Page 74 of Shattered Echoes

I'm going to be okay.

As I struggle to make sense of things, fragments of conversation drift through the air. Leo's voice is tense, his words laced with worry. "He needs to wake up."

I can sense the urgency in his tone. Gabi’s voice, soothing, floats to my ears like a soft melody. "He'll be okay, Leo. Give him time." Her words are a comforting presence.

The room pulses with tension, each heartbeat echoing like a drumbeat in the silence. Leo's words of frustration are palpable, biting. "I can't lose him too." His voice cracks with emotion, a raw edge of fear and desperation seeping through.

He’s thinking of sis. I need to wake up.

The thought pulses through my mind, driving me onward through the fog of unconsciousness. I crack my eyes open again.

The unfamiliar voice, Dr. Mendez, speaks again, his tone calm and reassuring. "He's showing signs of consciousness. That's a good thing."

As I struggle to regain my bearings, Leo's voice cuts through, his words a sharp command. "Antonio, can you hear me?"

I watch as he paces back and forth, his movements agitated and erratic. Every step he takes sends ripples of tension through the room.

Leo...

My heart aches at the sight of him. His face twists into a mask of fury and frustration. Each one of his words is a painful reminder of my failings.

I never meant to cause you this pain, brother.

He catches my eyes as I open them further and points an accusing finger in my direction, his voice coming out in a thunderous roar. "You fucking idiot. So, you really want to kill yourself?"

I can feel his anger bearing down on me.

No, Leo. I never wanted this.

The doctor tries to intervene, his voice calm and soothing. "He just woke up. Give him time to regain his senses. I don’t think he can even understand what you’re saying." His words fall on deaf ears, drowned out by the tumult of Leo's rage.

But I can, and I'm sorry. I never meant to be a burden.

Leo's tirade continues unabated, each word a dagger aimed at my heart. He rages about some "horrible girl," blaming her for my current state.

Did he mean Cassie, or Colette? It's not her fault, Leo.

I struggle to come up with the words that will help him listen, but my voice remains trapped within the prison of my own mind, unable to break free. Another tear traces its path down my cheek.

I'm sorry, Leo. I never wanted to disappoint you.

“You never listen! You are so fucking disobedient. Every exact thing I told you not to do, you DID!” Leo continues. “Don’t go on the internet and you did! Stay out of trouble, but no, you chased it!”

Guilt weighs heavily upon me, a burden too heavy to bear. Despite his anger, I can see the anguish in Leo's eyes, the raw emotion simmering beneath the surface. Another tear runs down my cheek onto my lips, and I can taste the salt in it.

He cares about me; I know.

"Leo, you need to calm down. Antonio needs your support right now," the doctor says in a firm and commanding tone.

Gabriela's distress is clear; her eyes are filled with tears as she looks helplessly at her husband. Leo's emotions are spiraling out of control. This isn't what I wanted, I think to myself.

My gaze shifts to the corner of the room, where I see Henry standing with a troubled expression. I am glad he came, but if Henry came… Colette must be here, I realize, my stomach twisting with apprehension. And then I see her, approaching me with tears streaming down her face. Her presence is like a beacon of light in the darkness, offering a glimmer of hope.

Colette...

My heart skips a beat at the sight of her, my emotions swirling like a tempest inside me. She reaches me, her face wet with tears, snot staining her nose and her body trembling with emotion.

How much pain have I caused her? And everyone else?

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