I didn’t remember much of the drive to the hospital. All I could remember was the moment Carlos got hit and the fear. The fear that shaded my world in darker colors. He lost consciousness right after the hit, and he didn’t look good at all, bleeding profusely. It was surreal and devastating, and it fed me with unbearable pain that doubled the moment the doctors said he had to have surgery at once.

The driver drove away, leaving the scene right after the collision, and only later, when the shock wore off, the fact that it was Glen’s car hit me, and it made my blood run cold. Had he gone mad? Or maybe he’d always been like that, but I never knew the real him.

Either way, it was difficult for me to grasp the fact that he’d tried to hurt Carlos and me. Or kill us?

I shivered at the thought, nauseous and deeply disturbed. To think that he was capable of that… It was so wrong, and I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to live in fear, but I couldn’t shake it off, afraid of his next move. I hoped the police would catch him and bring him to justice because if not…No. I didn’t want to think about that alternative.

The police officers came soon after they took Carlos in for surgery, and I tried to recollect all the details amid shock and dread for Carlos’s life. We were crossing the street at the crosswalk when a car appeared out of nowhere. It didn’t stop, approaching us at full speed, but before it could hit me, Carlos pushed me to the side and got hit.

I told them about Glen and my relationship with him, putting an emphasis on the fact that he assaulted me twice in my apartment and that I had filed a restraining order against him. They assured me they would check the street cameras first and get to the bottom of the case as soon as possible.

Soon after they left, Nat rushed into the waiting room, pale and frightened.

“Lindsey!” she exclaimed in relief when she saw me. “Oh my goodness! You’re alright.”

I didn’t manage to reply to her, because she pulled me into an almost suffocating hug, shaking against me.

“When you told me about the accident, I imagined all kinds of things...” She cupped my face and peered into it. “Are you alright?”

I nodded, breaking into tears. So far, I managed to keep them at bay, but seeing Nat’s worried face was the last straw, and I turned into a bawling mess.

“Come here.” She pulled me to the nearby chairs and made me sit. She wrapped her arm around me, and I placed my head against her shoulder, sobbing.

“I’m so scared, Nat. He didn’t look good at all, and when I asked the doctors if he was going to live, they couldn’t promise me anything. I don’t know what I’m going to do if he…”

“No. Don’t even think about that. I’m sure he’ll be alright. Have faith in him.”

“I don’t know… He got hit pretty badly.”

“What happened actually? He got hit, but how?”

“We were crossing the street on our way to my place, and the car drove into us right in the middle of the road. Carlos pushed me to the side before I could get hit and then…”

“Oh gosh.”

“He saved me. And then he got hit, and I’m so afraid. What if he doesn’t survive? I’m telling myself to stay positive, but it’s hard.”

“I know, but you have to be. You’ll only drive yourself crazy if you keep thinking like this. I can’t believe that driver! Why didn’t he stop?”

I sniffed and leaned away to look at her. “I’m 100% sure it was Glen. He fled the scene, but it was his car.”

Her eyes budged out, her already pale face growing paler. “What do you want to say?”

“He did that on purpose. He wanted to hit Carlos or me. Maybe even both of us.”

She placed her hand over her mouth, shocked into silence.

“I talked to the police and told them about him and our past. I can only hope they’ll get him.”

“It’s hard for me to believe that Glen would do such a thing. For Christ’s sake, I used to support you two and think about the names of your children! And now…”

I let out a hollow chuckle, my chest hurting with venom that coursed through me. “And now he’s this lunatic who’ll stop at nothing to have things his own way. But to think he’s ready for anything…” I rubbed my upper arms. “I don’t know what he’ll do next. He could do anything!”

She ran her hand through my hair, but the touch wasn’t as soothing as she wanted it to be. “Whatever happens, I’ll be here with you and help you get through it. He won’t get away with this. I’ll testify against him if needed. I’ll tell the police everything I know about the bastard. I’m sure he’ll rot in jail for a long time.”

“I can only hope, Nat. I can only hope.”

She looked at me for a long time, studying my face. “You really like Carlos, don’t you?”

I nodded, staring at my hands. “I love him.”

“Wow. I didn’t know it was that serious, but I’m so happy for you.”

I met her gaze. “He’s something else. He’s always caring, and he helped me with my demons. He made me trust in him when I struggled with the trust the most, and knowing that he is there fighting for his life… He didn’t deserve this. I just want him to wake up and be okay. He has to recover.”

“Has his family been contacted?”

“Yes, I called them right away. Luckily, his father speaks some English. They’re catching a flight early in the morning.”

“Good. He’ll be okay. He’s in good hands now. You’ll see. He will wake up in no time.”

I could only hope.

We spent the rest of the night waiting for the surgery to end. Each time someone came out of the operating room, I got a sinking feeling, expecting the worst, only to hear that I needed to wait longer. The waiting was killing me.

It was early in the morning when the same police officers from earlier appeared in the waiting room, and I rose to my shaky feet.

“Any news, officers?” I asked them.

“We stopped by to inform you that we found the driver an hour ago and have him in custody. He is indeed your ex-boyfriend.”

I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath. I released it, leaning against Nat for support, who stopped next to me.

“Thank goodness,” she said.

“And since we have him on street cameras, we have proof of an attempted murder. I can assure you that he will be in jail for a long time.”

The news brought immense relief, but I couldn’t relax just yet with the uncertainty around Carlos.

A half an hour later, the doctors finally came out, ending the surgery.

“Doctor Donovan?” I rushed to him, ignoring the exhaustion that made my body sluggish. “How is Carlos? Is he going to be alright?”

He smiled, and the ice that formed in me last night started to thaw. “The surgery went well, and Carlos is in stable condition.”

I whipped my gaze at Nat, grabbing her shoulder excitedly. “He’s alright.” I burst into happy tears, unable to control myself. “He’s alright. Thank you so much, doctor. Thank you for saving him.”

“Don’t thank me. It’s all on him. He’s a young, strong man, and I’m sure he’ll make an impressive recovery. Now, why don’t you go home and get some rest? We’ll transfer him to his room, but the meds will keep him sleeping at least until noon.”

“Yes, Lindsey. You should do that,” Natalie agreed. “You look worn out.”

“I would rather stay in his room, if that’s possible,” I said, looking at the doctor for permission. There was no way I would separate myself from Carlos. I needed to be here in case he woke up earlier.

“If that is what you want, of course.”

“Thank you.”

Nat stayed with me until they brought him to his room, and then she left for her work. I didn’t know how I would go through last night if I hadn’t had her. I had to make it up to her later.

When I entered the room, the knot in my stomach lessened at the sight of him. He looked weak, but he was in one piece, and nothing mattered but that.

I took a seat next to his bed and caught his hand, wishing I could wipe away his pain and pull him out of this. My eyes traced the lines of his pallid face, my heart contracting with pain when I spotted the intravenous line ending at his elbow. He never looked more fragile, but the doctor said he would recover, so the worst had passed.

He saved me. He pushed me away from the car in the last possible moment instead of just saving himself, and I couldn’t even begin to explain how I felt about that heroic act. I could never thank him enough for this.

I waited patiently for him to wake up, not moving from my spot even when my stomach growled. Nat brought me a sandwich this morning, forcing me to eat it even though I had zero appetite, but I couldn’t force myself to eat again. Not until he opened his eyes.

It was close to noon when he stirred for the first time, and soon after, his eyes fluttered open.

“Carlos!” I jumped to my feet and grasped his arm, my heart beating a mile a minute. He woke up. “You woke up.”

For a couple of seconds, he looked at me with a confused expression on his face, his gaze unfocused, but then his eyes cleared.

“Lindsey,” he said hoarsely. “You’re okay.”

Only now I realized I was shaking, relieved and happy that he was okay. “Silly. Don’t worry about me. I’m completely fine. It’s you who got hit.”

He half-smiled and raised his arm to touch my cheek. He winced as if the movement brought him pain, but he didn’t drop his arm, his fingers caressing my cheek.

“How are you feeling?”

“Everything hurts, but it’s not that bad.”

“You’ve undergone surgery for internal bleeding right after they brought you to the hospital. The doctor says you’re going to be fine, but don’t overdo it.” I caught his hand and put it back on the bed, my chest aching to see him hurt.

His lips curled into another of his heart-melting smiles. “You’re really worried about me.”

“And how can I not be?” I stroked his forehead, tears springing to my eyes. “You saved me, Carlos. I can’t thank you enough for what you did for me on that road. No one has ever done what you’ve done for me, and I feel I’ll never be able to repay that.”

“You don’t have to say that or repay anything. I would do it all again.” The tears spilled from my eyes and he raised his hand to wipe them away. “Please, don’t cry.”

“I’m so sorry. And I’m sorry because of Glen.”

“Glen?”

“He was the one driving that car. He did that on purpose. He wanted to kill us.”

“Hijueputa! He’s crazy!”

“Thankfully, the police caught him, and he’s in custody now. The officers say they have enough proof and can easily build a case against him. He’ll be in jail for a long time.”

“That’s good to hear. But most importantly, you’re safe.” He took my hand, his eyes full of love. “At that moment, I didn’t even care about myself. I just needed you safe.”

I shook my head, fresh tears coating my cheeks, and I brushed them away. “Seriously, thank you, thank you, thank you.” I kissed him on the forehead, then on the cheek, and then on his lips.

“I mean it, Lindsey. I would do it again because I love you. I love you so much, mi amor.”

“I love you too. You have no idea how much.”

I cupped his face and pressed my lips on his, savoring this kiss more than all others we shared in the past. It was different because I could have lost him, and this felt like a gift. Every kiss and second from now on would be a gift, and I appreciated him and the moments spent with him even more.

I poured all my love into the contact of our lips and kissed him with all I had. I could feel another part of me healing little by little, hope and joy conquering all my insecurities and pain. I was getting stronger and healthier next to him, and this was just the beginning. He was my future.

“Stay with me,” he said after I pulled away, referring to me staying in the room, but for me, it meant much more. Of course, I would stay. He didn’t even need to ask.

“I will stay with you,” I whispered above his lips and planted another kiss on them. “I will stay today, tomorrow, and forever.”