Butterfly and Flame - Alina and Evan

Why?

Dear Reader,
This chapter is pretty heavy but it goes a long way in explaining some details about the complex relationship that Elliot and Ashley have and begins to shed a light on Evan and Christian. I hope you enjoy and come back for more.
Please please leave you comments so that I can tell if I'm doing well or not.
Many thanks! 🦋🦋🦋🦋

Everything had happened so quickly. The phone call after so many years came as a shock to Elliot. It had been years since he had heard from her or seen her. Of course he had followed her movements over the years and they had seen each other when she came to her parents funerals. But nothing could have prepared him for that phone call that night. After the woman on the phone said she was the personal secretary of Mrs. Ashley Malek and that she was calling due to an emergency. Elliot's hands began to tremble. He had asked if Ashley was alright and the woman said all she knew was that she had to contact Elliot A. Stephenson as soon as possible. They talked briefly and he was out the door headed to the airport before he could think too much about it.
Once he landed in Los Angeles a private jet was there to take him the rest of the way to London. He had no idea what was going on and his nerves where on edge. He assumed Ashley was ill or that she had suffered some kind of accident. Other than that there would have been no way she would have called for him. The fact that she wasn't the one that reached out to him made him very nervous at what he would find when he got there.

He was able to sleep for a while before landing at Heathrow. There was a car there to pick him up. He asked the driver where they were headed and he said hospital. Suddenly Eliot felt sick. All of the fears and thoughts and words that had been left unsaid. All the tears and anger fled from his mind. His only thought was of Ashley. After all these years he still loved her. As he approached the car the door opened and he saw that there was someone in the car. A woman. Once seated in the car the woman extended her hand and said "Mr. Stephenson. My name is Bettina Avery. I am Mrs. Malek's personal secretary and the person who phoned you yesterday. Forgive me for not being able to give you any details as to the nature of the call"... and before he could speak she continued.. "I still am not aware of the nature or severity of the matter other than Mrs. Malek is at King Edwards VII's Hospital and we are in route there now." Elliot, with a million questions that swirled in his head sat there stoned faced and pale. She offered him a whiskey from the refreshments in the minibar of the limousine they were in. He declined. He had never been much of a drinker and he wasn't going to start now. He needed to keep his head straight. More than ever he needed to tell her everything he had in his heart. Not the resentments, nor the anger and the jealousy he had felt. Rather he wanted to embrace and hold her and tell her how much he loved her and regretted everything that had happened between them. He was ready to let it all go.

The elevator ride up to the private room was sickening for him. He noted that the wing they were in was named after her family.  "The Malek Family Foundation" was written in big bold letters on the opposite wall as they exited the elevator. It has been named no doubt because of all the contributions to the hospital the Malek's has provided or procured. Alina had always been attached to hospitals as her history was marked by them. It was more obvious to him than ever before the wealth and position she had married into. So very different from the girl he remembered and loved. Perhaps at some other time that would have made him angry and envious. All he could think of today was that she was in the right place and that she would have the best care no matter the problem. He was anxious to see her. He suddenly remembered he hadn't showered or shaved or eaten for that matter. He asked the nurse at the station to direct him to the men's room. She pointed in the opposite direction and he robotically made his way there. Splashing water on his face and adjusting his clothing he silently prayed that he would find her able to speak and hear. He needed to be able to communicate with her.

The nurse came into the private waiting room where they were sitting and told them that it would be a few minutes before they could go in. Elliot stood up and asked how she was and the nurse simply said she was not allowed to convey any information to anyone beyond immediate family. Once more he was reminded that he was an outsider in her world. He sat back down and stared across the room remembering a different time and a different place.
It was so long ago yet if he closed his eyes he would be transported to the spot where they were torn apart forever. Neither of them understanding in that moment that there was no coming back. No rewind and reset. No more chances. A lifetime of separation.