Under unexpected circumstances, two lonely hearts unite and heal each other's brokenness.
This isn't the story of Jake saving Hannah. This is about how Jake risks everything for the woman he loves.
Except for Alina (MC), character rights belong to E...
By its very nature, hate destroys and tears down; by its very nature, love creates and builds up.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Thomas, he is safe. We will see you in a minute." Alina felt Jake place his phone in his pocket and then he nuzzled his face against her hair, placing both arms tightly around her." You did so well," he murmured in her ear. "You saved him. You are amazing, Alina."
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His voice calmed her down a bit. Alina turned and pressed her face into his shirt, inhaling his scent. She concentrated on naming the smells; Alina came up with sage and a very light hint of citrus. She must've seemed a little crazy, she was breathing him in so hard and clutching tightly to his torso, but he just let her. Alina started laughing hysterically, picturing how she must look. Jake only looked down at her and smiled mournfully, brushing her hair out of her eyes. Alina's laughter faded as she got lost in his gaze and he just looked back at her. No words passed between them, yet this was probably the most intimate conversation of their lives.
"We should go upstairs," Alina finally said, reluctantly breaking eye contact. Jake nodded and let her wipe off her tears and put her mask on. Then he took her hand and they entered the lobby, aiming toward the elevators to Richy's floor.
Along the way, Thomas texted that Richy had been moved to the psychiatric unit. They had put him on a 72-hour involuntary hold. Nobody was allowed to see him until he'd been evaluated. Alina sagged against the hallway. "I'm sorry I dragged you out here," she said to Jake.
He was tapping away at his phone. "Do not worry. Everything went well. I think if you did not stand down there, it might have gone differently. I have informed Thomas that we will go home." Jake looked up at her. "How did you know Richy would be on the roof?"
"Instinct, I guess. It would be the easiest thing for him to reach. Can you tell Thomas thank you for me, please?"
"Of course." More tapping, then he put the phone back and looked at her. "How are you feeling now?"
"Drained. Ready to get away from these bright lights."
"Close your eyes, I will guide you." He tucked her under his arm and Alina kept her eyes shut as they walked down the hallway. She heard the whoosh of the automatic doors and then the cold air hit her face. "I think it is dark enough here that you can open your eyes."
Alina leaned her head against him. "You're the best, did you know that?"
"I do not think that's true."
"Then you've been misinformed." Jake laughed quietly, and she felt the rumble through the side of her head. It was comforting and familiar and the reverberations were somehow a balm to her aching heart. Alina hadn't realized there were so many holes in her existence until Jake started filling them. She thought she was getting along fine, but relatively speaking, she was doing better with him around. Much better.
