Just Surviving (BWWM)

Chapter 20: Always Be Us

Sorry for my inconsistency. I've edited some chapters here and there though. Anyway, thanks for the support, I've seen a lot for the course of these couple of months. Enjoy.

By the way, from now on translation will be at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 20: Always Be Us

There was a moment when I felt a smidgen of regret, that kind of painful regret that is said one lives with for the rest of their life. I never knew pain like this, not even on that day Kostas told me he didn't love me and had completely shut me out. It felt like I pulled the trigger.

But how dare I complain when the feel of metal bullets tearing through skin, damaging vital organs, felt much, much worse.

I could only imagine as I heard his groans and screams.

Three. He was shot three times.

How could he still be conscious? I wasn't sure, but I knew that it had to be a good sign.

It meant my man was strong.

However, I couldn't say such so surely with snot and tears running down my face and my body shaking in my white chair near the ER. Jazmyn sat next to me trying to comfort me and Gaia and Loukas kneeled in front of me lending their warmth. I was aware, but my mind couldn't fully process it. I still felt cold. I still felt guilty. I still felt hurt.

The surgery went on for hours. According to doctors it would take a while—and a miracle— to remove the bullets because two were fatal wounds; a shot to his kidney and lung. The other missed his heart by a few inches and lodged itself in his shoulder. That didn't ease my mind. I knew people who died from just a shot to their lungs.

We sat hoping, wishing, praying that Kostas would survive. I didn't see him dying this way. As childish as it sounds, I never saw him dying in the future at all. Kostas would always be that power to be reckoned with. That person of insurmountable strength. A formidable human being.

Through the open hospital windows, I could see light making its first break through the sea's horizon, signaling that it was officially morning.

Then the clanging of doors echoed down the white and turquoise corridor. I looked up and saw Haemon, Adelpha and the twins rushing towards us.

Adelpha was speaking rapidly in Greek as Haemon held her in his arms to keep her from completely breaking down on the floor. Loukas tried to assist in calming her down by responding to her in their language in a deep, slow tone of voice. The twins were causing chaos at the front desk demanding to know what was the news on their brother. For a second, I felt sympathetic towards the poor panicking nurse. She looked like she was about to cry because of the boys' hounding.

Suddenly the doors to the ER opened and out came the doctor that was performing the procedure on Kostas. His whole front was splattered in blood. It was better for me to imagine it belonged to someone else other than the person it really belonged to.

We ran over to him like a hoard of animals. He motioned his hands for us to settle down when we bombarded him with questions all at once.

"Please, please Sarantos, it is all under control." Tufts of brown hair hidden under his blue cap fell out of their neat style.

Actually observing the family, Dr. Drivas then switched to Greek. "Eíchame to kalýtero cheirourgoí sti douleiá. Tóra, Mr. Sarantos faínetai na statheropoieítai. Allá akrivós gia na eínai asfalí, kai gia lógous protokóllou, pou ton topothétise se kóma."

Gaia translated what he said from word to word. A coma? For how long I asked the doctor.

He hesitated and sighed in English, "Until his stabilization is confirmed and we can remove specific machines such as the ones aiding his respiratory system and preventing kidney failure."