10. Soren #2
Aunt Lila takes Selena’s hand. Cousin Jenna starts brushing the hair away from her forehead with careful fingers. Rick and Mom stay on the side of the room, only glancing at her every few seconds. I stay in the doorway.
When her eyes finally open, the first people she sees are Aunt Lila and Jenna.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Aunt Lila says softly. “How are you feeling?”
Jenna leans closer. “You scared us. Are you okay?”
Selena doesn’t answer them.
“Soren… Soren, where are you?
Her eyes keep moving until they find me still standing by the door.
Aunt Lila and Jenna step back without another word. I walk over to the bed and take her hand carefully so I don’t pull any of the lines.
“Hey. Look at me. Everything’s fine. The baby’s fine. Heartbeat’s strong. You’re going to be okay. The doctors got the bleeding under control. Your dad gave you blood. You’re both safe now.”
Her voice is weak. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I should’ve told you. I already knew. I just… I was scared. I’m sorry.”
“Shhh.” I brush my one hand over her forehead while the other gently squeezes her hand. “I understand. Don’t apologize.”
My throat tightens. A tear slips out before I can stop it. It’s the first one I’ve shed in years. Maybe the first one that ever mattered.
“But don’t you ever do that again to me, huh?
You got me? You scared the hell out of me, Selena.
I’ve never been that afraid in my life. I woke up and there was blood everywhere.
You wouldn’t open your eyes and I thought I was going to lose both of you.
I can’t do that. I won’t. You’re all that matters to me now. You and our baby.”
She starts crying softly while cupping my hand on her cheek.
The room stays silent. Everyone is still here.
I turn slightly so I can see Rick and Mom and the others.
“I’m sorry,” I say. The words come out plain but I don’t rush them.
“I’m sorry… To all of you. Especially you, Dad.
And you, Mom. I’m the older one here. I knew it was wrong the second it started.
I knew what it would do to this family. I expected the consequences and I’ll face every single one of them.
I won’t run from it or pretend it was something smaller than it is. ”
I look back at Selena. Her eyes are wet and locked on mine.
“But I’m not walking away from her. Or from this baby.
She deserves a man who stands in the light and says she’s his without shame.
I want to be that man. I love her. I love the quiet way she chooses me even when it costs her everything.
And I love the life growing inside her right now.
Let me fix the mess I made. Allow me to fix it the right way. ”
I reach into my pocket. The ring box is already there. My PA had it delivered while I was waiting for Rick and Mom to come earlier.
I drop to one knee beside the hospital bed.
“Selena. I don’t have pretty words. I only have the truth.
I want to spend the rest of my days making sure you never have to hide again.
I want to take care of you and our child the way I should have from the start.
I want to wake up every morning knowing you’re mine in front of the whole world, not just behind closed doors.
Marry me. Let me give you a real life. A real home.
A real name that belongs to both of us. Say yes and I’ll spend every day proving I was worth the risk. ”
Her lips tremble. Tears run down her temples into the pillow.
Aunt Lila covers her mouth. Uncle Martin looks away, blinking hard. Jenna wipes her eyes. Mom is already crying openly.
Selena tries to sit up. I press a hand gently to her shoulder and keep her down.
“Stay still. Don’t move.”
“Yes,” she whispers. “Yes. I love you. I’ve always loved you. I’ll marry you, Soren.”
I slide the ring onto her finger. It fits. She stares at it for a second, then reaches for me with both arms. I lean in and hold her carefully, mindful of the IV and the monitors.
When we pull apart we both look toward the parents.
Mom is crying harder now. She looks moved, but no words come out. Rick stands frozen. He can’t seem to meet our eyes.
We wait for something. Anything.
The silence stretches so long it starts to hurt. Aunt Lila shifts uncomfortably. Uncle Martin clears his throat once and looks at the floor. Jenna keeps glancing between the ring on Selena’s finger and Rick’s rigid back.
Rick turns and walks out of the room without a word. Mom follows him shortly. Just before she steps through the door she glances back once. The look she gives us is touched and proud.
Then, they’re gone.
Aunt Lila clears her throat. “That was… I didn’t expect that.”
Uncle Martin nods slowly. “He meant every word. You could hear it.”
Jenna looks at the ring on Selena’s hand and gives a small, watery smile. “Congratulations. Really. I’m happy for both of you.”
The rest of the family stays a little longer. The atmosphere isn’t as heavy as earlier. No one tries to stop us. No one tells us we’re wrong out loud. One by one they offer quiet congratulations, then leave us alone.
I stay in the chair beside the bed and keep her hand in mine. The ring catches the fluorescent light every time she moves her fingers.
Outside the room I can still hear the low murmur of voices in the hallway, but none of them come back in.
No matter what happens next, we still have each other.
And that is enough.
For now.