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Cʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 42
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2.1k words

(Y/n)'s POV
I quickly dialed Obi-Wan's number on the phone in the hospital room, my voice shaking as I explained that Anakin had finally woken up. I barely managed to get a few words out before the call dropped, and I knew it was because he was rushing over here as fast as he could.

I stayed close to Anakin while the doctor and nurses examined him. They waited patiently for him to fully open his eyes before shining a light in them and asking questions. "Do you know your name?" the doctor inquired.

Anakin nodded slowly, his gaze drifting around the room until it settled on me. My heart skipped a beat, and I realized I must have looked a mess. My makeup was probably smeared due to the tears streaming down my face. Since he had woken up, I was so overwhelmed with joy that I couldn't stop crying, no matter how hard I tried.

"Can you tell them your name?" I asked gently, running my fingers through his hair as he continued to stare in silence. I couldn't help but worry that something might be wrong, that he was trying to see if he recognized me.

He nodded again, whispering, "Anakin," his voice rough and strained, likely from the tubes they had used on him, "Skywalker."

"Do you know who she is?" the doctor asked, pointing at me.

He nodded and managed a slow smile, "(y/n)." It looked like he wanted to reach for me but was too weak, so I carefully took his hand and squeezed it. "Just as pretty as in my dreams."

The Doctor let out a light laugh before continuing with a few more questions, asking about his birthday and the current president, among other things. "It seems you're in luck; there are no signs of amnesia that we can tell right now. However, we'll need to conduct some tests to ensure everything is alright. I'll be back shortly. In the meantime, is there anything you need?"

"Just some water, please," he replied, briefly closing his eyes before reopening them. "And maybe an aspirin; my head feels like it's splitting in two."

"We can get you some water, but no aspirin for now," the Doctor said, motioning for the nurse to bring the water. She quickly left the room. "It's common to have a headache after waking from a coma, especially after being unconscious for so long. It's probably due to some mild swelling in your brain. I'll get you something to help with that, and it should relieve your pain."

"Thank you," Anakin sighed softly, turning his head slowly to look at me again as the Doctor stepped out, "I'm sorry I kept you waiting."

Just when I thought my tears had stopped, they began to flow again as I took his hand and held it tightly. I could see he was trying to squeeze back, but he was still a bit weak. "You're forgiven," I kissed the back of his hand, "For everything."

He smiled gently, "I'll find a way to make it up to you, I promise." He attempted to sit up but winced in pain, staying in his current position. "How long was I—"

"It's been a month."

The nurse came back with a glass of water, handing it to him carefully. "Here you go," she said with a kind smile. "Take small sips; you don't want to upset your stomach."

"Thank you," he nodded, following her advice and struggling through the pain to sit up so he wouldn't choke while drinking. He groaned, "I feel like every bone in my body just cracked." He took a few slow sips before placing the glass back on the stand beside his bed.

The nurse had stepped out again, leaving just the two of us alone. "Ani," I gently encouraged him to meet my gaze as I placed my hand over his, holding it firmly. "I know this isn't what you want to think about right now, but do you remember what happened?"

He looked down at the blankets covering him for a moment. "Could you lift the pillow a bit higher? I'd like to lean against it more comfortably."

I nodded and adjusted the pillows to give him better support. "How's this?" I asked, shifting back only slightly in case I needed to make any further adjustments.

He leaned back, looking at me, our faces just a few inches apart. "It's perfect." He glanced at my lips, then swallowed hard and looked away with a sigh, "I remember." He finally answered, though his voice was low, almost a whisper, like he was afraid of anyone other than me hearing him.

"Was it—"

"Yeah," He interrupted me to stop me from saying the name out loud. He still hadn't turned to face me, his eyes focused on his fingers that were gently playing with the edge of the blanket. Then, he shut his eyes, as if trying to go back to those moments. "I was heading to you," he said softly. "I had just walked out of the house and was waiting at a red light..."

Anakin's POV — Flashback

I gazed up at the bright red light, silently grumbling to myself. The worry of being late frustrated at me, especially since my luck seemed to have run dry, making me stop at every single red light along the way. Each pause felt like an eternity, the seconds stretching into minutes as I tapped my fingers impatiently against my bikes handles, the rhythm echoing my rising frustration.

The road was empty, not a single car in sight, and I considered just going for it. The temptation was strong; but the thought of a police officer appearing out of nowhere and slapping me with a ticket held me back. If this light didn't make me late, a ticket surely would. So, I remained where I was, tilting my head back and letting out an irritated groan.

On the bright side, these moments did help me think about what I was going to say when I saw her.

Suddenly, the peaceful night was broken by the rumble of an engine, loud music, and bursts of laughter approaching from behind. I noticed the headlights drawing closer, but I paid them little mind until the car pulled up beside me and honked, demanding my attention.

I turned my head sharply and found myself staring at Andres. He was behind the wheel of an old low rider, with its shiny, yet scratched, chrome accents and vibrant paint job. A smirk plastered on his face. The car was packed with his friends, all of them looking at me with the same expression, their eyes glinting with mischief. "Where you headed?" he asked, leaning on the door with his chin resting on his arms, his voice dripping with casual confidence.

I turned away, choosing to ignore him, but then one of his friends, tossed a beer can out the window. It hit my helmet with a dull thud, sending them into fits of laughter. My heart raced, a mix of irritation and anger flooding through me. I shot them a sideways glance, and thankfully the light finally changed to green, a small victory in my otherwise frustrating evening.

Instead of confronting them, I decided it was best to just drive away.

I pressed on, glancing over to see Andres pulling up beside me, matching my speed to stay close. A wave of anxiety washed over me; I feared he was about to start his usual antics. I hit the gas, and he did the same, the engines roaring in a symphony of reckless competition.

"Come on, Anakin! Don't be like that! I just wanted to chat!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the growl of his car as he then drove ahead of me, a mischievous grin plastered across his face. The thrill of the chase was evident in his eyes, but all I felt was a tightening knot of dread in my stomach.

Suddenly, a beer can flew out of his window, spinning through the air like a projectile aimed directly at me. I swerved instinctively, my heart pounding as I narrowly avoided the crumpled metal. The can clattered against the pavement behind me. Andres then began to weave into my lane, his car inching dangerously close to me. Panic surged through me as I fought to steer around him, my knuckles white on the handles. "Leave me alone!" I yelled.

I had always kept quiet and maintained my distance, just as he wanted, but I should have known that wouldn't be enough. He thrived on the thrill of the chase, the adrenaline of pushing boundaries, and I was just another target in his reckless game. I accelerated further, desperate to escape, but they stayed right behind me, relentless in their pursuit. The music blared louder from their car drowning out my thoughts.

My heart raced, adrenaline flowed through me, and I felt the instinct to either fight or flight kick in. I chose to flee, my hand twisting on the accelerator as I navigated the winding road ahead. The world outside blurred into a streak of colors, the trees and streetlights flashing by in a whirl.

As I rounded a sharp corner, I caught a glimpse of Andres in my rearview mirror, his car swerving slightly as he tried to keep up. The thrill of the chase was intoxicating for him, but for me, it was a nightmare.

I was so close—only five minutes away from her. But doubts began to invade my thoughts. Should I really go? If I did, I might lead them straight to her. I had no idea what they were capable of or what they might do to me once I stopped. Just as I was grappling with these thoughts, Andres's car reappeared beside me. This time, he charged at me with a terrifying speed—too fast for me to react.

He collided with me, and I lost control of my bike, veering off the road. I struggled to regain my balance and stop, but at nearly ninety miles an hour, it felt futile.

Flashback ends — (Y/n)'s POV

"The last thing I recall before drifting off the road was flying through the air, and then everything went dark." He finished his story, and tears filled my eyes, cascading down my cheeks and pooling on the floor.

I knew it was him; I just knew it.

I noticed his hands starting to shake, and his breathing became erratic. He was reliving that moment, and it was clearly tormenting him. "Hey, it's okay, you're safe now." After wiping my tears, I moved closer, cradling his face in my hands so he could meet my gaze.

He swallowed hard, "It doesn't feel that way," he whispered, "I feel so embarrassed to admit this, but I'm scared." He was now crying.

In an instant, I pressed my lips to his and gently caressed his cheeks with my thumbs, just as he had done for me countless times before. It was the most soothing thing for me and I had hoped it would have the effect for him. "You need to tell my dad everything, Anakin, every single detail starting with that liquor store." I told him once I ended our short embrace, "This man tried to take your life, and he will try again if you stay quiet like you did before." I was certain of that, "I can't lose you." This scare alone was enough to haunt me for the rest of my life.

I had thought he might argue with me, but instead, he just nodded, "Alright, I—"

"Anakin," a voice from the doorway made us both turn. Obi-Wan stood there, breathless as if he had just run a long race, tears glistening in his eyes. He dropped the suitcase he was holding and rushed over.

I stepped aside to give them room, "Obi-Wan, I'm really sorry—"

Without a word, Obi-Wan wrapped his arms around Anakin, breaking down in tears, "I thought I had lost you too." His sobs grew louder as Anakin returned the embrace.

Anakin wept alongside him, a sound so heart-wrenching it could move anyone to tears, "Obi-Wan," he managed to say amid the emotion, "I need to tell you something."

Obi-Wan pulled back slightly but kept his hand on Anakin's shoulder, "Whatever it is, it's alright. No one is angry with you."

Anakin glanced at me for a brief moment, then nodded before turning back to his brother, "It wasn't an accident."

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