𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲.Cato Hadley

31.

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𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
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I wake up, pain shooting through my whole body. Am I dead? I feel like I'm dead. I'm alone in some small, dark room. Are these my last minutes of life? I want to die, but I feel like they still won't let me.

My mind is foggy, struggling to piece together what happened. The last thing I remember is the explosion, the force throwing me to the ground. How am I even still alive after this thing? I don't know, but maybe my breathing won't last much longer. I am exhausted, I have no strength even to move. Perhaps I'll rest a little more.

Just a little...

Cato's view

She's not awake yet. It's been a whole week since the explosion nearly killed her. I was there, watching as the fire tried to consume her. But I couldn't move, I was paralyzed. I should have helped her, but I didn't. And now she's fighting for her life because of me.

Every day I replay the moment in my mind: the explosion, the parachutes, seeing her on the ground. I should have done something, anything, to protect her. Instead, I just lay there. And now she's paying the price.

My heart is heavy with guilt. I went with Melanie to keep her safe, but what happened? I failed to save her again. I should have rushed to her earlier and tried to protect her from the bombs. I should have been in her place right now.

I'm sitting by her bedside, hoping that she will open her eyes just for a second. Her face is pale, almost ghostly, and her body is covered in bandages. What have they done to my beautiful girl? How did I even let it get here? I take her hand in mine, squeezing it gently, hoping she'll feel my presence. Hoping she'll wake up.

"Melanie," I whisper, my voice trembling. "Please wake up. I need you."

Not only do I need her, I can't live without her. The doctors say it's a miracle she's alive, but that's not enough. I need her to be okay. I need her to come back to me. I can't lose her. Not now, not ever.

My tears just start rolling down my cheeks. I didn't even realize my eyes were watering. I don't care who can see me cry. The only person who is not allowed to see me like this is herself. But Melanie will never see me like this again, as long as she is by my side.

"I'd do anything to trade places with you," I murmur. "You can't give up now. You've got so much fight left in you, Melly."

God, if only she would wake up. I will never fight with her again, I will never leave her. I will do anything to make her happy, no matter what it costs me. I just don't want my girl to leave me. I will never be able to forgive myself if this breath is her last.