𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 |𝟏𝟖+|

49

Miguel Raffetò POV

"What's going on?! Why is she shaking?!" The machine hooked up to Etta began rapidly beeping as doctors rushed into the room as my beautiful girl passed out.

"Sir, I'm going to need you to step outside please?"

"I can't leave her. She-"

"Okay, she's going into shock. Can we get-" The doctors spiel was droned out at the sight of her now limp body. Shock? Why was her body going into shock?

"Sir, please. We cannot help her if we need to tend to you as well."

That sent enough panic through my body that I obeyed immediately, instantly pacing in the hallway outside.

Through the window of her room, her body was shielded by the amount of people trying to stabilise her.

Sheer terror had me in a chokehold and I'd never felt fear like it. I thought she was gonna be okay? I thought that was the worst of it?

~~~

Somewhere within the next hour, Etta's parents had returned as we all awaited to hear what was going on.

The way I felt was indescribable.

It felt like my heart was repeatedly being ripped from my chest, only to be put back in again when I forced myself to think of Etta's smiling face. But then the agonising cycle would continue when my mind replays the image of what those beautiful ocean eyes looked like when I broke up with her.

The doors opened and we were all immediately standing.

"Mr and Mrs Valentine?" I didn't like the tone of this doctor's voice.

"Yes?" Jeremy answered, holding onto his wife for dear life.

"Unfortunately your daughter suffered from a ruptured internalised bleeding on her stomach." My ears rang out. "And whilst we were able to stop the bleeding, we've had to put her into a medically induced coma to give her body the best chance at healing."

Their statement was left with our silence. Stunned silence.

A coma? My baby's in a coma?

"I-I was just talking with her." I started, hearing my heart pound in my ears with each breath I took. "Is she gonna be okay? Y-you can help her right?"

"We did all that we could do give Etta the best chance of surviving this sir. We'll let her body rest these next few days, keeping her stable in unconsciousness and then we'll try and bring her out."

Grace had to sit down at the force of her tears now free flowing down her face. "Try?" She said, voicing my own panic.

"It could take a good deal of time longer for your daughter to respond mam. But that is a common occurrence with a state of comatose. The body needs time to recover, so from now until Miss Valentine wakes up, I'm afraid it's a waiting game."

I slid down the wall as I dropped my head into my palms.

I distantly heard the doctor leave, saying that Etta was stable and that we should go home to rest.

I almost laughed at that.

There's no chance I'm leaving my beautiful girl. She does not deserve this. It should be me lying in that bed. Not her. Never her.

"Miguel son, come here."

I blindly got to my feet, finding myself being comforted by her parents as guilt struck me again and again and again.

"I'm sorry." I selfishly sobbed onto them. "It's all my fault."

"Sssh sweetheart, it's okay." Grace cooed, rubbing my back as my body went into exhaustion overdrive.

"It's not okay. It's should be me in there, not Etta."

"Miguel, this could've happened to anyone young man. Do not blame yourself for the actions of others."

I knew I couldn't say anymore without damming my chances of being with Etta ever again but fuck was the temptation there.

Eventually, when we all calmed down and began to digest this new development, Grace and Jeremy reluctantly left a second time tonight.

Whether it may be a possessive or protective streak of mine, a part of me wondered how a parent's could ever leave their child in a state like this.

But the thought was fleeting and I was grateful to be in this room alone with the woman I love.

I pulled the door shut and retook my seat at her bedside. She looked like she was sleeping and if it wasn't for the cuts and bruises marring her otherworldly features, then I would've said she seemed peaceful.

I gently took her hand and gave it a soft squeeze. "I'll let you rest for as long as you need baby. But I need you to promise to wake up. I need you to come back to me Ettie. You're my whole world."

And so that night marked the first of many that I would remain by her side, honouring my vow to never leave her again.

My beautiful, strong, star of a woman.

Please come back to me.

Please.

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Shorter chapter I know, but more coming soon ❤️