Even if the sky is falling down - A Volodymyr Zelenskyy fanfiction

Chapter 16 - Everything will be alright

When I open my eyes, I don't realize what has happened. I find myself laying in a hospital bed, receiving an infusion. "Hey, are you good?", a nurse that administers some medicaments beside me, asks. "Yeah, I think so. What has happened?", I manage to ask her. "You fainted on the floor", she explains. "I see", I answer. "How's Volo... I mean, the president? Can you tell me that, please? I'm a good friend of him", I try to get information. "Yes, you've said that a hundred times", the nurse answers. "I can tell you that he has survived. He's weak at the moment, but will be okay", she says. I exhale. "Thank you so much. May I... may I see him?", I ask carefully. "Not right now. Also you need to recover", she explains.

So, I wait and wait and try to sleep but can't and think and wait. Some hours later, I can't wait any longer. Carefully, I remove the infusion-needle from my arm and sidle out of the room, still with nothing on but the awful hospital-dress. I look around and try to find out where Volodymyr might be. When I wait for the elevator, someone tips on my shoulder. It's Piotr. "What are you doing here?", I ask him with the widest smile. "I should ask you that", he responds. "I need your help, now. I need something else to wear and I don't know where they've brought my clothes. Please, can you get me some from the cloth-store on the opposite of the hospital?", I set my cutest face on. Piotr rolls his eyes. "You're the best", I say and hug him.

15 minutes later, I wait again for the elevator, now dressed in an inconspicuous black shirt and blue jeans. Piotr stands beside me, ready to guide me right into Volodymyr's room. It needs some arguments to convince the guard in front of his door to let me in, but finally, he allows. I enter the room and see Volodymyr laying in the bed, sleeping. I take some time to study him. The blanket is thrown back and his upper body is uncovered. He is shirtless, but connected to countless devices that make the typical beep-noises. At his lower belly, right side, is a compression bandage to cover his wound. He also receives an infusion and some extra blood.

Although the noises are very loud, he looks peacefully while sleeping. At least, he will get some rest now what he definitely should have gotten much earlier. I sit beside him on a chair and take his hand carefully. I sit there for two hours until he opens his eyes. He needs some seconds to get awake and realize that he's not alone. He turns his head and looks at me. Immediately, he starts to smile. "Hey", he says, still smiling. "Hey", I respond, fondling his hand. "I'm happy to see you", he says. "Yeah, it's over now. Everything will be alright. How do you feel?". "As if I didn't sleep for a whole year", he says. "In fact, you didn't", I answer. A weak laugh escapes him. 

"I was so scared to lose you", I tell him. "It was – so touchable in that moment. Why did you push me behind you? Maybe I would have been hit instead of you", I say. "I wanted to avoid that", he answers. "But it would have been worse if you have died instead of me. It should have been me", I state. "Don't... don't say that. It's not right". "It is and you know that. For the country, it would have been worse". "I – couldn't go on without you. And I didn't think much in that second", he says. "You will have to explain that. People will ask why you pushed me behind you. Why you were, in fact, ready to die for me. You should tell them something different", I state. "No, I think, I won't. I don't want to hide it anymore. I don't have the power to – " "You can't tell them the truth about us. It would be the end of your presidency, maybe of the war - but not in a good sense of the meaning. They won't take you serious anymore. Do you understand that? It's not an option", I say, a little too loud. A nurse must have heard it and walks straight into the room and comes close to me. "What do you think? The president needs rest and silence. Please, there's the door", she states. "It's okay", Volodymyr insists. "No, it's not. She's jelling at you and that's not a good idea right now". "I'm sorry", I try to excuse. "Five more minutes. Then you'll leave", she says and goes.

We both don't say anything in the next minute. I sit down again and put my hand onto his cheek. "I'm glad, you've survived. If not...". He takes my hand and hold it. I lean down and kiss him. "Please, tell them it was a reflex. Not something planed or studied. It's better for all of us", I try a last time. He just nods. "Can I do something for you?", I ask him. "Maybe come back?", he asks, insecure. "Of course, I will", I answer. I stand up. He reaches for my hand. Suddenly, he starts to cry. "Oh no, it's good, I'm here", I say, sitting back down, touching him. "I thought, I'll lose it all. You, my life, a future with you...", he says, in tears. "You won't", I say and kiss his tears away.

When I walk out the room, the nurse that was in my room before is looking for me. "Ms. Meyer?", she asks. "Yeah?", I respond. "I need to talk to you. I have the results of your blood-test and – ". "Which blood-test?", I ask. "We always make a blood-test if someone faints. It's a routine", she explains. "Anyhow, the results are surprising. I have to tell you that you are pregnant".