Chapter 84 Luca
LUCA
The calmness in the room is unnerving. She’s peaceful and serene as her chest rises and falls in slow, steady breaths.
She’s still breathing. I can figure out the rest later. Her not existing … that’s something I couldn’t handle.
“She’s not awake yet,” I state as Anthony peeks in the door again.
He’s been here constantly. Just him. He informed me that her dad was made aware and said he’d come by.
Her brother said it’s normal attention-seeking behavior and he wouldn’t be coming to visit her.
But I know it wasn’t attention she wanted.
She intentionally stepped off the curb in front of the car.
She wanted to die. If the driver hadn’t been paying attention, things would’ve been worse.
My fingers pull at my hair as I stand from the chair.
“Go home and freshen up. I’ll wait until you get back,” Anthony offers.
“I’m not leaving until she wakes up.” I want to see her. I need to look her in the eye. I need to make her understand how much life she has left to live.
“I’ll be in the lobby. Please inform me when she wakes.”
“I will.” I drop back in the chair and watch her.
It’s hours later when she finally stirs and a few more minutes before she reaches for her leg and opens her eyes with a groan. She searches around the room before assessing her broken leg then looks to me.
I tell her, “You promised me.”
She exhales, her head resting against the pillow as she closes her eyes. “The nightmare never ends.”
“You don’t get to quit.” I stand, moving to the foot of the bed. “You did this on purpose. You promised me you wouldn’t give up.”
“Obviously I wasn’t thinking clearly.” Her head turns to the side as she tucks her arms over her chest. “And besides, you killed my mother. So, I’m pretty sure all previous agreements are null and void. So, how about we call it even and you fuck off.”
I state, “I’m not leaving. I’m here because I need you, and I believe you need me too.”
“Believe it or not, Luca, your dick isn’t a cure-all. You don’t get to stand here and pretend like you can fix everything you damaged.”
“Ivy, I—”
“Everything about you, me, us was a lie.” Her breath catches as she sobs, “My entire life is a lie.”
Stepping beside the bed, I reach for her and plead, “I’ll do anything. Just tell me what to do. How to repair us. I can’t lose you.”
She lets out an ear-piercing scream, wailing and thrashing around. “Don’t touch me. Get the fuck away.” A nurse runs in, spotting Ivy who’s still screaming and crying as she repeats, “I hate you. Get out.”
The nurse moves between me and Ivy, her back to me as she says, “You need to go. Now.”
I agree. But my feet don’t because it feels like if I walk out of this room, I’ll never see her again. She’ll hide away. Disappear from my life forever.
“Miss, I need you to calm down,” the nurse tells Ivy before she hollers at me, “I’ll call security if you don’t leave.”
When I don’t move, the nurse continues yelling at me.
Another comes in, trying to help her restrain Ivy before they push a button on the side of the bed.
A third nurse rushes in and inserts a needle into Ivy’s IV.
It’s less than a minute before her shrieks are muffled until she falls asleep.
She looks unsettled, her hair matted to her tear-streaked face.
A hand grabs my arm, tugging me towards the door. When I look over, I see Anthony. He reassures me, “Give her time. She’s been through a great deal.”
Because of me.
Once we’re in the hallway, he says, “I’ll stay with her.”
I know the man well enough to know he’s got a soft spot for her, grown to care about her and it’s the only thing that allows me to go. “Please take care of her.”
He nods. “You have my word.”
This has to be the hardest time I’ve ever had walking away from her. Mainly because I truly worry it’ll be the last time I’m given the chance.