"I'll break down your walls one by one and sneak into the gates of your icy heart before crushing it into tiny pieces." He murmurs mercilessly as his lips lightly brush my ear, the contact eliciting an indescribable sensation through every inch of m...
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P R E S E N TÂ D A Y
Have you ever felt like your entire world was collapsing and no matter how hard you tried to keep things from falling apart, your efforts were in vain?
If so, envision this pain amplified a thousand times to experience the inferno of emotions that have taunted me within the past 24 hours.
My center of gravity has been obliterated into oblivion, and the only thing that's keeping me together is the hope that he will come back to me and tell me that this whole nightmare is over.
"You should get something to eat," Devin suggests. "You haven't eaten all day."
Tears continue to flood my cheeks, doing little to wash away the hollowness within.
What I'd give to turn back time.
If I knew what he was thinking, I would've been able to prevent it.
"I-It's all m-my fault," I choke out, my shoulders heaving up and down. "H-He wouldn't be in the ER if it wasn't for me."
Amidst my breakdown, Devin remains silent.
His reaction doesn't surprise me since we've had this conversation before.
"Pull yourself together, Anaya," Devin's tone is unvarnished, "For your sake and his. Dwelling on what ifs is pointless. What matters is the present and how we can move forward."
I didn't know what to expect from him, knowing he's never been the best comforter.
My desperation causes me to turn to one source.
God, I've never asked you for much, but please hear my prayer.
Help Ludovic to survive this atrocity. . .I'm begging you.
"Where's Ludovic?! I need to see him now!"
A gruff, resounding voice echoes through the hallway.
Seconds pass before a middle-aged man heaves into view from the far end, not long before a younger male who looks like the former appears within sight.
They hasten their steps before Anastasia appears shortly after.
With the same expression of desolation, they bustle towards the ER door only to appear frustrated upon realizing it's locked.
The middle-aged man swings his restless gaze to me before pointing his index finger at me.
"You,"
I can barely look him in the eyes, shifting my gaze to the white tiles.
"Who the hell are you?! What the hell happened to him?!" he vociferates as he approaches me menacingly.
"Dad, stop it!" Anastasia reprimands him amid her torrent of tears, "She has nothing to do with this!"
