London Has Your Eyes

Chapter 77. Alex

I don't have time to wait any longer, I have to go through screening. I dial Daniel again, but the subscriber is unavailable. It's weird, he texted me a while ago that he was on his way. Maybe he's stuck in traffic?

I take another look around the airport lobby. Daniel's missing. I hand over my papers and go through the first security check. While I'm waiting in line for security, I dial Daniel again. Once again, the caller is unavailable. Can't he charge his phone? I still have the charger in the glove compartment of my car. He's probably in my car right now. Well, his car, I correct myself.

I make my way to the waiting room. People are aimlessly passing the time. Wow. How many others are celebrating Christmas on the road. I get a croissant and a coffee at the cafe. There's a TV on in the cafe: there's a commercial on.

- Can you turn it up a little louder, - asks the man at the next table, - news is coming up. At least we'll get Christmas on television, - he adds and winks at me. The waiter turns up the volume. I take a sip and immerse myself in the dreamy reports. Correspondents report on how the British are celebrating Christmas in different parts of the country. There's an air of happiness pouring from the screen. At least one day the news doesn't show horror and tragedy.

- And breaking news, - the presenter suddenly says, - We have just been informed that the famous actor Daniel Pierce has been involved in a major accident involving four cars. The actor's car was travelling towards Heathrow Airport. There was another passenger in the car, supposedly famous model Liam Hale. The victims are in critical condition and have been taken to hospital. Details of the crash are being clarified.

The mug falls from my hands with a clink and splits into several pieces. Coffee spreads over the white table, noisily dripping from the edges.

Daniel! Oh my God! I'm in a stupor and stare silently at the screen, where they've already moved on to the next news. People around me are saying something, but I can't hear it. The words of the presenter and these terrible shots from the scene of the accident are replayed in my head over and over again. My Daniel! Please, Lord, if you exist, save him! I thought about us being apart for a while, but I couldn't imagine in my wildest dreams that he would suddenly be gone. My Daniel.

My heart ached, and I lean on the table, my palm dipping into the spilled coffee. I need air. Air. Why is there nothing to breathe in here? A man comes up to me and picks me up by the waist. It turns out I've been falling down. The waitress brings up a white spot, and the pungent smell in my nose brings my mind back to a clear state. I look up at the man, tears pouring from my eyes. How many do I have?

I need to know urgently where he is. I need to see him urgently. I grab my bag and run quickly towards the exit, pushing people out of the way.

- Where were they taken? - I yell into the phone when Janine answers the phone. - Are they alive? Please tell me they're alive. Please. - I sob and can't stop. I need to know that we still have a chance, that he still has a chance.

- Thank God you didn't fly away, - she moans, sobbing as much as I am, - they're both in bad condition. Liam got hit harder, the hit came from his side. I'll text you the address now, we're on our way to the hospital. When you get there, call me or they won't let you in. There are so many journalists there. Security only lets family in. So we'll meet you there.

The message comes right away. I hop into the first taxi I can find, turn the phone around and give a driver the address:

- I'll pay you double if we get there in thirty minutes. Do you know where it is? - The driver looks at me, nods and drives off.

I call Janine again.

- Tell me everything you know! The news said there were a few cars, - I remember. I need to know the details. The ignorance is driving me crazy. I understand that the driver is trying (and he is really trying hard), but I feel like we are crawling. If I could run faster, I would. Just to see him, alive, for once.