Chapter 29

"What?" I whispered, frozen in place.

"Leonard is sick," Clara repeated, her eyes brimming with regret.

"And you let me leave?" I shouted, my heart pounding with disbelief.

"He made me promise not to tell you. He didn’t want you to see him like that." She looked down, her voice trembling, but I couldn’t understand how she could let me walk away.

"Where is he?" I demanded, already moving.

"Up in..."

Before she could finish, I bolted upstairs, my heart racing. I found his room easily, but nothing could’ve prepared me for what I saw. The sight of him lying there, unconscious, pale, and surrounded by machines, stole the air from my lungs. I froze in the doorway, gasping as tears rushed to my eyes.

I slapped a hand over my mouth, stifling a sob. The vibrant, intense Leonard I knew was now motionless, frail, and barely clinging to life. Slowly, I gathered the courage to step closer, my feet heavy with guilt and sorrow.

I sat beside him, gently holding his hand, the warmth of his skin a faint reminder of the man I loved. Regret washed over me like a tidal wave, drowning me in its unforgiving current. Why had I left? Why did I think I could walk away from him, from this?

"I promise," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I’ll never leave you again." My grip tightened on his hand, though it felt so weak in mine. I wanted to protect him, to take away the pain I knew he must be feeling. But all I could do was sit here, helpless, the beeping of the machines his only sign of life.

Tears streamed down my face as I leaned over him, my heart breaking. "I love you, Leonard," I said, the words finally tumbling out after weeks of denial, of fear. I had been so scared to admit it, to make it real. But now, nothing else mattered. "I love you."

To my surprise, his eyes fluttered open, his voice weak but clear enough to shatter my resolve. "I love you too," he whispered, his lips barely curving into a smile.

A sob escaped me, a mix of relief and heartbreak. I leaned over and hugged him lightly, careful not to disturb the tubes and wires. His body felt fragile beneath my touch, but he was alive, and that was all that mattered.

"Do you really?" he asked, his voice hoarse, as if he couldn’t quite believe it.

"I do. I love you, Leonard." This time, saying it felt right, and the weight of it lifted from my chest. His faint smile grew, and I realized how much I had missed seeing him like this, even in his weakened state.

"It’s a girl," he said suddenly, and for a moment, I didn’t understand. Then it hit me. The baby.

I cupped my hands over my mouth as more tears fell. "A girl?" I breathed, my heart swelling.

Leonard nodded weakly toward the door, and I turned to see Clara walking in, cradling a tiny bundle. My heart leapt into my throat as she handed me the baby, my baby, our baby. She was so small, so delicate, and perfect.

"She’s beautiful," I whispered, tears flowing freely as I held her close, feeling the warmth of her tiny body against mine.

"Just like you," Leonard said softly, his eyes never leaving us.

"I agree," Clara added with a smile, though her eyes were wet, too. The moment was overwhelming, a mix of joy and sorrow that I couldn’t quite grasp.

I looked down at my daughter, feeling a surge of love so powerful it almost scared me. "I never thought of a name," I admitted, glancing at Leonard.

"I planned on Gabriel if it was a boy," he said, his voice growing softer. "So… Gabriella."

"Gabriella," I repeated, smiling through the tears. "It’s beautiful."

The next day, Leonard’s condition improved. The doctor removed the tubes and machines, giving me hope, even if only a sliver. I took the opportunity to return home, gathering my belongings to move back in. I couldn’t bear to be apart from him any longer.

But when I returned, a small suitcase was packed and waiting by the door. My heart sank.

"Clara?" I called, but there was no answer. I moved through the house, calling out again, "Leonard?"

My pulse quickened with anxiety. Then, from the hallway, I saw him. Leonard, walking slowly alongside the doctor.

"Leonard!" I rushed to him, wrapping my arms around his waist, relief flooding me. But his face remained serious.

"I’ll be waiting outside, Mr. Leonard," the doctor said, nodding before stepping out.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Leonard sighed, pulling me gently into the living room. "Eva, I need to tell you something." His tone was calm, too calm, and it terrified me.

"What is it?" I asked, my heart hammering in my chest.

"I’m going on a trip," he said, his voice steady.

"But you’re not well enough. The doctor said..."

"Exactly why I need to go," he interrupted. "I’m going for treatment."

I blinked, confusion clouding my thoughts. "Treatment?"

"The doctor may have found a possible cure," he said, but there was no excitement in his voice.

"That’s amazing, Leonard! Why do you sound like… like this isn’t good news?" My anxiety spiked.

"Because it’s not certain. The treatment is experimental. There are no guarantees." He looked down, his hands clenching and unclenching.

"I’ll come with you," I said quickly, my instinct to protect him kicking in.

"No, Eva." His hands moved to my shoulders, steadying me. "This is something I have to do alone."

Tears pricked at my eyes. "But if you..."

"I’ll be gone for two years," he said, cutting through my words. My breath hitched. "If I don’t come back…"

"No," I choked, shaking my head furiously. "Don’t say that."

"Eva, listen," he pleaded softly. "If I don’t come back, everything is yours. The house, the company..."

"I don’t care about any of that!" I cried. "I just want you."

Leonard cupped my face in his hands, his eyes filled with a depth of emotion I hadn’t seen before. "I promise I’ll fight. I’ll do everything I can to come back to you." He paused, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But you need to promise me something."

I swallowed hard, my tears spilling over. "What?"

"Promise me that if I don’t come back, you’ll move on. You’ll be happy."

I shook my head again, unable to speak. How could I promise something like that?

"Promise me, Eva," he urged, his voice breaking.

"I promise," I whispered, though it felt like my heart was shattering with every word.

He pulled me into a deep, intense kiss, one filled with the fear and love we both held inside. When we pulled apart, his eyes were red, the emotion he tried to hide bubbling to the surface.

"Come back to me," I begged.

"I will," he whispered. "I love you, Eva."

"I love you," I echoed, watching helplessly as he turned and walked out the door, his suitcase dragging behind him.

I stood in the doorway, my chest aching as I watched his car drive away. And that’s when my heart broke into a million pieces.

Two years later, Leonard never came back to me.