As Usual || Camren

Chapter 2

Flashback

 “Baby, where are you?” I asked in frustration as I got into the car

“I-I don’t know. Lolo please come quickly I’m so scared!” she was on the verge of crying

“Is there anything around you?”

“There’s a gas station and um..um..I-I think this is a bar or something. It’s called Crowley’s”

“Okay babe, stay next to your car. Don’t go in there alright? I’m already on my way”

“But babe, maybe I could find someone who could help me in there? Maybe fix my car, I’ll call you in a bit okay?”

“No Camila don’t I’m coming” Beeeeeeeep. “Camila?? CAMILA! urgh!” I throw my phone to the passenger’s seat and press my foot on the gas. I had no idea where this place was and I didn’t like that Camila was there alone. I decided to ask someone for directions but no one seemed to know where it was. I heard my phone ringing so I directly answered.

“Lauren baby, it’s such a nice place, it’s actually a restaurant. I’m here sitting waiting for you so don’t worry about it baby relax.”

“Urgh, Camz. Alright I’ll be there as soon as I can get directions”

“Maybe we could actually try this place when you get here” I couldn’t help but laugh

“Alright baby, I’ll see you in a bit. Love you” I closed the phone still giggling at my wife. Camila was always a sucker for food. I took directions from a random car, and later on found myself lost. So I texted Camila and told her that I might be a bit late. As soon as I found a small market I got inside and asked them. Thankfully they knew the place and told me how to get there. As I was driving it was a little crowded and I saw an ambulance and a fire truck in my rearview mirror. They had their sirens on and everyone was trying to move out of the way. So I texted Camila again telling her I was stuck in traffic but to go ahead and order for us, since I knew she would be starving.

As soon as the cars began moving I took a left and realized that I could still hear the faint sounds of the sirens but chose to ignore it. As I was going straight ahead, I felt things get foggy around with dark smoke and something caught the corner of my eye. I turned to look to my left and saw a huge fire flaming. People were gathered and firefighters were going in and out to get people out of this building. I looked to my right and saw a gas station. So I went there and asked if they knew where Crowley’s was and they pointed across the street. As soon as I saw them point there, before my eyes had followed the direction of their pointing, my heart almost dropped to my knees. I slowly turned my head and watched the building on fire crumble down. I felt my knees weaken and out of instinct  dialed Camila’s phone only to hear the central lady saying that it’s out of service.

Next thing I knew, I was running towards the fire. Suddenly a strong force grabbed a hold on me and pushed me backwards.

“Ma’am you can’t go anywhere near there”

“MY WIFE IS INSIDE I NEED TO GET HER OUT YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND SHE’S INSIDE  I NEED HER PLEASE YOU HAVE TO HELP HER PELASE”

He directly let go of me and ordered me to stay put and ran to talk to a few other firefighters. I couldn’t wait any longer, every second that passed was wasted and she could be saved sooner. I began running and pushed through the people until I got through and I kept running faster than I’ve ever ran and all I could think of was Camila. I got inside and fire was everywhere, the heat was unbearable, and everything was falling apart into ashes. I could see people lying around, some were barely alive, some I knew were gone. I kept moving around trying to look for her, until I spotted her bow. I ran to her but noticed she was stuck under a metal pole; when I tried to remove it I burnt my hand and quickly released it. I knew it was burning through her and I couldn’t help but try every possible way of getting her out of it. I started screaming for help but soon enough my lungs were burning from all the smoke I’ve inhaled. I realized that my shoulder had caught fire and I tried to get it off but I soon realized that the fire had reached Camila.

Just when I was about to lose hope, I felt someone push me aside and saw two firefighters struggling to remove the pole from above Camila. The third man quickly took Camila from under it and carried her bridal style. That was the last thing I saw before everything had turned black and I was unconscious.

“Camila- Where’s Camila” I opened my eyes looking around me shaking in fear.

“Ma’am, calm dow-“

“DON’T FUCKING TELL ME TO CALM DOWN WHERE IS SHE” I tried to get up but noticed that I had tubes coming in and out of me. I realized I was in a hospital.

“She’s ok. for now. they’re scheduled for another surgery for her in a few hours.” I realized he was the same firefighter I had asked for help from. I noticed he had blonde hair blue eyes and built body. “I’ll call the doctor to check up on you. Stay put. and I mean it this time!” He gave me a glare when he said the last sentence and I knew it was because I disobeyed him back at the restaurant.

A few minutes later a doctor walked in and explained that I had a burn on my shoulder and that sadly the scar was permanent but other than that, my lungs were now healed and clean. He then continued to explain how I was out for a week due to all the smoke I inhaled. And then said I could be discarded as soon as I signed the papers. I then asked him about Camila and saw him frown.

“Well, Mrs Jauregui, Camila has third degree burns on her left side above her hip, a burn on the side of her jaw, and the most spread out burn is on her inner left thigh. She’s scheduled for reconstructive surgery. She has taken a strong hit to her head, and we are not sure if she would be able to wake up from the current coma she is in, and if she did… she might have a memory loss. I just need to prepare you emotionally since it has come to my knowledge that she is your wife.” I felt tears stream down my face but was decided to keep a positive thinking.

2 months later

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN ITS BEST IF I DON’T SEE HER? SHE’S MY WIFE”

“Mrs. Jauregui, please. She’s suffering from extreme memory loss and seeing any person other than her parents at this moment is frightening for her. She won’t remember you. I don’t think anything might even trigger her memory either. The only people she seems to remember are her parents and her childhood best friends…. I know this is hard for you, but I even believe it would be easier for you to not see her either. You shouldn’t go through this, it will cause you so much pain. You should try to move on. Leave it to fate perhaps.”

“Doctor. You, you can’t do this to me! I’ve been here by her side since the accident. I can’t lose her not now not ever. We need each other, we need each other to get through this. Please. I need to talk to her”

“I believe it’s you who needs her more, since she doesn’t remember you. As far as I’m concerned she can’t even remember the accident. I don’t know if someday perhaps something might trigger her memory again, but I highly doubt it.”

I felt tears rush down my eyes. This can’t be happening. I won’t let this happen. I felt myself fall to the ground as I began sobbing, then two strong hands were there to hold me up and usher me out of the hospital. I then realized who he was. The firefighter.

“WHY DO YOU ALWAYS SHOW UP? WHY CAN’T YOU LEAVE ME! I ASKED YOU TO HELP HER BUT YOU WERE LATE! YOU WERE TALKING TO SOME OTHER MEN YOU WERE LATE!”

“Ma’am please calm down. I know this is hard. You saved her life, I believe if she can’t know you’re her wife, the least we could tell her is that you saved her life. But we can’t and that’s hard enough as it is. Let me help you through this. You need help. I’m Keaton by the way.”

End of flashback

I woke up screaming at the top of my lungs. I was sweating and I looked around me taking in my surroundings until I felt two strong hands hold my shaking body and tighten their grip on me.

“You’re okay Lauren. You’re okay. It’s okay.” He said as he rocked me back and forth until I fell asleep in his arms. As usual.