The time went by very slowly as I waited for Jared to wake up. I couldn’t leave his side, fearing he’d open his eyes when I wasn’t there. I wanted my face to be the first thing he’d see as he regained consciousness.

At lunchtime, one of the cops offered me a sandwich and soda, but I had to refuse. I was so anxious that I couldn’t swallow the food because my throat hurt from all my yelling.

I lost track of how much time had passed before my husband finally moved, turning his head to the side slowly and, with difficulty, struggled to open his eyes. At first, he squinted, like he had a headache, and finally opened them wider. He looked at the ceiling for a moment, as if trying to remember where he was. Then he looked around and finally saw my face and he was visibly confused. I smiled and the passion that manifested in his dark eyes caused my emotions to soar, making my heart beat fast.

“Did I die and go to heaven?” He asked, with a lethargic and hoarse voice still influenced by the residual anesthesia.

“No, you didn’t and you won’t. You’re fine and you don’t have cancer.”

Finally, Jared seemed to recall where he was and what he was doing there. He sat up slowly and put his hand on his chest, searching for signs of the surgery. He put one hand on the bed quickly, narrowing his eyes again, like the movement caused him pain.

“What do you mean? Didn’t they proceed with the surgery?”

He looked at the open door, and when he saw the cops guarding the room, he was even more confused and it registered on his face.

“Lay down, Jared. I need to tell you something and you need to be calm to hear it. You don’t have cancer, but you have a heart condition and we need to figure out what it is,” I said seriously.

“What do you mean I don’t have cancer? Why didn’t they do the surgery? Where are the doctors and where is Jeffrey?” Jared spit the questions rapid fire.

“Please, lay down. I’ll tell you everything.”

He hesitated, looking around again, examining the gown he wore, but finally he laid down. “Ok, done. Now, will you please explain what’s happening?”

“I know it will be difficult to hear, but your brother made the story of your cancer up to end your life.” His eyes widened in disbelief, as he looked at me. “Erica and Jeffrey are friends with the doctor who gave you the false diagnosis. They were planning to kill you during surgery.”

“What is this nonsense?” he stammered, startled. “I had two heart attacks. I get tired from physical effort. I am sick.”

“You are, but it’s not enough to warrant surgery. At least, I don’t think so. If it is, you will have to look for a different doctor, because Jeffrey hired this one to kill you.”

“Where did that came from?”

“I’m sorry I have to be the one to tell you that, but your brother and your cousin want you dead.” I hesitated before continuing, wondering how painful it was for him. “They also hired someone to cut the car brakes. The police arrested the man who actually did it. He’s a drug dealer and he confessed to it.”

Jared was so astonished that he raised his hand to his face while he was processing the information. He very slowly raised himself to a sitting position again. “Have you got any idea how absurd this sounds? Why would Jeffrey try to kill me? And Erica?”

“I have no idea.”

“Where are they?”

“In jail. They were arrested after I stopped the surgery.”

He fixed his eyes on me. “Did you stop it?”

“Yes. I couldn’t let them take you from me.”

Jared kept quiet for a moment. Then, he leaned forward and embraced me, holding me against his warm body, putting his face on my hair.

“Thanks for saving my life.”

He brushed his lips on my face until he reached my mouth. I rose to kiss him passionately, filled with desire and love.

Fuck! I loved him too much. I loved him more each moment, infinitely, and knowing I could live with this love, that I wouldn’t lose him again; it was the biggest dream he could make come true for me. There was nothing I wanted more.

“It’s not over yet, Jared. We need to look for a different doctor, a trustworthy one, and find out what you’ve got wrong with your heart,” I said, breathless, after his lips parted from mine.

“Leave this for later. I need to speak with Jeffrey. I want to hear from him why he tried to kill us.”

He got up, went to the room where his clothes were, took off that terrible gown and started to dress.

He was so stubborn! Couldn’t he see he needed to care for his health?

“Jared, please. Listen to me at least this once and leave this for later. Let’s find a reputable doctor to conduct a proper examination. You need to know what the problem is.”

“I can’t. I can’t focus before I talk to that son of a bitch, but I promise tomorrow morning we’ll find a doctor.” It was a waste of time to argue with the man. No one could change his mind.

After dressing, he used his cellphone after recovering it from my purse in the hallway with the cops, and called his limo driver. In just minutes, we left the hospital.

Not in my most secret dream had I expected to leave that place so soon, walking and talking with a somewhat healthier Jared.