Page 13 of Lethal Lover

“Ms. Byler is in room 3404.” He points up the hallway where a steady stream of people is moving. “You’ll want the third floor. The elevators are that way. If you need anything, you can come back here. The nurses on floor three will be able to direct you right to the room.” He has kind eyes and a warm smile, and I already feel more at home.

Strange how a hospital, of all places, makes me feel at home rather than the theater. I was raised in theaters and disdain hospitals for obvious reasons. But I float toward the elevators a bit more comfortable with myself. As I pass the gift shop, I decide to stop and get a balloon. Nina might not be awake now, but when she wakes up, I want her to see I’ve been here. I can’t very well sit and wait for her around the clock, but she will see the balloon and be thankful she has friends.

I buy a mylar balloon and continue on my way to her room, navigating the twisting hallways with some help from the nurses, and finally, I find her room. I knock lightly and hear a male voice summon me. When I push the door open and walk in, I feel the weight of the room before I can even see her.

Machines whir and beep. A man and a woman sit on the couch along the wall. There is no window, only a television mountedat the far end of the tiny room. The couple looks up at me in surprise.

“Hi… I, uh…” I hold the balloon out. “My name is Elena. I work with Nina. I just stopped by to see her.” I continue moving into the room deeper until I'm past the curtain and I can see how banged up she is.

Nina lies on the bed with tubes coming out of her at every angle. Her mouth looks more like a conduit for all that plastic, lips darkened by bruises. Her eyes are shut, her head wrapped. She has scrapes and cuts all over her hands and arms, and the couple on the couch look like they’ve been crying. The woman stands and rushes over to me, wrapping her arms around me tightly.

“Nina told us about you. Thank you so much for coming.” Her embrace is uncomfortably tight, but I say nothing.

“You’re welcome. How is she?” When I pull away, I see the woman crying. I assume these are her parents. Who else would they be?

“Not good, hun.” She grips my arm and squeezes it, then lets go and returns to her spot on the couch. “She has a bad concussion, swelling on the brain. Multiple broken bones and lacerations.”

The man takes over when the woman breaks down crying, and I set the balloon on the small tray table at the side of the bed. “They are not sure whether she’ll make it. She’s in critical care. That’s what this unit is.” His lower lip trembles as he speaks, and I see the pain in his eyes.

“I’m so sorry to hear that.” My own emotions well up, filling my eyes. It’s not supposed to be this way. Nina is so young. She has her whole life ahead of her. She should be on that stage, not in this bed. “Is there anything I can do?”

Her mother looks up at me. “Pray. That’s the only thing anyone can do now.” She sniffles and uses a tissue to wipe her eyes.

My heart sinks. The accident must’ve been far worse than anyone knew. Swelling on the brain sounds dangerous, and if doctors don’t know whether she’ll make it, how will the show ever go on? I need Liam. I need his arms around me and his voice soothing me.

When I can’t stand the sight of Nina’s pain any longer, I back out of the room and lean against the wall, sobbing. Life is cruel and fate even crueler. If this is what the fates have in mind for me—removing good lives to clear a path for me to be thrust into the spotlight—I don’t want it.

I want to go home.

When I’ve collected myself, I reach into my bag and pull out my phone. As I walk back toward the elevator, I call my mother and she answers on the second ring. “Elena! How are you? I miss you so much.”

My tears are impossible to hold back and I cry into the phone. “Mom… I need some comfort.”

“What’s wrong, baby? What happened?” Just the sound of her voice is comforting to me.

“One of my costars is in the hospital. She was in an accident.” I don’t even know whether she can comprehend my words. I’m crying too hard.

“Aw, sweetheart. I’m sorry that happened. Accidents happen all the time. I’m sure she’ll be fine.” Mom has no idea what’s happening, so I spell it out for her.

“This isn’t the first thing that’s gone wrong. My director was mugged too.” I sniffle and swipe at my face. “And I keep getting strange fan mail from obsessed fans. I just don’t feel safe.”

“Well, honey, the city is a big place, and scary things happen there. We talked about this before you moved.” She’s right. We did talk about it, but not this. Not specific things that make it seem like they’re all happening around me for a reason.

“No, Mom. I feel like they’re connected. Like someone is doing these things to send me a message.” I shudder and hug my arm across my stomach as I press the elevator call button.

“If you’re worried, you can come home. Or you can report this to the police. Baby, I don’t like the idea of your being alone in that big city, anyway. Just come home.”

If only it were that easy. If only small-town Ohio were where my career would take off and I could follow my dreams there. My friends are there. My family is there. My hopes started there, but I always knew I couldn’t stay. To do what I want to do means to take risks and get out on my own, and to leave New York would be to give up.

“I can’t, Mom.”

“Well, you can call the police if anything else happens.” She sounds resolute. Life is cut and dry for her. But to me, it isn’t so much. The police will think I’m crazy. If I have a weird stalker, how would he create a car accident and get away with it? The mugging suspect is behind bars. I feel like I’m going crazy.

“I’m gonna lose you, Mom. I’m getting in the elevator. I’ll call later.”

The doors slide open, and I step in, hanging up the phone. But the tears return with a vengeance, and the entire way down to the ground floor, I cry. Today doesn’t feel better than yesterday. It feels worse. I feel worse. I want Liam.

9

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