Between Us

Chapter 47 : The Last Breath

I ran toward Engfa, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst from my chest. The fear in my veins was paralyzing, but I forced my legs to move, pushing through the panic rising in my throat. She was on the ground, her body slumped over, blood staining the front of her shirt. My breath hitched as I dropped to my knees beside her.

"Engfa... Baby, look at me," I choked out, my voice shaking, barely holding it together. I saw the blood seeping through her clothes, felt it soaking into my hands as I pulled her into my arms. She struggled to breathe, and I could see the pain in her eyes.

She looked up at me, her chest rising and falling with shallow, ragged breaths. Her eyes, usually so full of life, were dull, and I felt my own heart breaking as I watched her struggle.

Her gaze flicked down to her stomach, then back to me. "It wasn't supposed to happen like this," she whispered, a weak laugh escaping her before it turned into a wince.

I forced a laugh, tears blurring my vision. "Yeah, just a small bump in the road," I choked out, brushing the hair from her face.

She nodded weakly, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment.

"It's going to be okay," I stammered, my hands trembling as I pulled her into my arms, cradling her against me. Panic clawed at my throat, but I tried to stay calm, tried to believe my own words. "You're going to be fine, I promise. It's just a bullet, right? You're strong. You're going to make it."

She nodded, her breath shallow. "Yeah, just a bullet," she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.

I held her tighter, pressing my lips to her forehead. "And yes, I do." I whispered, my heart breaking as I saw the fear in her eyes.

She looked up at me, her confusion clear. "What?" she murmured, blinking through the pain.

"I want to be your wife," I repeated, my voice firmer, more determined. "I want to spend my life with you."

A small, exhausted smile tugged at her lips. "Finally," she whispered, her hand reaching weakly for my face. "I thought... I thought you were going to say no... you made me wait..."

I couldn't hold back the sob that escaped me. I kissed her hand, tears falling freely. "I'm sorry," I said, my voice breaking. "I'm so sorry for making you wait."

Her breathing was getting more ragged, her eyelids drooping. "Don't... don't go to sleep," I pleaded, my heart racing faster than I thought possible. "Stay with me, baby," I begged, my voice breaking. "Don't close your eyes. Help is coming, okay? They're going to fix this, and we'll be laughing about it tomorrow. You're not leaving me, okay? Not now. Please."

Her lips trembled, a single tear slipping down her cheek. "I'm scared," she whispered, her voice so soft. "I don't want to go."

I couldn't hold back the sob that tore through me. "You're not going anywhere," I promised, clutching her tighter, rocking her gently as if I could somehow keep her with me. "You're strong. You're the strongest person I know. You're going to pull through this."

But she shook her head slowly, her face growing paler by the second. "I feel... so weak," she murmured, her hand slipping from my grip as her body sagged against me.

"No, no, no," I cried, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. "You're not weak, Engfa. You're the strongest person I've ever known. You're my Engfa, okay? You have to fight, you have to stay with me. Please..."

Her breaths were coming in shallow gasps now, her chest rising and falling unevenly. "I'm so... tired, Char," she whispered, her eyelids fluttering as if she couldn't keep them open any longer.