After the Heartbreak

Chapter 14 of Part II: Unsettling Discoveries

(Gerald’s POV)

The weeks following Megan’s accident felt like a blur. Visiting her in the hospital had become part of my routine. At first, I’d just stop by after my shifts, staying for an hour or two to keep her company. But as the days went on, I found myself staying longer, sometimes spending entire afternoons with her, talking about everything from her restaurant to our favorite movies.

Megan seemed to be recovering well, her sense of humor still intact despite the cast on her arm and the occasional wince of pain. But every time I saw her in that hospital bed, it reminded me how close I had come to losing her. The thought of it gnawed at me, especially now that I was allowing myself to realize just how much I cared.

“You don’t have to keep coming, you know,” Megan said one day, her voice teasing but her smile warm. She was sitting up in bed, a book resting on her lap as I sat across from her. “I’m not some helpless patient.”

“Yeah, I know,” I replied, leaning back in the chair and smirking. “But I’ve gotten pretty good at mooching off the hospital cafeteria. Can’t pass up the free coffee.”

Megan laughed softly, shaking her head. “Ah, so that’s what this is about. I knew there had to be an ulterior motive.”

I grinned, but inside, my mind was elsewhere. I hadn’t told her yet, but something about the accident still didn’t sit right with me. Sure, accidents happen, but the details of her crash—especially on a road she drove every day—bothered me more than I cared to admit.

The doctors had said it was a miracle she wasn’t hurt worse, given the damage to her car. And Megan herself had been vague about how it all happened, just saying that her brakes hadn’t responded when she tried to stop.

I’d planned on asking more about it, but every time I saw her, I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing instead on making sure she was comfortable and recovering.

Until today.

“Megan,” I started, glancing at her carefully, “you mentioned your brakes didn’t work the day of the accident, right?”

Her smile faded a little as she nodded. “Yeah, it was weird. One minute I was driving, and the next, I couldn’t stop. I thought maybe I’d hit something slick on the road, but… I don’t know. It didn’t make sense.”

“Has anyone checked your car?” I asked, trying to keep my tone casual. “Like, for damage or any kind of malfunction?”

Megan frowned, looking thoughtful. “Not really. The tow truck just took it to a garage near the hospital, but I haven’t had anyone assess it yet.”

I nodded, my worry deepening. “Do you want me to take a look? Just to make sure everything’s okay with the car.”

Her eyes softened as she looked at me. “You don’t have to do that, Gerald. I’m sure it’s fine.”

“I know I don’t have to,” I said, my voice firm. “But I want to.”

Megan paused for a moment before nodding slowly. “Okay. I trust you. The car’s still at the garage. I’ll give you the details.”

---

A couple of days later, I found myself at the small garage where Megan’s car had been towed after the accident. The mechanic had done a basic assessment, but it was clear he hadn’t taken a deep dive into what might have caused the brakes to fail. He’d shrugged it off as “bad luck.”

But my gut told me it was more than that.

The mechanic handed me the keys, and I spent the next hour going over the car. I wasn’t a professional mechanic, but I knew my way around vehicles well enough to spot something unusual.

And there it was.

The brake lines. Someone had tampered with them. At first glance, the wear and tear on the lines could’ve looked natural, but the closer I inspected, the clearer it became that this wasn’t just wear—it had been deliberately damaged.

My stomach twisted as I stared at the evidence in front of me. This wasn’t an accident. Someone had sabotaged Megan’s car.

I stood there for a moment, trying to wrap my head around what I’d found. Who would do this? Why would anyone want to hurt Megan? My thoughts were racing, but one thing was clear—I had to tell her. She needed to know the truth.

I grabbed my phone and dialed her number, my heart pounding in my chest as I waited for her to pick up.

“Hey, Gerald,” Megan’s voice came through, cheerful as always. “What’s up?”

“Megan,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “We need to talk. It’s about your car.”

She was silent for a second before responding, her tone cautious. “Okay… Did you find something?”

I hesitated, not wanting to worry her, but knowing I had no choice. “Yeah, I did. I don’t want to freak you out, but… someone tampered with your brakes. This wasn’t just an accident.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. When Megan finally spoke, her voice was shaky. “What? Are you serious?”

“Yeah,” I replied, my throat tight. “I’m sorry, Megan, but it’s pretty clear that someone did this on purpose.”

I heard her take a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “But… who would do that? I don’t have any enemies. This doesn’t make sense.”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, frustration bubbling inside me. “But we need to figure it out. This is serious, Megan. Whoever did this—whoever wanted to hurt you—they might try again.”

I could hear the fear in her voice when she spoke again. “Gerald… what do I do?”

“We’ll handle this,” I said firmly, my protective instincts kicking in. “First things first, we’ll file a police report and get this investigated. And until we figure out who’s behind it, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

Megan let out a small laugh, though it was tinged with nerves. “You’re not going to be my bodyguard now, are you?”

I smiled despite the situation, though my tone remained serious. “If I have to be. I’m not taking any chances.”

She was quiet for a moment, and when she spoke again, her voice was soft. “Thank you, Gerald. I don’t know what I’d do without you right now.”

Hearing the vulnerability in her voice made my chest tighten. I wasn’t just worried about her as a friend anymore. This went deeper than that, and I was only now starting to realize just how much I needed her in my life.

“I’ll always be here for you, Megan,” I said quietly, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “No matter what.”

We talked a little longer, making plans to file the report and take next steps. But even after we hung up, I couldn’t shake the anger and fear boiling inside me. Someone had tried to hurt Megan, and I was going to make sure they didn’t get a second chance.