➼ Chap. 26

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L U C I A N O

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L U C I A N O

I'm in the hospital private waiting area, unable to sit still. My leg won't stop shaking, and my fists are clenched so tight, they've gone numb. Two hours. Two hours since they took Paris from me, but it feels like a lifetime.

I feel like I'm living a nightmare that won't end. My chest is so tight I can barely breathe, and my heartbeat is all I can hear—loud, deafening. Every time I try to steady myself, I see her lifeless body in my arms again, and I feel like I'm suffocating all over again.

God, I failed her.

The burn of tears threatens to spill over, but I swallow hard, forcing them back. I can't cry here, not now, not when Paris needs me. But the guilt is eating me alive, darkening my thoughts.

I was supposed to protect her, keep her safe—and yet I keep failing. Again and again. My breath shudders as I rub my face, trying to erase the tears and the memories. It's useless. The harder I try to fight it, the worse it gets.

What if she doesn't wake up? What if...

I can't even finish the thought.

Then Richard's face comes to mind. He trusted me to look after her, to protect her. And I've failed. I've failed him, too. The shame is overwhelming, and my fists tighten on my knees. He asked me to take care of her, and here I am, sitting in a fucking hospital, not knowing if she'll be okay.

It's my fault. I keep fucking things up.

I rake my hands through my hair, gripping it hard enough to hurt. I can't breathe, can't think straight. I can't lose her. I wouldn't survive it. She's my everything, and if she's gone, I don't know how I'd cope.

The tears are back, burning my eyes. I grit my teeth, forcing myself to breathe. But my heart's pounding, and I can't escape the dark thoughts. What if she doesn't come back? What if I never get to hear her voice again, see her smile, hold her close?

Tears spill down my cheeks, and I can't hold them back anymore. I'm terrified, not just for her life, but for what my life will be without her. I need her to come back to me; I can't imagine a world where she doesn't exist, facing each day without her laughter or a future without her smile brightening my world.

A wave of sorrow hits me as I realize how profoundly I love her. She's not just part of my life; she is my life—its very essence. Losing her would leave a wound that might never heal. I exhale sharply, struggling to hold it together. But it's getting harder.

I'm so fucking angry with myself and scared, more scared than I've ever been. I won't survive if she doesn't. I need her to come back to me. I squeeze my eyes shut, whispering a silent plea to whatever powers might be listening.

Please, don't take her from me.
Not now. Not ever.
She deserves to know how much she is loved—how fiercely I love her.
She is my heart, my reason to smile, my light in the darkness and I can't picture a future without her.
I swear I'll do everything in my power to fill her life with love and laughter, to show her how special she truly is.
I won't let anyone hurt her again, not even myself.

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