Just keep in mind I'm not a doctor soooo this may or may not be possible

...

When retelling stories of traumatic events in one's life people usually tell it in great detail. That's how I remember my Mom's death. I remember at what time of day, where the sun was in the sky, what the ocean smelled like, and what color her bathing suit was.

But when it came down to my near death experience I could barely process anything, let alone remember most of it. All I know is that I was in a building, the wrong one apparently, it crashed down around me, I woke up briefly as I was being rushed down the hospital hallways, I woke up again before passing out from the anesthetic a nurse gave me, and the final time I woke up was some time later with Marco sitting by my side.

When I woke up my mouth felt like I had been in the desert for a month and my whole body ached. I attempted to speak despite knowing my voice would come out sounding like a frog.
"Marco."

He jolted in his seat. His eyes snapping up to mine from his hands fiddling in his lap. There was only one emotion that crossed his features in that moment. Relief.

Instead of saying anything he shot up from his seat and leaned forward until our lips touched. I let him kiss me, despite how much I desperately wanted water. He didn't stop at my lips though. He kissed my cheeks, my forehead, my nose, my chin, my neck, my eye lids and practically any skin he could see on my head.

"Marco," I croaked again, pulling away just slightly.

He looked down at me with more relief than I think anyone had ever had before. He didn't say anything though. His eyes were filling with tears, his bottom lip was wobbling, and both of his hands were on my body: my cheek and my own hand.

Instead he leaned down to kiss my once again and I let him, only because I knew he needed it more than I needed water.

Finally, when he pulled away he had enough strength to speak. His first and only words were, "Will you marry me?"

I was shocked into silence, and then I thought I was only being delusional. The anesthetic they put me under apparently hadn't worn off yet. But after staring at Marco, looking at his unwavering smile and his bright eyes, I knew he was being serious.

Two years.

That was the deal and that's how long it's been.

"It's about damn time," I murmured, squeezing his hand in mine with as much strength as I could muster.

Marco smiled widely and chuckled before kissing me again, hard. I winced in pain and he immediately pulled away, apologizing.

"I'm so glad you said that because you don't have a choice," he said once he pulled away. He pulled something out of his pocket, a small black velvet box. I knew exactly what was in that box and I wasn't more excited in my entire life.

Unlike the first time he asked me this felt right. It felt more than right, it felt like this is exactly what was supposed to happen to me. I just wish it didn't involve the building collapsing around me.

Marco opened the box, revealing the same diamond ring I had around my neck for five years. He slipped it onto my finger, lifting it to his lips afterwards.

"I'm going to go get the doctor now," he said after a couple minutes of comfortable silence where we just lovingly stared at each other.

Marco left me alone letting me get accustomed to the hospital room around me. Tubes were hooked up to parts of my body that I couldn't see beyond pieces of tape, machines surrounded me, and there were an array of flowers covering almost every flat surface in the room.

It made me question how long I had been in this building exactly.

Once I started to panic and the realization of what had happened to me finally sank in, a nurse came in. She had a bright smile on and was dressed in pretty floral scrubs. She handed me a cup of water and I took it gratefully, almost chugging the whole thing in one go.

"I'm glad to see you awake Eliza," she said cheerfully while checking each of the machines and the IV.

"How long have I been asleep exactly," I asked after polishing off all the water. It still wasn't enough.

The nurse took the cup from me and softly said, "Only a little over twenty four hours."

"Why," I asked confused. "Why did I sleep so long?"

"Well you had an emergency surgery. We had to keep you on pain killers which kept you knocked out."

I breathed deeply, taking in the scent of the flowers in the room while trying to calm down. Now my whole body felt off. Nothing felt right anymore. My mind was trying to tell me something but I didn't know what. It wasn't until the nurse had her hand on the doorknob, ready to leave when it came to me.

"What did I have surgery on," I asked urgently.

She took her hand off the handle and turned to me. Looking at me seriously, all trace of a smile gone, she said, "They had to remove a lung. It was bleeding internally."

I gasped, tears instantly filling my eyes. I gingerly lifted my hand to my chest, as if I could feel the empty spot in my chest right now.

But the nurse didn't stop even though I wanted her too. She walked over to me and grabbed my hand from my chest. "I've been working here for thirteen years dear and I've never seen a miracle quite like you before.
Your ribs were crushed, piercing your lung and slicing your aorta. Luckily, it didn't slice it all the way through and the surgeons were able to fix it before any of your organs failed."

I wanted her to stop talking. I didn't want to hear any more about how much of a "miracle" I was. As stupid as it sounds, I wanted my lung back. But she didn't stop.

Squeezing my hand tighter she said, "You were in that mess for over an hour dear. With a punctured blood vessel like that and a bleeding lung you shouldn't have lived for that long." Right before the door swung open she said, "You aren't supposed to be alive."

Marco came in smiling, followed by a doctor, and the entire Stavros clan plus a couple more. They could hardly all fit in the small room but that didn't stop them.

Before the nurse left she leaned in close and said, "It looks like someone upstairs is looking out for you. I suppose they weren't ready for you to join them just yet."

I instantly thought of my Mom and that made the whole ordeal a little bit less awful.

Standing at the end of my bed the doctor welcomed me back. I didn't respond with anything, I was too busy trying to process what the nurse had told me.

"Eliza," Rumi said beside me. "What's wrong?"

"They took my lung," I said sadly, feeling like breaking down and sobbing.

Marco grabbed my hand and squeezed. "We'll get you another one. I promise."

"You can have mine if you want," Rumi offered, smiling cheekily.

"What are you two doing in New York," I asked him and Shai.

"Well," Rumi began before his father smacked his shoulder and told him to be quiet.

"Eliza," Marco said softly, gaining my attention. "I have something to tell you."

"Yeah," I asked worriedly. I don't think I could last much longer if I find out they took more organs from me.

"Did you know that Lily has been ordained?"

"Ordained? Isn't that when someone can marry other people?"

"Yes," she said from her little corner of the room.

"Um I don't know why you're telling me this but that's awesome! When did this happen?"

"Like an hour ago," she said with no remorse.

"Uh okay," I said, a little confused. "That's great! Who are going to be your first victims," I teased.

"We are," Marco declared, a goofy grin on his face.

I looked at him weirdly, thinking he was joking but I knew today was not a day for joking. "I've had this ring on my finger for five minutes and we're already going to get married?"

"Actually he was going to make you marry him when you weren't even wearing the ring," Rumi spoke up, making Marco frown just a bit.

"I've had to wait for too damn long for this moment Eliza. I'm not waiting any longer," he stated.

I thought about it for a second even though I knew I didn't have a choice. Marco was already shoving people to one wall so we could have room.

I didn't have to think hard because just like when Marco proposed minutes earlier, I felt right. And I feel right now, even though I suddenly have one less lung and technically I'm not supposed to be alive.

"Fine," I spoke, catching his attention. "I'll marry you right now."

"Oh," he said awkwardly. "It wasn't really an option."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course it wasn't."

Marco joined my side, helping me into a sitting position since I couldn't stand very well with just having surgery. He grabbed my hand and looked at me just like he has every day of my life: with nothing but love. I knew my expression looked similar to his.

I might not have remembered my flirtation with death very well but I did remember getting married clearly.

Marco was smiling so widely I could tell that it was hurting him. The room smelled of cleaning supplies and flowers. Maria cried into her husband's shoulder as Lily began the vows. The setting sun was casting a perfect glow on half of Marco's face and the wall behind him. Lily's voice was strong at some points and weak at others when she wanted to join every other girl in the room and cry. Rumi stood with his hands behind his back, staring at me with a happy smile. Shai wiped a stay tear from his cheek and mouthed the words, "She's here," to me. The door was propped open to the hallway and a handful of nurses and patients stopped to watch the show. The feeling in my chest, although missing an organ, was the best feeling I had ever felt in my entire life.

And that feeling never went away.

...
Epilogue is next!! I feel like I've dragged this book on for too long lol but oh well!:)

**next (and final) update: Saturday**

••••••••••I will be posting the first chapter of Serving Leo on Thursday (or maybe tomorrow) so you can all begin reading it!:)••••••••