ETHAN
“Well, I have good news. The tests didn’t show any evidence of internal bleeding, and the concussion appears to be mild.”
The doctor’s words allowed me to breathe again, as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
“However, we still need to monitor her condition over the next few hours to ensure no delayed complications arise,” he continued. “We’ll keep her under observation as a precaution before considering her discharge.”
“Can we see her now?” Anna asked, beating me to it.
“Yes, but she hasn’t woken up yet. I’ll have someone come escort you in. Excuse me.”
“Thank you,” someone said as the doctor walked away.
The news eased the tension among our group, but I was still restless and knew it wouldn’t change until I saw her.
Only two visitors were allowed in the room at a time, so Anna and I went in first.
Even though I felt a bit more at ease, my hands were still trembling as we made our way to the room.
The moment I entered, I walked straight to the bed, stopping at her side. Taking her hand, I held it between mine, feeling relief and heartbreak simultaneously. I tried to hold back the tears, but I couldn’t anymore.
“I’m so sorry…” I whispered. “I’m so sorry, love.”
Ignoring Anna’s presence on the other side of the bed, I let myself break down, feeling the guilt consuming me. The thought that I could’ve lost her… How could I have been such a coward?
“Please forgive me,” I begged, even though I knew she couldn’t hear me.
Looking at her beautiful face filled me with gratitude, but it also reminded me of all the times I had left her, like a damn coward.
I didn’t deserve her, now more than ever. But I didn’t care about that anymore—I would never leave her again. Never.
After Anna left, the others had to take turns visiting Ellie since I refused to leave the room.
Pulling a chair closer to the bed, I sat down and began waiting anxiously for her to wake up, while imagining everything I wanted to say to her. And, if necessary, I would beg on my knees for her forgiveness.
I must have dozed off for a few minutes early in the morning, and when I woke up, she was still asleep.
Stretching in the chair, I made it creak slightly. Then she stirred in the bed, opening her eyes.
My heart raced as I stood up, wondering if I should call someone. She blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the light, then frowned as if she was in pain.
I moved closer to the bed, feeling a mix of concern and relief.
“Are you okay?” I asked, a little nervously.
She looked at me, her face pale and confused.
“I…” She raised a hand to her head, frowning once more, as if the pain had returned.
“I’ll get someone,” I said.
“Wait… Why am I here?”
“You were in a car accident. Don’t you remember?”
“I remember heading home… and now my whole body hurts.”
“I’ll call someone to help with the pain.”
“No, I think they’ve probably given me enough meds already. But hey, at least I’m alive.” She chuckled, her face still contorted with pain, and it disarmed me.
*God, she was incredible.* So beautiful… and I loved her so much.
“Ellie…”
“What? And by the way, why are you here?” she asked, frowning.
“Why am I here? Are you serious?”
“After yesterday…”
“No. Please, forget about that, forget everything. I… There are so many things I want to say…”
“Ethan…” She shook her head. “Don’t do this again.”
“Oh, I’m going to.”
A knock at the door interrupted us, and Anna entered.
“Hi,” she said, before noticing that Ellie was awake. “You’re awake!” She smiled and rushed toward the bed, her eyes filling with tears. “Can I?” she asked, extending her arms toward Ellie.
“Just a second,” Ellie replied, sitting up to receive the hug.
“Oh my God… You gave us such a scare,” Anna said, wrapping her arms around Ellie. “Don’t ever do that again.”
“Careful,” I said, afraid she might hurt her.
“I’ll try not to get into accidents too often. I promise,” Ellie joked.
“We were so worried.”
“We?”
“Yes, everyone’s outside. Actually, that’s why I’m here,” Anna said, turning to me. “You’ll have to leave now.”
I raised my eyebrows at her, ready to refuse. No way was I leaving now. We still had so much to talk about.
“Her parents are here,” Anna continued.
“What?” Ellie asked, surprised. “They’re here?”
It seemed she still hadn’t grasped the risks she had faced.
“Of course. I called them as soon as we got the news yesterday,” Anna said.
“Why?”
“Why? Are you kidding? You were in an accident. It could have ended badly.”
Ellie nodded, finally seeming to understand, then her eyes shifted to me. I could almost hear her unspoken thoughts: *That’s why he’s here.*
“Well, let’s go,” Anna said, giving me a hard look.
I sighed. I guess I didn’t have a choice—after all, they were her parents.
“I’m going,” I said, stepping closer to the bed. I glanced at her hand, wanting to touch it. It had been easier when she was asleep. “I’ll come back later,” I said, holding back the urge to lean down and kiss her.
Some time later, when Mr. Brown left the room, he mentioned that Ellie had asked for Anna again, so I had to keep waiting.
Anna returned a few minutes later. I was ready to head back to the room when she walked up to me.
“I’ll get straight to the point... She said she doesn’t want to see you,” Anna stated, stopping in front of me in the waiting room.
What? A sharp pain shot through my chest. She couldn’t be serious.
“I’m sorry, but it’s best to give her some time right now.”
“No way,” I muttered.
“Ethan…”
“Tell her I’m not leaving until she talks to me.”
“You should go home. You can talk later.”
I wasn’t going anywhere until I talked to her and made things right. Not this time. She could push me away as much as she wanted.
“Do me a favor and let her know. We’ll see who gives up first.”
“God, you’re both so stubborn. You know what? I’ve had enough of you two.”
“Then help me end this by convincing her to talk to me.”
“Fine, I’ll see what I can do, but this is the last time. Got it?”
“I don’t recall asking for your help before,” I said, teasing her.
She shot me a deadly glare, but I stood my ground. I was done with interference.
“At least it seems like you’ve finally woken up,” she said, before turning her back on me and walking back down the corridor she came from.
Will gave me a confused look from where he was sitting in one of the chairs next to Ellie’s father. He was the only one left in the waiting room besides Anna. The rest of our friends had gone home after seeing Ellie.
Unfortunately, Anna couldn’t convince Ellie to change her mind. So, my only option was to outlast her. Either way, she’d be discharged at some point, and I would be waiting.
The hours dragged on as I contemplated simply walking in, but there was still a part of me that wanted to respect her wishes. So I waited, even though I hadn’t slept in hours.
Anna and Will decided to leave at lunchtime, once we learned Ellie would be discharged in the late afternoon. I ate some junk I bought from the hospital vending machine.
Early in the afternoon, Mrs. Brown came to check on us but quickly returned to Ellie’s room. I couldn’t help but notice the pitying look she gave me, knowing her daughter was ignoring me.
Minutes later, she returned and approached me with a kind expression. Though she wasn’t Ellie’s biological mother, I could see many similarities in their personalities.
“She’s asking to see you,” she said with a smile, and I was certain she had something to do with it.
Ellie was sitting up in bed when I entered the room, and she looked much better. Her cheeks had regained some color.
“You’re look better,” I said, closing the door behind me.
“Why are you still here?” she asked bluntly.
I walked to the side of the bed, stopping beside her.
“Why am I still here? Maybe because the woman I love was in an accident,” I said, taking her hand in mine. “I was so afraid of losing you,” I admitted, my voice breaking as I lifted her hand to kiss her fingers. “I should never have let you get in that car.”
“This wasn’t your fault.”
“Yes, it was. All of it was. But I hope you can forgive me someday. I... I just need one more chance, and I promise I’ll do whatever it takes. Please, love,” I begged, feeling my heart sink in my chest.
“You’re asking me to forget everything?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.
“I know I don’t deserve you, but I want you to know that if I could go back, I’d never make the mistake of leaving you. The thought that I could’ve lost you forever... It’ll haunt me for the rest of my life. But it made me realize I can’t live without you, Ellie. And even if I could, it’s not what I want.”
“I think I’ve heard this before,” she said, looking away.
My chest tightened, terrified at the possibility of losing her.
“I know I don’t deserve you, but please, I’m begging you,” I said, swallowing the lump in my throat as tears filled my eyes. “What I feel is real, and I know you know that. I love you... desperately. So, please, don’t push me away.”
“I love you…” she said, her blue eyes glistening with tears. “But I can’t. I can’t do this to myself again.”
Hearing her refusal was like having the air ripped from my lungs.
“Please…” I pleaded, desperate.
“You need to heal, you know that.”
“I promise I’ll do whatever it takes, but please, let me stay… Let me take care of you.”
“I can’t. Not now. You need to do this on your own.”
“Please don’t push me away,” I begged, feeling my heart shatter. The pain was suffocating.
“I think this is what’s best for us right now,” she said, pulling her hand away from mine. “But I’ll still be here when you’re ready.”