Page 66 of You Loved Me Once

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None of this would be happening.

He pushes the hair back from my face. “Go.”

I’m only two blocks from the hospital and make it there in no time. On my walk over, I didn’t allow myself to think about the colossal mess my life is. The things that Bryce and I said don’t matter right now, a patient needs me.

The hall feels longer than ever as I make my way to the nurses’ station. “Martina,” I call her name.

“Oh, Ren, it’s Mrs. Whitley,” she explains with sadness in her eyes.

No. No. Not today. Please, I’m not strong enough to handle this today.

“How bad?” I ask.

Her face says it all. It’s bad, and I won’t be able to do anything. “She’s asking for you.”

I replace my jacket with my white coat, slipping into doctor mode. I won’t get through this any other way. She’s the bright spot in my dark days, and I’m going to lose her today.

The beeping from the monitor is the only sound in the room. I make my way to her bedside, and take her hand in mine, relieving the nurse who is here. Mrs. Whitley doesn’t stir and the sound of her labored breathing makes my throat constrict. Just a few hours ago she was getting stronger, and now...she’s dying.

“I’m here, Mrs. Whitley. You’re not alone.” I push her white hair back with a sad smile. She told me once how she didn’t want to die in a room with no one who loved her. I promised I’d be beside her. I just wish it wasn’t happening at all. If she were well, I would tell her about my plight, and wait for the guidance she’d give. She was like a mother to me in some ways, always looking out for me.

“I meant to come by more often. You were doing better and I planned to come tomorrow to tell you everything. God, my heart right now is brimming and I have a lot to say and maybe you can help.”

She opens her eyes just barely. “Serenity.”

My name. I’ll miss hearing her say it. “I’m here.”

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

I close my eyes, my head dropping to our entwined hands, which rest on the bed. “The man I’ve told you about—the one I loved when I was young—he came back. He’s asking me to do something that I should never even consider, but my head won’t stop spinning. I’m not this girl. This weak woman who would do something so stupid for a man, but why do I want to?” I ask, as she lies here, allowing me my confession. “Love makes you stupid, but why would I even think about hurting myself to give him what he wants? What would you do if it was Leo? Would you sacrifice your own dreams if you knew it would be what made him happy? Isn’t that what love is? Would you risk everything for Leo even if you knew he wasn’t the one for you anymore?” I glance at her and she smiles a little.

“Yes,” she croaks.

“Leo loved you with his whole heart,” I tell her. Her lips turn slightly at the sound of his name. “Leo is waiting for you, isn’t he?” Once again, her mouth moves.

He’s what’s giving her peace right now.

“I remember the story you told me about him.” I rub her hand as tears fill my eyes.

When my mother passed away, it was the story of my father that she heard as she took her last breath. My brother and I stood on each side of her, recalling their love story. I hope this will give my friend the same peace.

“There was once a beautiful woman who was walking down the street, heading to the market. She was minding her own business, focused only on her task, when a handsome soldier bumped into her, causing her purse to fall to the ground and spill all its contents.” Mrs. Whitley sighs and I fight back tears. “Staff Sergeant Whitley was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. He smiled at her and had kind eyes. Immediately, he dropped to his knees, and helped collect all her belongings. When their hands touched, it was as if she’d been burned.”

“Leo,” she groans.

A tear drifts down my cheek at the sound of her voice calling out to him. “Leo walked her to the store, and then carried her groceries to her home. Unfortunately, her father did not take kindly to the handsome soldier.”

I remember watching her as she told the story that made me believe that real love does exist, even if it’s eluded me. Her father was not a good man, and he forbid them from being together. He was a high-ranking military officer and would not allow his daughter to be with a soldier.

“He threatened Leo, but Leo loved Dorothy the moment he saw her.” Her hand tightens slightly. “She loved him too, so each night, she’d sneak out of the house and meet him at the river bank. After weeks of sneaking around, her father became suspicious. Dorothy and Leo made plans to elope before he was shipped out.”

Her eyes open, locking with mine. I gently squeeze her hand and finish the rest. “They met that night, with plans to run away, but her father followed her. He threatened them both, but their love was so strong, it couldn’t be severed. Leo put Dorothy in his truck, and took her away, marrying her at first light. They were married for a long time, and loved each other until he took his last breath.”

Mrs. Whitley starts to gasp and I sit on the edge of her bed, my tears falling freely. A love like that was worth every risk. “Go to Leo. He’s waiting for you, his arms are open, he loves you. Go to him.”

The monitor shows that she’s in her last moments, and I turn the sound off and repeat Leo’s name, his love, and tell her she’s not alone.

I hit the call button, then the nurse enters and I shake my head. She stands on the other side of Mrs. Whitley, monitoring her pulse.