When We Met

CH 47 Logan

I can't believe this. I just can't. How did this happen? We won. We survived. We triumphed over everything—even my father ran away. But now, it's all for nothing. One of my most trusted men is dead. I look at Alejandro, his face a mask of heartbreak. His brother is dead, and the loss is palpable. But the second piece of news hits me harder: Rosaline isn't dead, but she's in an induced coma because her body went into shock from the multiple gunshot wounds.

It's been a week since we got the news. All I've been doing is working and visiting Rosaline at the hospital. Sometimes Alejandro comes with me, but he says he needs to keep busy and working so he doesn't think about his brother. Maria and I have been talking about how we'll break the news to Rosaline when she wakes up.

Weeks pass, turning into a month, then two. It feels hopeless, but Maria and I still make our way to the hospital. As we walk down the corridor, we hear chuckling coming from Rosaline's room. I look at Maria, stunned, and then I run as fast as my legs can take me, sliding into the room. There she is, having a conversation with her nurse.

"Oh my God, Logan, you're here! They said they would call, but I didn't know it would be that fast for you to get here," Rosaline exclaims.

I'm so confused. I turn to the nurse, who smiles and says, "She woke up about 20 minutes ago. We wanted to do her observations before calling you, but it seems like you beat us to it."

The nurse whispers a few words in Rosaline's ear, then leaves and shuts the door behind her. I turn my full attention to Rosaline. "Oh, my little angel. Oh, how I prayed for you to get better. I'm so happy you're okay. I'm so, so happy I can't even express it!" I exclaim, running to her side. I hold her tight in my arms, kissing her all over her face and hands. I can't believe my eyes or ears. She's here. She's okay. She's alive, and that's all that matters.

We hear a knock on the door, and Maria walks in with the flowers we brought. She looks happier than she has in months. "Oh my God, Rosaline, you're okay. Thank God you're fine. How are you feeling? Are you thirsty? Do you want me to get you anything?" Maria asks.

Rosaline is about to answer when I jump in, asking Maria to give us some time alone. Maria nods and leaves the room. I turn back to Rosaline, who looks up at me, her expression growing serious. "Is Mateo okay? We were both shot. Is he okay, Logan? Tell me he's okay. Tell me one of the only brothers I really cared about is okay. I can't take a betrayal and the death of my brother and best friend. They were both so special to me. Please tell me they're still here."

I can feel her panic as I come closer to her, giving her a tight hug. She cries into my embrace, knowing the answer without a word leaving my mouth. "I'm so sorry, angel. I just... I'm so sorry. He jumped in and pushed, but I guess it was meant to be the way it came to be."

I don't know what to say or how to comfort her, but I can sense her wanting to break. "Logan, I need to see Alejandro. I need to see him, please." She's so shaky, but I know it will pass.

After a few days, Rosaline meets with Alejandro. I feel like they both start to heal after everything they've gone through. We all did. When we go to visit her, I enter the room with Alejandro by her side. They're laughing, and Noah is giving her the chocolates we bought. Maria sits at the end of the bed, and they're all laughing together. That's when everything starts to feel better—all my loved ones in one place, all safe and happy. I know the one we lost will be looking after us from above.

Noah and I exchange looks. He nods and says, "Okay, guys, let's leave the lovebirds to have their little cutie stuff. We'll come back in a bit." They all head out. Noah pats me on the back, and Maria smiles at me with vibrant eyes. Alejandro whispers to me, "Thank you. You better keep her happy." We chuckle as he closes the door behind him.

I move towards Rosaline. Now feeling more like herself, she sits at the edge of the bed and is about to stand up when I shake my head. "Stay seated. There's something I want to say."

She obliges but looks suspicious. I smile at her, bend down on one knee, and pull out a ring box. Opening it, I say, "I know we aren't in the most romantic place, but I couldn't wait to do this. I had to wait so long to find the one, to find what I was looking for, to find you. You came storming into my life—well, more like we kidnapped you—but that's the only thing I don't regret from my father's reign. I love you, Rosaline. When we met, you were the darkness that taught me how to live, to breathe, and to turn every situation to my advantage. I love you for that, but you never knew that your light was so much brighter, so vibrant, that it drew me in. When we met, my life was a mess. I didn't know what to do with myself. I was just me—weak, a tool in my father's hands. But your bright light guided me to you. That's not what made me stay and love you. It's your darkness that made me fall head over heels for you. You will be forever for me, and my life started when we met."

Tears roll down her cheeks, but they're happy tears. She wears her rare goofy smile. I continue, "Marry me, angel. Marry me and make me the man I wish to be for you. Make me your husband, your love, your life. Because when we met, you became mine."

She stands up, brushes the tears from her cheeks, and collides into me with hugs and kisses that make me fall for her all over again. Then she whispers in my ear, "Yes." She said yes. Finally, "When we met, that's when it all began. When we met."

That's all she has to say for me to pull us both up to a standing position and shout at the top of my lungs, "She said yes!" We don't kiss in that moment but hold each other in a warm embrace, our foreheads together, because who knew life would change so profoundly when we met?