Choice of Love

Chapter 18: The Aftermath

The world came rushing back to me in a haze of sterile lights and muffled voices. I blinked slowly, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The sharp smell of antiseptic invaded my senses, and as I tried to sit up, pain shot through my side like fire.

"Lesley!" A familiar voice pierced through the fog.

I turned my head, my vision focusing on Jason, who sat in a chair beside my hospital bed. His face was pale, dark circles under his eyes, and I could see the worry etched into every line of his expression. "You're awake!"

"What happened?" I croaked, my throat dry and scratchy.

"You got hurt," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Ethan's friends... they attacked you. I'm so sorry, Lesley. I couldn't get to you in time."

Tears welled in my eyes at the memory. "Ethan... where is he? Is he okay?"

Jason's expression darkened, and he looked away for a moment. "He's in custody. After what he did to you, the police arrested him and his friends. They won't be able to hurt you anymore."

A sense of relief washed over me, but it was quickly overshadowed by the weight of the situation. "But I... I can't believe he would go that far. He really wanted to hurt us."

Jason took my hand in his, his grip firm and reassuring. "You're safe now, Lesley. That's all that matters. Just focus on healing."

"How did we survive?" I asked, my heart racing with questions.

"Ava called the police when you didn't respond to her texts. She got worried and sensed something was wrong. If she hadn't, who knows what could have happened?", Jason said.

My heart swelled with gratitude for Ava. "Thank you for being there for me," I whispered, guilt flooding me. "I can't believe this is happening."

"No," Jason replied firmly. "You didn't do anything wrong. Ethan made his choices, and now he has to deal with the consequences. You need to take care of yourself and let us help you."

"Us?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, Ava and I. We'll be here for you every step of the way," he assured me, a soft smile breaking through his concern. "You don't have to face this alone."

The door creaked open, and Ava poked her head in, her vibrant presence immediately brightening the sterile room. "Oh thank goodness, you're awake!" she exclaimed, rushing over to the side of my bed. "I've been going crazy worrying about you!"

"I'm fine," I said, though my voice was barely above a whisper. "What about Ethan? Did he get arrested?"

Ava's expression shifted, her brows furrowing. "Yeah, he's in jail now. He won't be able to hurt you anymore, I promise."

"Good," I muttered, feeling a strange mix of relief and lingering fear. "But... what's going to happen now?"

"The police are going to press charges, and he's going to face the consequences of his actions," Ava said, crossing her arms. "But I know it's hard to think about that right now. You need to focus on healing and getting better first."

"Right," I replied, my heart heavy with the knowledge that my life had irrevocably changed. "I just... I can't believe it came to this. I thought I knew him."

Jason squeezed my hand, grounding me. "You did what you thought was best, Lesley. None of this was your fault. Don't let him take that away from you."

"Yeah, you're right," I said, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "I just need to take it one day at a time."

Over the next few days, the hospital became my temporary home. Jason and Ava took turns sitting by my side, their unwavering support bringing me comfort. Every time I closed my eyes, I was haunted by flashes of that night—the pain, the fear, and the realization that Ethan had crossed a line I never thought he would.

Eventually, I was discharged from the hospital, but the journey to recovery was just beginning. As I stepped outside, the sunlight hit my face, warm and bright, a stark contrast to the shadows I had been navigating. Jason and Ava flanked me on either side, a reminder that I wasn't alone.

"Let's get you home," Jason said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

"Yeah, it's time to put this all behind us," Ava added.