today. Not in this moment.
He stepped back, his hands falling to his sides.
Dimitri helped me finish the paperwork. I signed things without reading them. My hand kept shaking and the pen slipped several times. The nurses gave me tissues. I couldn’t even thank them.
When we finally left the hospital, the air outside felt colder. Dimitri held my hand as we walked to the car. Stefan followed behind us but kept his distance. I could feel his eyes burning into my back.
“I’ll drive,” Dimitri said as he helped me into the passenger seat.
I didn’t argue.
During the ride, I stared out the window. The city outside looked the same, but everything felt different. Broken. Wrong.
When we reached the house, I froze at the front door. I didn’t want to go in. I didn’t want to see anything that would remind me she wasn’t here anymore.
Dimitri opened the door for me. “I’ll stay until you want me to leave.”
I didn’t say yes. I didn’t say no. I just walked inside.
The living room was silent.
Too silent.
The chair Nona always sat in was empty. Her blanket was folded neatly over the armrest. Her teacup from the night before was still on the table.
My breath hitched.
I walked over to her chair and touched the blanket. My hands started shaking again. I grabbed the scarf she always wore around the house. I held it close to my chest and sank down onto the couch.
Dimitri stood near the door, watching me with soft eyes.
“I’ll make you tea,” he said quietly, giving me space.
I nodded without looking up.
I held the scarf like it was the only thing keeping me together. Tears rolled down my face again. I cupped my hand over my mouth to stop the sobs, but they kept coming.
After a while, Dimitri came back and placed a cup of tea in front of me. “Drink some,” he said. “It will warm you a little.”
I didn’t lift the cup. I just stared at it.
“I can’t believe she’s gone,” I whispered.
“I know,” Dimitri said softly. “I know, Val.”
My mind kept replaying her last breaths. Her weak voice. Her smile. Her warmth. Everything that used to bring me comfort felt like salt on my skin now.
I cried until my head hurt.
Dimitri sat beside me, not touching me but close enough so I didn’t feel alone.
Hours passed without me noticing.
I must have fallen asleep because when I opened my eyes, the house was dark. I was lying on the couch, still holding Nona’s scarf in my hands.
Cause Dimitri had placed a blanket over me. He was asleep in the armchair nearby, head resting on his hand.
I looked around the dark room and felt the truth settle inside me like a heavy stone.
Nona wasn’t here.
She wasn’t coming back.
I covered my face with my hands and whispered into the silence, “She’s really gone.”
The emptiness swallowed me whole.
And that was how the night ended — with a quiet house, a broken heart, and a darkness I didn’t know how to escape.