Hidden Heart: A Saga Of Redemption

What Happened To Her?

[LIFEGUARD NURSING HOME]

The Nurse: (softly with sympathy) You can't go in there.

[Victor nodded numbly, his gaze fixated on the red light indicator above the operating theatre door.]

[He sank into a chair opposite the door, his entire body trembling with fear and exhaustion. He could still feel the warmth of Amelia's blood on his hands, his white shirt had been painted with her blood.]

[His mind was a whirlpool of regrets and memories, each one tugging him deeper into despair. He couldn't stop replaying the moment he had seen Oswald drive the knife into her stomach. The look in Amelia's eyes as she had collapsed, the way her voice had wavered when she called his name. It all haunted him, tormenting him with the possibility that he might lose her forever.]

Victor: (to himself) I should have been faster. I should have protected her better, (guilt gnawing) How could I let this happen?

[His thoughts turned to the confession he had written. The red light above the door was unwavering, its glow harsh and unforgiving. Each minute felt like an eternity as Victor sat there, helpless and alone. His heart was heavy with the weight of words left unspoken, of love confessed too late.]

Victor: (muttering) Amelia, you have to be okay. You have to wake up so I can tell you everything, so I can show you how much you mean to me.

[He leaned forward, burying his face in his hands as a wave of helplessness washed over him. The waiting room was silent, save for the ticking of a distant clock that seemed to mock him with every passing second.]

[The memories of their time together flashed before his eyes. Her laughter that always brought light into his darkest days, the way she would tease him endlessly, her smile that made everything seem possible.]

[As he sat there, time seemed to blur, the seconds stretching into hours. His mind drifted back to the moment they had first met, how she brought groceries for the first time, how she disturbingly moved the curtain of his living room, how she changed his black coffee with a latte and how she helped him to remove his mask. She had always been the one to pull him out of his darkest moments, to remind him that there was more to life than the pain and anger he carried with him.]

Victor: (to himself) I can't lose you just because of my own cowardice.

[The red light remained on, he knew he wouldn't be able to breathe easily until it turned off, until he knew for certain that she was going to be okay.]

[The minutes ticked by, each one more agonizing than the last. Victor's thoughts were a jumble of fear, regret, and desperate hope. He knew that if she pulled through this, if she came back to him, he would never let her go. He would cherish every moment with her, make up for every time he had taken her for granted.]

[Hours passed.]

[The red light blinked off. Victor's breath caught in his throat as the light turned blue, signaling the end of the surgery. The sound of the doors swinging open pulled him out of his trance, and he immediately stood up to his feet, his heart raced with a mix of fear and desperate hope.]

[A doctor emerged, his face was serious but calm, the kind of expression Victor wasn't sure how to interpret. Victor's heart skipped a beat as he searched the doctor's eyes for any sign of what was to come.]

Victor: (quickly move forward) How is she?

[His voice was rough, trembled with the weight of his emotions. He could barely get the words out, his throat was tight with fear.]

[The doctor took a deep breath before speaking, his tone was measured and compassionate.]

The Doctor: (slowly) She's stable, but it was a very close call.