Tragedy of Love

Reckoning

Hi everyone! Sorry for not posting last week—I was busy writing more chapters to stay ahead just in case. I hope you like this one, and please comment your thoughts! New updates are coming soon.

Denise sat in her car outside the hospital, staring blankly at the steering wheel. She had changed quickly at home, not bothering with much thought about what to wear—just something that wouldn't draw attention. The drive to the hospital was a blur of conflicting emotions: a mixture of dread, confusion, and a strange indifference. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel, how anyone would feel in her shoes. Preston was still her husband, but only in name. Their marriage had become a formality, an empty title void of love or care. He had put himself into this situation, and she had barely any sympathy for him as a husband. As a human being? That was a different story.

As she approached the waiting area, she spotted Chrissy pacing, her phone pressed to her ear. Denise caught snippets of her conversation with Paige, something about needing to reschedule plans. Denise's eyes drifted to the figure leaning against the wall—Marcus, scrolling through his phone. When he looked up and saw her, he pocketed his phone and pushed himself off the wall, walking over with an uneasy smile.

"Denise," he started, but she cut him off with a sharp look. She wasn't in the mood for whatever half-baked apology or explanation he had ready.

"Save it, Marcus," she muttered, brushing past him.

"Denise, listen," he insisted, following her. "I didn't help him cheat. You've got to believe me. I never encouraged him—"

"Don't," she snapped, turning to face him. "Just don't. You were his best friend, Marcus. If you didn't help him cheat, you sure as hell didn't stop him." Her voice was low, but the anger simmered just beneath the surface.

Before Marcus could respond, Chrissy hung up her phone and approached them. The tension between Denise and Marcus was palpable, and Chrissy seemed eager to diffuse it. "Denise, thank you for coming," Chrissy said, her voice strained. "I know it's been... difficult, but the doctor said it was important for us to be here when Preston wakes up."

Denise nodded, her stomach churning. "Of course," she replied, though the words felt hollow. She wasn't sure what she was doing here or how she was supposed to feel.

The doctor appeared, his expression serious yet calm. "Thank you all for coming. I wanted to inform you that Preston has healed enough for us to wake him up today."The group followed the doctor down the hallway in silence, each step echoing in the sterile corridor.

Preston lay in the hospital bed, surrounded by machines that beeped steadily, monitoring his vitals. His skin was pale, and his body seemed smaller than she remembered, but his chest rose and fell with the rhythm of life. The doctor explained the procedure, and Denise watched as the machines were disconnected one by one.

She stood at the farthest corner of the room, letting Chrissy and Marcus stay closer to the bed. The doctor began waking Preston, gently calling his name until his eyelids fluttered open. He blinked slowly, his gaze unfocused at first, but then he seemed to become more aware of his surroundings.

They waited in tense silence as the doctor began the process of bringing Preston back to consciousness. Denise could feel the tension in the room thickening with every passing second. She stood the farthest away, unsure if she even wanted to be part of this moment.

Finally, Preston's eyelids fluttered, his breath hitching slightly as he began to stir. His mother leaned in closer, her voice trembling with emotion. "Preston? It's Mom. Can you hear me?"

Preston blinked, his eyes focusing slowly. He looked around the room, his expression dazed. "Who... who are you?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

Chrissy exchanged a worried glance with Marcus, who then stepped forward. "Preston, it's Marcus. Do you remember me?"