Shall We Dance?

Chapter 29 - Truths and Lies

Lost, that is the best way to describe how I feel. Fer's parents move quickly around me grabbing keys and whatever else they need. My boyfriend is on the phone messaging Denise to let her know what's going on. I want to call Cadence, but I don't know if it's the right moment since we barely have information on what happened.

Fer leaves the house without saying a word and I follow. We get in his car and his hand shakes as he tries to turn the ignition. I worry about the state he's in.

"I can drive," I offer.

"Let me. At this moment I need to concentrate on something," he says and the car starts.

We make it eventually to the hospital parking lot and can't find a place to park, likely because it's visiting hours.

"You go," I say. "I'll find a place and meet you inside."

Fer leaves the car running while I walk around it to get in the driver's seat. I circle around the parking rows three times and quickly grab the spot of someone leaving.

I reach the entrance of the hospital and approach the receptionist who seems bored while looking at her computer screen.

"Excuse me. My brother in law is hospitalized here, his name is Alejandro Sawyer. My boyfriend just got here a short while ago while I was parking. Could you please tell me where I can find him?"

"You are Madison from Shall We Dance! Yeah, Fer was here to ask about his brother. He is so handsome! Are you guys really dating?"

I watch her in shock and try to stay polite. "Please tell me where he went."

"It will be all over the entertainment news when they find out. Is Ale really going to be a father?" She asks in a low but excited voice.

"Listen, lady! This isn't the right time to talk about this when something serious has happened to my brother in law! I need to be with the family now!"

My voice comes out calm and controlled, but full of the anger I've been building up since the return of Roman.

"Yes, sorry. Intensive care, first floor."

"Thank you."

The elevators take forever to come down so I take the stairs. Once at the first floor, I follow the signs towards the intensive care unit. Before I even get to look at the names on the doors, I see Fer coming out of one and walking in the opposite direction. I rush towards him.

"Fer! Where are you going?"

Fer keeps walking as if he can't hear me. I block his path while putting my arms around his body and he drags me a few steps. He finally stops and then I see the tears flowing down his face. His knees buckle and I have trouble holding him so we end up kneeling on the floor while he sobs. I hug him even though I know he doesn't like it, but this time he holds on to me.

"What's going on? Will Ale be okay?" I ask while caressing his back.

Fer doesn't reply, then I hear an odd breathing sound mixed with his crying. He places a hand on his chest while the other supports him on the floor.

"Look at me! Fer... Look at my face!" I demand while steering his head. "One, two, exhale... Three, four, inhale..."

I keep repeating the count like a mantra while he struggles to keep up with the breathing rhythm. I don't know how I've kept myself in one piece because as I watch his pain, my heart breaks into pieces. Only a short time ago we were laughing, talking and enjoying that we love each other, and now the man I love is suffering.

Eventually his breathing pattern becomes even. He sits on the floor and leans against the wall.

"He got a beating," he says while wiping his face on the sleeve of his hoodie. "His face is bashed and has many fractures. One of his broken ribs punctured his lung..."