𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔

Chapter Eight

After making sure Bella was settled in her hospital room, I stepped out into the hallway and pulled out my phone. I took a deep breath and dialed Charlie's number. It rang a few times before he picked up.

"Hello?"

"Charlie, it's Ishkhan," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "I just wanted to let you know that Bella is okay. There was an accident, but she's not injured."

"An accident? What happened?" Charlie's voice was filled with concern.

"She passed out and hit her head, but the doctors checked her out and she's going to be fine. She's just resting now," I explained.

"Thank God," Charlie sighed in relief. "I'll head over to the hospital right away."

"Okay, see you soon," I said before hanging up.

I walked back to Bella's room and quietly opened the door. She was still sleeping, her face peaceful despite the bandage on her forehead. I must've missed an injury when I was looking for injuries on her.I sat down on the couch, feeling a mix of relief and worry. As I waited for her to wake up, the door opened again, and Edward walked in.

He looked at me, his expression serious. "Does Bella know?"

I shook my head. "No, she doesn't. I wasn't planning to ever tell her. I wasn't even planning to tell anyone."

"I had hoped to keep this a secret for the rest of my life," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Edward sat down in a chair across from me. "Now that we know, will you ever tell her?"

I hesitated, unsure of what to say. Finally, I replied, "I don't know. I honestly don't know."

Edward nodded, respecting my uncertainty. We sat in silence, both lost in our own thoughts, as we waited for Bella to wake up.

Bella began to stir, her eyelids fluttering open. Edward and I immediately stood up, and Edward pressed the call button for the nurse.

"Bella, you're awake," Edward said softly, relief evident in his voice.

She blinked a few times, her eyes adjusting to the light. "Edward? Ishkhan? What are you doing here?"

"I called Ishkhan and Charlie when I found you," Edward explained smoothly. "I wanted to make sure you were taken care of."

Bella looked confused for a moment. "But... what happened?"

Edward hesitated before answering. "I told Charlie that you passed out and hit your head. It was the easiest way to explain things."

Bella nodded slowly, processing the information. She turned to me, her expression apologetic. "Ishkhan, I didn't tell you what happened. I'm so sorry."

I shook my head and gave her a reassuring smile. "It's fine, Bella. It doesn't matter. The important thing is that you're okay."

Just then, a doctor walked in, responding to the call. "Hello, Bella. How are you feeling?"

"A bit groggy, but okay," Bella replied.

"That's good to hear. Let's check you over to make sure everything is alright," the doctor said as he began his examination.

Edward and I stepped back, giving the doctor space to work. Bella's eyes met mine, and I could see the gratitude and relief in them.

I quietly opened the front door, hoping to slip in unnoticed. My heart pounded in my chest, knowing I would have to face my moms. As soon as I stepped inside, I was met with their stern faces, and I knew I was in for it.

"Ishkhan! Where have you been?" Mom demanded, her voice filled with worry. "We woke up this morning and you were gone. You made us worried sick!"

"I'm so sorry," I apologized, lowering my head. "I didn't mean to scare you. It's just... My friend Bella was in danger. She was in the hospital, and I had to be there for her."

Mama's expression softened slightly, but she still looked concerned. "Bella? What happened?"

"She had an accident," I explained, trying to keep my voice steady. "Edward found her and called me. I couldn't just leave her alone."

They exchanged glances, their initial anger giving way to understanding. Mom sighed, "We understand that you wanted to help your friend, but you need to let us know where you are."

"I will, I promise," I assured them, feeling a lump in my throat. "I'm really sorry for making you worry."

Mama stepped forward and pulled me into a hug, followed by Mom. "Just be careful, okay?”

I nodded my head, feeling exhausted. "I need to go to bed," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. 

"Of course," Mom said gently, releasing me from the hug. 

I headed upstairs, my legs feeling like lead. Before collapsing into bed, I decided to take a quick shower to clean myself up. The warm water felt soothing against my tired muscles, washing away the stress and grime of the day. 

Once I was done, I dried off and crawled into bed, the soft sheets welcoming me. It didn't take long for sleep to claim me, and I fell into a deep, dreamless slumber almost immediately, grateful for the respite.