Chapter 38
Chapter 38:
I look over at Asher, staring at the face of the man I love with all my heart.
He is lying here, fighting for his life, and I feel so guilty and utterly helpless, unable to do anything about it.
“Asher,” I whisper, holding his hand tight. “Please come back to me. I am begging you. Please open your eyes p>
Tears roll down my face at the cruelty of his pale, unresponsive body. Unable to bear the pain any longer, I lower my head onto the bed, hiding my face, drowning in shame and guilt. I let my tears soak into the sheets.
Dear God, please have mercy. This is all my fault, not Asher’s. Please bring him back to me. Please, I am begging you.
Guilt rips through me, raw and unforgiving. I sob silently, feeling as though the steady beeping of the heart monitor is mocking me, even though it is the only thing keeping hope alive—that Asher still has a chance to survive.
“Isla p>
I could hear my name, and briefly my painful thoughts cease. it must be Ethan’s voice, maybe waking up from sleep.
But then it comes again.
“Isla p>
The voice croaks out my name with a low groan—and it hits me.
“Asher p>
I jerk my head up from the bed, feeling his fingers twitch in my grasp. His face twitches, his eyelids blinking. Once. Twice.
And then… they flutter open.
briefly, shock freezes me, only to release me almost instantly. My chest squeezes tight. Blood rushes through my veins.
And I scream.
“Asher p>
I can’t believe how loud my voice echoes off the walls, but I don’t care. Right now, it feels like I’m in a dreamland where my most important wish has finally been granted.
“Isla, what is—Asher!” Ethan shouts when he sees Asher’s eyes open. “Oh my God! You are awake. I need to fetch the doctor right now p>
With that, he bolts out of the room, leaving Asher and me together and alone. Euphoria floods my body, pushing me to stand, but the pain in my leg proves stronger than the joy coursing through me, forcing me to stay seated in the wheelchair. My leg hasn’t healed enough to let me walk, and though I was content with the slow process of recovery before, seeing Asher awake now and being unable to rush over to hug him feels devastating.
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I wheel myself closer to his bedside. His face looks weak and pale. I could feel his pain as he slowly turns his head to look at me. When his cracked lips curve into a smile, it unleashes a fresh stream of tears from my eyes.
This is Asher. This is the man I love.
I want to smile back, but my tears mixed with guilt overwhelm me, making my chest ache.
“Hey,” he whispers.
“Hey,” I whisper back.
“Why are you crying?” he frowns, his slanted green eyes studying me. “You know you look ugly whenever you cry p>
A laugh escapes me, part chuckle, part sob. I feel like smacking the ridiculous joke off his lips. How can he be joking right now?
Just then, the door bursts open and Ethan rushes in with a doctor and a couple of nurses. Sandra follows behind, holding a bag of potato chips.
The doctor and nurses gather on the other side of Asher’s bed. As the doctor begins to examine him, Asher keeps flashing that grin at me. Now, it feels like a teasing reminder of that irritating smile he wore the day he beat me at that game. He is lucky he’s the patient right now—if not…
“His vitals are stable,” the doctor’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “From the looks of it, he may recover much faster than we expected. We need to continue monitoring him until he fully regains his strength p>
The doctor hangs his stethoscope back around his neck and smiles down at Asher. “Congratulations, Mister Asher. You made it p>
The smile Asher gives back is everything. “I had to come back for someone p>
My heart suddenly starts to beat faster. When Asher turns his tired eyes from the doctor back to me, it feels like my chest might explode.
“I am glad you did, Asher.” The doctor’s voice cuts through my haze. “And I am sure that person is happy you did too p>
But all the while the doctor is talking, Asher never takes his eyes off me. I wonder if he even heard a single word.
“Alright then,” the doctor says, patting his arm. “I’ll leave you to get some rest p>
He exits the room with the nurses, leaving only the three of us—Sandra, Ethan, and me—with Asher.
“Hey man,” Ethan mutters, forcing a scowl. “Don’t you ever do that to us again p>
“What are you talking about?” Asher jokes back.
“Are you being serious right now?!” Ethan snaps, the incredulous look on his face indescribable. He stands with his hands on his hips, his eyes brimming with unshed tears.
“Hey guys,” Asher grunts. “I can’t promise anything, but I can promise not to die if there’s a next ti p>
I smack his arm, shutting him up. “Close your mouth, Asher. You’re lucky you’re still a patient p>
“And so are you, Isla,” he whines, gritting his teeth. I may have hit him too hard, but when I move my hand to soothe his arm, that lazy grin of his appears, tempting me to smack him again.
God, I feel like giving him a good knock on the head right now.