Beneath the Surface

chapter 57 : tragic death

Sarah's heart sank as the clock ticked well past the time Tristan should have been home. The meal she had lovingly prepared now sat cold on the table, untouched. Stan had fallen asleep on the couch, still clutching the small toy robot Tristan had promised to bring home.

She paced around the living room, glancing at her phone every few minutes, hoping for a call or message from Tristan. A growing knot of worry twisted in her stomach, each minute of silence making her more uneasy.

Suddenly, her phone rang, breaking the tense quiet. She quickly grabbed it, thinking it was Tristan, but her breath caught when she saw it was an unknown number.

Sarah: (voice trembling) "Hello?"

There was a brief pause before the voice on the other end spoke.

Hospital Representative: "Good evening, ma'am. This is Dr. Morales from St. Luke's Medical Center. Is this Mrs. Sarah?"

Sarah's heart pounded in her chest as she clutched the phone tighter.

Sarah: (panic rising) "Yes, this is Sarah. What's happening? Is something wrong?"

Dr. Morales: (calm but serious) "Ma'am, your husband, Mr. Tristan, has been brought in due to a car accident. He's stable but we need you here immediately."

Sarah's legs felt like they'd been knocked out from under her. The world spun, and for a moment, she couldn't breathe. Her grip on the phone tightened as she struggled to process what she'd just heard.

Sarah: (voice shaky) "Car accident...? How—how bad is it? Is he okay?"

Dr. Morales: (with gentle urgency) "He's being treated right now. We're doing everything we can. Please, come to the hospital as soon as possible."

Sarah's hands were trembling as she hung up the phone. Her mind raced, overwhelmed with fear. She glanced at Stan, still asleep, completely unaware of the chaos that had just erupted into their lives.

Without wasting another moment, she grabbed her keys, bundled Stan in a blanket, and rushed out the door, her mind only on one thing—getting to Tristan. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, the fear of the unknown clawing at her every step.

As she drove toward the hospital, the city lights blurred past her, but all she could think about was Tristan. "Please, God," she whispered, "let him be okay... please..."

Sarah rushed into the emergency room, dragging a half-asleep Stan behind her, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might burst. The smell of antiseptic filled the air, and the beeping of machines echoed in her ears. She spotted Tristan immediately—his body wrapped in bandages, tubes snaking from his arms, chest, and face.

Her breath caught in her throat. He looked so fragile, so unlike the man she had kissed goodbye just days ago. Tears streamed down her face as she stumbled forward, collapsing at his bedside, clutching his hand in hers.

Sarah: (sobbing) "Tristan... oh God, please... hold on. Don't leave us... please..."

Stan, confused and scared, stood by her side, his small hands gripping her arm.

Tristan's eyes fluttered open, his breathing shallow. A faint, pained smile crossed his lips as he looked at Sarah and Stan, his voice barely a whisper.

Tristan: (weakly) "Sarah... I love you. I love you both... more than anything... I'm... so sorry..."

His words came slowly, labored, but full of emotion. Sarah's heart shattered at the sound of them. She squeezed his hand tightly, her tears falling onto the bed.