Love Cocktail

Falling into Darkness

The air hung heavy in the room. I found Veda lying on the floor of her room, motionless. My heart dropped. "Veda!" I rushed to her side, shaking her gently, desperate to wake her, but she remained unresponsive. When my fingers touched her skin, I froze-it was cold. Too cold.❄️

The building watchman, alerted by the commotion, entered the apartment. One glance at Veda was enough for him to understand the situation. Without hesitation, he dialed the emergency number, his voice urgent as he explained the crisis. 🚑 As the sound of sirens filled the air, a wave of relief washed over me. Help was on the way.

My eyes darted around the room, my breath shaky. My gaze landed on a scattered mess of pills beside Veda's right hand. In her right hand, she still clutched the empty bottle. A wave of nausea hit me. I knew what these were-anxiety medication. But why them? Why now?😣

Shakily, I grabbed the empty bottle, slipping it into my bag. I needed help. I needed someone, anyone. As I ran downstairs, a few neighbors gathered, their concerned whispers blurring into nothing. All I could think was, She has to be okay. She has to be.

The ambulance arrived, its siren blaring, slicing through my chaotic thoughts. I held Veda's hand as we sat inside, her limp fingers in mine. "Don't leave me. Please, don't leave me," I whispered, squeezing her hand tighter, as if I could keep her tethered to life. A thousand questions swirled in my mind, but only one mattered-I just want her to be okay.

We reached the hospital, and the nurses rushed her into the ICU. I stayed behind, my legs too heavy to follow. I collapsed onto a bench outside, staring blankly at the doors that had swallowed her up. The feeling of helplessness was overwhelming, foreign. I'd never faced something like this before-alone.

A nurse approached, holding a clipboard and a pen. "You'll need to fill out this form." As I grasped the pen, her hand trembled uncontrollably. "Don't worry," the nurse offered with a gentle smile, "we'll do our best. Just pray for her." In that moment, those simple words felt like a lifeline, a flicker of hope in the darkness. I tried to suppress my threatened sobs and focus on the thought that now wasn't the time to crumble. Anya needed me.

The first person I called was Sis, explaining the situation. She promised to catch the first flight out in the morning and suggested connecting with others. But when I called Kai, he insisted, "You need someone there now." He was also out but promised to come as fast as he could.

Minutes later, my phone buzzed with notifications-both Sis and Kai had sent me money, knowing I'd need it. A nurse appeared, requesting my help to purchase some essential medication.

In my rush, I bolted out of the hospital and collided with a man. The medicines in his hand fell and shattered on the ground. I immediately bent down, apologizing profusely. "I'm so sorry! I'll pay for it." 🙇‍♀️

But the man wouldn't have it. He raised his voice, drawing a crowd. "Money? You think you can buy your way out of everything?"

My panic grew. I tried to apologize again, but he cut me off, insisting I was careless and entitled. Why now? Why this?

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned and, to my surprise, it was Dr. Abhi. He moved confidently between me and the man, his demeanor radiating quiet authority. "You go," he said firmly to the man, taking charge of the situation.

Without a word, I darted off to buy the medicine. I handed it to the nurse and slumped back onto the bench, bowing my head. The sounds of footsteps and voices filled the corridor, but I felt utterly alone.

Then, a pair of shoes stopped in front of me. I felt a gentle touch on my head. Slowly, I looked up to see Dr. Abhi standing there, concern etched on his face. Without thinking, I stood up and wrapped my arms around him, sobbing uncontrollably, letting the tears fall. I cried like a child, the weight of everything crashing down on me. Abhi stood patiently, offering a silent but comforting presence.

When I finally pulled back,I was embarrassed 😳 but he didn't seem fazed. "It's okay, Jade. I'm here. Let me talk to the doctors."

He returned a while later. "She's out of danger, but it will take some time to know her condition." Relief washed over me. Just then, my phone rang. It was Kai, calling from outside the hospital, asking for the location. I thanked Dr. Abhi and went to meet Kai.

When I found him, I explained everything, the confusion still hanging between us. "Why would Veda do this? She seemed so strong, so brave," Kai whispered, shaking his head.

Hours passed, and the night stretched on. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a doctor emerged from the ICU, a hint of a smile gracing his face. "She's stable now," he announced, a wave of relief washing over me. "We've moved her to a regular room."

I sat by her bedside, too tired to keep my eyes open, and before I knew it, I fell asleep on the side table. 😴

The next morning, a familiar but unwelcome voice woke me up. I rubbed my eyes and blinked twice in disbelief. My boss from the café stood beside Veda, holding a foil packet.

"You're up?" he said, handing it to me. "Go wash your face and eat something."

I glared at him, my mind struggling to process his presence. "You... you're here?"😯

A smile softened his features. "Of course. Don't you think of me as someone who can offer support?"

"It's not like that, sir. It's just..." I trailed off, unable to find the right words.

He chuckled softly. "Go. Wash up."

When I returned, I saw Kai, Dr. Abhi, and my boss huddled together, talking intensely. A wave of anxiety hit me-was it about Veda?

I rushed toward them. "Where's Veda? What's going on?"

They all smiled at once. "She's fine," Dr. Abhi reassured me. "She's just gone for a checkup."

My boss added, "She even ate before you. Now go eat something yourself, or I'll have to get you a bed next to hers." 🍱

My stomach growled in response, reminding me of the last time I'd eaten. Nodding in gratitude, I went to freshen up.

Afterward, I asked him how he knew about everything. Dr. Abhi coughed lightly, and I suddenly realized-it must have been him.

The boss laughed. "I'm leaving now. Don't hesitate to call me if you need anything, alright?"

As soon as he left, Sis called to let me know she was on her way. But the call disconnected abruptly, so I headed out into the hallway.

There, amidst the dim hospital lighting, I spotted Sis, standing motionless in a deserted hallway, a statue carved from stone. I called out her name, but Sis didn't seem to hear.

Approaching cautiously, I placed a hand on her shoulder. Sis turned, her face pale and drawn. "Jade," she snapped out of it, her voice distant. "I thought I saw someone familiar... but never mind. How's Veda?"

I sighed, guiding her toward the hospital. "Let's talk."