What if the saints of old walked among us today-would we honor their triumphs, or whisper about their secrets?
Zarinna knows the weight of hidden truths. Once devoted, now marked by choices she cannot undo, she carries shame like a shadow she cannot...
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ZARINNA felt herself inhale deeply, each breath a quiet reclaiming of the world around her. Her eyelids fluttered open, one after the other, and the scent of betadine filled her nostrils, sharp yet oddly grounding, bringing her senses fully alive. Gradually, her vision cleared, revealing pristine white walls illuminated by the soft, diffused lighting. Warmth radiated from the cushion supporting her back, a subtle comfort amidst the lingering ache of her body. She was in a hospital.
Her eyes widened as the memories returned in fragments, each one stabbing at her chest with a reminder of the recent horrors. She glanced around, taking in the sterile room, the orderly arrangement of equipment, the faint hum of medical machinery. How long had she been unconscious? A sudden surge of determination pushed her to rise, and she propped herself on her elbows, testing her strength.
A groan escaped her lips as pain flared in her back, forcing her body to sink back against the mattress. Her chest heaved with effort. With another measured breath, she bit her lip against the ache and slowly sat upright, each movement deliberate, each motion an endurance of her pain. Finally, she exhaled heavily, settling her spine upright. Her eyes drifted to the window, the world outside cloaked in darkness, punctuated by distant lights. What time was it?
Cautiously, she swung her legs off the bed, her feet meeting the cold floor with a shiver. She drew in a breath and pushed herself to stand. Her legs wobbled, and she nearly toppled sideways until a wall steadied her. Grateful, she pressed on, moving toward the window.
She lifted her gaze and was mesmerized by the night sky. Millions of stars twinkled overhead, indifferent yet reassuring, while distant city lights painted the hospital grounds in a kaleidoscope of muted brilliance. Her eyes drank in the sprawling hospital grounds, a quiet awe settling over her. Which floor was she on? Which hospital was this?
"Zarinna!" The sound of her name jolted her, making her spin around.
"Zarinna, why are you standing up?" David's voice was sharp with worry as he hurried toward her, eyes scanning her form. "Let's get you back in bed." His hands reached out, offering support, his presence both commanding and tender as he guided her back to the mattress.
"How long had I been asleep?" she asked, sinking onto the bed as he gently released her.
"Three days," David replied.
"Three days!?" her voice cracked, disbelief laced with fear.
"Yes." He exhaled, brows furrowed, his gaze never leaving hers as she lay back down. Her heart lurched at the depth of concern etched across his face.
"Zarinna," he said, seating himself beside her, voice low but firm, "please... please don't ever do such a thing again."
She lowered her gaze, breathing in, feeling the weight of his words seep into her chest.
"Well—" she lifted her shoulders tentatively, "you did the same for me, so—"
"Promise me!" His hand captured hers, warm and insistent. "Promise me you'll never put yourself in danger like that again."
Tears threatened to spill, blurring her vision. "I..." she swallowed hard, her voice breaking, "You can't expect me to just stand by while I see someone shoot you." She turned her gaze downward, fighting the trembling tears. "I can't."
"And what about me?" he asked, lifting her chin with gentle insistence. "How do you expect me to live if something had happened to you?" His voice faltered, a raw vulnerability beneath the stern edge. "I can't... I wouldn't be able to..." He shut his eyes, struggling to give shape to the fear gnawing at him. "Just... please." He opened his eyes and locked them with hers. "I can't lose you."
Her heart felt as though it might leap from her chest. The sincerity of his words struck her with the force of a tempest.
"You can't be serious," she whispered, voice trembling. "I know what Lauren told you that afternoon. I've heard it all." A tear slipped free, tracing the path of her pain. "You know my past. How can you say that?" She lowered her gaze, shame and wonder interlaced. "I know... maybe you wouldn't have kissed me in the first place if you had known."
Silence pressed between them, heavy, laden with unspoken truths.
"I've known, Zarinna," David confessed, voice quiet but unwavering. "I knew even before the teacher's camping."
Her eyes flew open, astonished. "Y-you knew?"
David nodded. "Lauren told me that Sunday, the day you first came to Allapo Lumnay's house. She told me everything later that night."
Zarinna's mind whirled, disbelief anchoring her heart. "So... why... why do this to me if you knew? Does this amuse you?" Tears streamed down her cheeks as she buried her face in her hands. "H-how could you... how could you have—" Her sobs caught in her throat.
"I'm sorry, Zarinna," he murmured, lifting her chin and wiping her tears with gentle reverence. "I'm sorry if my actions grieve you. I can't help it." He inhaled deeply, searching her gaze. "I love you, Zarinna."
Her mind went blank, words failing her as her heart surged. "You... what?"
"I love you," he repeated, unwavering.
For a moment, she sat frozen, unsure if this was reality or a dream.
"How—how—" she whispered, shaking her head in wonder. "When did this happen?"
"I don't know when it began, Zarinna," he admitted, brows knitting. "All I know is... ever since I saw you in that spring, I couldn't take my mind off you."
"E-even knowing..." she hesitated, lowering her gaze, "...even knowing what I've committed?"
David's smile was tender, full of unwavering certainty. "I couldn't care less. To me," he leaned slightly forward, "you're still the Zarinna I fell for that day at the spring."
"Is this... true?"
He nodded again. This time, instead of leaning for a kiss, he slowly lifted her trembling hand to his lips. His lips pressed gently, reverently, against her skin, a warmth and tenderness that sent shivers down her spine. He held her gaze the entire time, eyes dark and steady, as if speaking words no lips could ever utter.
Her breath hitched as she realized how much he had risked, how much he had waited, and how completely he had seen her, not just her past, but every trembling, guarded piece of her soul.
"I love you, Zarinna." David's voice was low, almost a whisper, each word deliberate, carrying the weight of everything unsaid.
"I—" Her lips parted, and for the first time, she let the words she had kept inside escape, fragile but unwavering, a confession that had grown in the quiet spaces of her heart. "I love you too, David."
