ARTHUR

I woke up with a severe headache. When I opened my eyes, I realized that I was in the hospital. It was already the middle of the night outside the window. Suddenly, the latest events flashed before my eyes. I didn't know exactly how it ended, but frantically looking around the room, I tried to find Kornelia.

She was sleeping on a chair that was pushed close to my hospital bed. I quickly calmed down, realizing that she was fine, but only after a moment did I see that there was a Band-Aid on her cheekbone. And there were bruises on his wrists and neck.

It was all my fault. If only I hadn't been late at work, if only I'd arrived on time. I shouldn't have left the house at all, because I promised to spend the day with her. Or maybe I shouldn't have been in her life at all. After all, she suffered only because of my selfishness.

Millions of thoughts raced through my head, which made it ache even more. With an incredible effort, I raised my hand and reached for her, despite the fact that my whole body ached with pain. As if she felt my touch, Kornelia slowly opened her eyes, waking up from sleep. As soon as she realized it was me, she abruptly jumped out of her chair and squeezed my hand in hers.

"Arthur, how are you feeling?" - she asked anxiously and, without waiting for my answer, continued, "I'll call the doctor." She quickly got up and left the room. I lay back down again and closed my eyes. At that very moment, physical pain was nothing compared to mental one.

...

The doctor did some tests, and then examined me again. I had several broken ribs and also had a severe bruise to my head. The doctor said that I got off easy after hitting the corner of the wall so hard. He decided to leave me in the hospital for a few days to make sure that I would feel well, and then they would let me go home.

When the doctor and the nurse left the room, Kornelia and I were left alone. I held her hand the whole time, and then when everyone was gone, I brought it closer to examine the bruises. My heart ached at the thought of what might have happened if I had come even later.

"I'm so sorry. It's all my fault," - I said, kissing her hand.

"What? No, Arthur, it's me, who have to apologize," - her voice was very agitated, but at the same time filled with sadness. "You are in the hospital because of me."

"It's nothing serious," - I tried to object, but Kornelia quickly interrupted me. "Is it nothing serious?!" - she said indignantly, "Broken ribs are serious!"

Her eyes sparkled, tears began to roll down. I've been seeing her cry too often lately. And every time, her tear, like a knife, causes deep wounds to my poor heart. "Please don't cry. You're breaking my heart," - I whispered. She only nodded quickly in response and wiped away the tears with her hand.

"As soon as I'm discharged from the hospital, we'll go somewhere right away. Just the two of us. Just you and me. Okay?" - I asked. She didn't say anything again, just climbed onto my bed and lay down next to me. It was the best feeling in the world, lying next to her like that and not thinking about anything else.

We lay there for a while. I played with her hair, she lightly ran her cold fingers over my body so as not to hurt me. I enjoyed it. I liked the way she smiled at me when I looked at her.

That eyes, that gaze?! You could drown in it. I think it would be the best death for me.

Yes, she could be unbearable, she could be mean, offended, and sometimes completely silent, which was the most terrible punishment. But with her, I feel alive, I feel at home. Maybe someday I'll go crazy around her, but it's definitely worth it.

We lay in each other's arms for a long time, and then fell asleep. Or rather, she fell asleep, and I hugged her from behind. I knew there was someone else who could give her more than me. But I decided to be selfish, because I felt heat just thinking that someone could touch her the same way I stroke her hair, kiss her, see her in a towel when she comes out of the shower. I was afraid of losing her. To lose her again.

...

I woke up the next morning and the first thing I did was look around my room. There was no one here. Suddenly the door opened and my mom came in, holding coffee in her hand. When she saw that I was awake, she quickly came up to me, leaving the coffee on the table.

"Darling, how are you feeling?" - she asked very anxiously. There was undisguised concern in her voice.

"It's okay. Don't worry," - I replied calmly, and then added, "Where's Nella?"

"I sent Kornelia and Jeremy home. She looked very tired, she needed to take a shower and change her clothes. Jeremy drove her home. He will help her pack all the necessary things and then bring her here," - my mother explained to me. In response, I just shook my head, because I didn't have the strength to talk.

Then my doctor came back to do some tests and examine the wounds. They had a long conversation with my mom in the hallway. But when she came back into the room, and there was a faint smile on her face, I realized that nothing serious was threatening my health anymore.

Perhaps, deeply inside, I was glad that this situation had happened. It helped me to stop, slow down the pace. For the last thirteen years, I've been running somewhere all the time, trying to achieve something, missing and neglecting the most important thing, my family.

Now, lying in a hospital bed, I was in no hurry. I enjoyed the presence of my family, the warm conversations that I missed incredibly. There was nowhere else to run, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for a radically new chapter in my life.

...

I woke up, it was the middle of the night outside the window again. My body was trying to regain strength, so I slept a lot. I met the eyes of the love of my life, who was sitting next to my bed again.

"How are you feeling?" - she asked quietly.

"Now that you're here, it's perfect," - I said, and she just gave me her charming smile. "I still haven't asked how it ended after I lost consciousness?" - I added after a moment.

"After seeing your condition, I think Adam was afraid that he had overdone it this time, so he just left. And I immediately called an ambulance," - she said calmly.

"What do you mean, this time? Is this not the first time he has raised his hand on you?" - I could feel the blood boiling in my veins. Kornelia did not answer, but only lowered her gaze. The words were superfluous, I immediately understood everything.

"That bastard! How dare he even lay a finger on you?" - I could feel my whole body filling with anger.

"Yes, he has his flaws," - Kornelia began, but I looked at her angrily. "Flaws, is she serious?" - a thought flashed through my head.

"Anyway, I'm grateful to him, because he was there for me during the most difficult period of my life," - she said and caught my questioning look. "We met three years ago, right after my father's death. Adam helped me to some extent to get out of the deepest depression."

"I'm really sorry that I wasn't there," - I said. I felt disgusting, because I wasn't there when I was needed the most. Kornelia only shook her head negatively, "Don't be. You're here now."

**********************************

Thank you so much for finishing this chapter. I really hope you like it.
I'm looking forward to see you in the next one!

~ NALI

IF YOU LIKE THIS CHAPTER, PLEASE VOTE OR ADD A COMMENT