47
SELENA
It happened. The thing I dreaded most in my life. Lucien collapsed today and had to be rushed to the hospital. I was with him every step of the way, holding his hand, sobbing, trying to be strong.
Now we all stand around his hospital bed. All of us who love him so much, staring at his handsome, peaceful face. He collapsed right after Sabrina and Rohit's wedding. He had to be rushed immediately. I thought we would have more time. I knew this moment was coming, but nothing ever prepares you for losing your husband. The love of your life. The man who found me and brought me back to myself.
Sabrina and Rohit delayed everything. They didn't even change out of their wedding attire. They're still standing here. Rohit holding her as she cries. Aunt Carol is consoling Mum while Mum holds my hand, also sobbing.
The doctors told us he's reached his end stages. That we should say our goodbyes. But how do you say goodbye to a man who made you a woman?
None of this was fair. I imagined growing old with him. Playing Bingo. Him letting me win. I imagined our kids visiting us for the holidays. I would cook while he pretended to help. I wanted our children to witness the love between their father and me. I wanted to show them that sometimes the love others call stable or boring wins. Because sometimes love is just loving someone for existing. And Lucien did just that.
If I thought the worst thing that ever happened to me was Kai's rejection, I was wrong. Being second choice was nothing compared to being first choice to someone who couldn't stay. Not because they didn't want to, but because life had other plans.
Lucien opened his eyes. He looked at all of us crying. And he smiled. He looked at each of us, one by one.
"Aunt Carol? Do you approve of me now?"
She sobbed and nodded, squeezing his hand before leaving to give us privacy.
He reached for Mum. She took his hand, still crying.
"Did you hear? You're going to be a grandmother."
She cried harder. He wiped her tears gently. "Take care of both my babies." He looked at me. "And yourself."
She broke completely, holding him. "Thank you for coming into my daughter's life and bringing her joy and light, even if it was for a short time. We love you, my son. Rest well."
She kissed his forehead and rushed out before she could fall apart completely.
I was already crying uncontrollably.
Sabrina and Rohit stepped forward.
"I'm sorry I ruined your wedding," he said.
"You never could, brother," Rohit replied, his voice breaking. "Thank you for coming. You're just leaving way too soon. I would have loved for us to be brothers-in-law."
"I would have loved that too. But God had other plans."
Sabrina sobbed harder. He reached up and touched her face.
"Thank you for letting me be part of the wedding. Thank you for being a great sister to my girl over there." He glanced at me. "You know, the one crying so much and pretending she's not so I don't feel bad."
I cried even harder at that.
"You're going to be amazing in India, little sister."
She hugged him tightly. "Thank you for giving me courage. And thank you for loving my sister the way she deserved."
They said their goodbyes and stepped away. Sabrina squeezed my hand as she passed me.
Then it was just us.
He looked at me. Tears in his eyes.
"Hey. Come here."
I ran to him. Completely breaking. He pulled me into his arms, kissing my forehead.
"You're going to be strong for me. And for my baby. I left everything I own to you and—"
"Let's not waste time talking about that."
"I wish..." My voice shattered. "I wish you didn't have to leave."
"Me too, little love. Me too. But meeting you was the best moment of my life."
"Your best moment? Lucien Thorne, are you trying to steal my best moment?"
"Selena Thorne, I am guilty as charged. What's the punishment?"
"Being my husband in every lifetime."
He nodded. We both cried.
"Thank you for giving me my dreams. Thank you for showing me what love really is. Every bad moment in my life doesn't seem so bad anymore, because they all led me to you."
"Thank you for making me a first choice. And thank you for giving me the family I always wanted."
"Thank you for letting me."
He held my face gently. "But promise me. Promise me you will live. Promise me you won't break and go back to the girl you were when I found you. Promise me."
"I will live. But I will never love again. Because my love story has been completed. It may not have started with you, but it ends with you."
"I'll wait for you up there."
"And I will come."
"You're ridiculous."
"Your ridiculous."
"Don't leave me."
"Never."
I held him. We kissed.
For the first time in my life, I was loved right. And for the first time in my life, I had to let him go.