Page 17 of Wanted

We will have time. Time. One of the few things money can’t buy.

“The nurse is coming,” I say, taking his hand again. He doesn’t make the slightest attempt to squeeze it, but I don’t care. “I’m so happy, babe. You have no idea how much.”

Not more than a minute has passed when an army of people enter the room. I’m pushed aside until I have my back to the wall. I can’t stop the joy that invades my whole being.

This is wonderful, and in my mind, I’m already making plans. I’m sure they’ll move him to a normal room and I won’t have to spend time outside waiting until the strict visiting hours, plus I could stay overnight.

And very soon, everything will be as before. Well, as normal as it can be with this new reality.

Lionel and I have a long overdue conversation pending. He has to explain why he told me so many lies because I never gave him a single reason to distrust me. Never.

I look at the tip of my black Chucks without being able to stop smiling like a fool, trying to camouflage myself with the wall. I don’t want to become a nuisance and end up getting kicked out of here.

As the doctor points a little light in Lionel’s right eye, I feel his gaze on me. So I lift my head to find him looking at me with an unreadable expression, but I don’t pay much attention as I still can’t get off cloud nine. The bruise on his face has started to turn purple, but it doesn’t diminish his handsomeness. He looks like a gladiator who emerged victorious from a battle.

I’d like to grab his hand again and whisper in his ear that I’m here, that I won’t leave him, that I don’t care about the lies. Although I am still furious with him, I also know love forgives everything—everything is possible.

That while we’re together there is no mountain we can’t climb, or a river wide enough so we can’t cross.

But I stay in my corner, waiting.

Waiting for him to wake up felt like an eternity and now everything is happening so fast.

The door opens and Mrs. Kral walks in, smiling from ear to ear. Her face lights up when she sees Lionel awake, although the doctor continues to examine him and take notes.

“Mom,” he greets her hoarsely. He sounds like he has eaten sand. “Can someone bring me some water, please?”

On the nightstand next to me are a couple of bottles. Before she left, Catherine made sure I was well-stocked. So without wasting time I unscrew the lid of one and, silently, raise my eyebrows, asking Brittany if it’s okay. She doesn’t say anything, so I pass it to Lionel with a smile.

“Thank you,” he whispers without giving me a second glance.

What the hell?

“Short sips,” says the doctor, as he checks the bandage on Lionel’s shoulder.

The wound is smaller than I imagined, but there are two others lower on his chest. They seem clean and don’t look swollen. I stare at his chest, as if for the first time. Before there wasn’t a single blemish that diminished its beauty, now the memory of what happened will be there, marking it forever.

Not to mention the scars on the soul, suffering trauma like this has to be horrible.

Lionel takes a couple more sips from the water bottle and for a moment he doesn’t seem to know what to do with it, so I go ahead and take it from his hands. When our fingers touch, I can feel the electricity run through me.

It’s there, it’s not gone.

Lionel looks at me startled. I’m sure what just happened surprised him too, however, he says nothing, turns his attention to the doctor, who is now busy with his arm. The doctor asks him to make a few movements, first with the whole hand and then just the fingers.

Although slowly, Lionel complies with the instructions.

“Everything seems fine, Lionel,” says the doctor. “But you must continue to rest, at least for today. Depending on how you feel tomorrow, you need to get up and take a few steps, at least around the room. If all goes well, we’ll transfer you to a room, and then hopefully, you’ll get to go home.”

“Excellent!” Mrs. Kral shrieks, putting her hands to her chest, then steps around the two nurses to kiss Lionel on the forehead after she turns to the man in the white coat. “Doctor Wong, may I speak to you for a moment in the hallway?”

“Yes, of course,” answers the doctor. “As soon as I finish the exam, I’ll be with you.”

She stays in the room, but she’s closer to the door.

The doctor gives the nurse directions to redress Lionel’s wounds before following Mrs. Kral into the hallway.

Ten minutes later, the nurse has taken care of the bandages, and for the first time since this mess happened, I’m finally alone with Lionel. Well, with a conscious Lionel.

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