SIERRA'S POV:
Slowly, I open my eyes, trying to adjust with the lightning and observing the the surroundings. I knew I'm in a hospital room as the memories flushed back. Slowly, I tried to sit up, the pain from my wounds served as a stark reminder of the battle I had suffered.
Adrian, wearing his doctor's coat, entered the room and offering a gentle, supportive hand to help me sit up. His presence was reassuring and I drew strength from it. As I glanced down at the bandages covering my wounds and scars I couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions—Relief that I have survived, gratitude for Adrian's care and a lingering sense of guilt.
Adrian sat beside me on bed, his eyes filled with concern, "Do you feel better?" He asked softly but with firmness that can't be ignored. I met his gaze and nodded, my voice creaky as I replied, "Yes, I do."
His concern deepened and he continued his voice still gentle, "Why don't you tell me Sierra? Am I not trustworthy? You shouldn't have faced this alone." As he spoke, his concerns and love washing over me and I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of shame and guilt.
I lowered my head unable to meet his gaze and in a voice barely above a whisper, I uttered two vulnerable words. "Hug me." Adrian looks at me for a brief moment and without a second thought he wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly against his chest. In that embrace I found solace and a safe heaven where I could let my guard down. Tears welled up in my eyes as I buried my face in his shoulder, overwhelmed by the flood of emotions I had been suppressing.
I cry softly, my body trembling with the weight of my confession. Over and over I kept saying, "I'm sorry." As if words could somehow absolve me of my guilt. My head nestled against his chest, I continued to speak, my voice shaking, "I never had the courage to tell...to burden you with all this Adrian. It's not that I don't trust you, its just...sometimes, it's hard for me."
Adrian's embrace tightened, offering silent reassurance that he understands, that he is there for me no matter what. As we broke the embrace Adrian reached out to hold my hands, his thumb gently stroking the back of it.
"Little girl, you're never a burden to me and remember I'm not leaving you alone. I'll be here for you always and forever." He said wiping my tears with his thumb. I felt a wave of emotions wash over me, gratitude, love and the weight of his words sinking in.
Adrian and I were sharing a moment of comfort and connection wrapped in our own world, when a sudden knock on the door disrupted our moment. We turned to see Alex and Mira standing there with mischievous grins and pretending to cough as if they had just stumbled upon something they shouldn't have.
As they entered the room and asked how I was doing I couldn't help but smile. There presence is like a breath of fresh air with humor and lightheartedness. "I'm good," I replied my voice still tinged with the emotions of the past events. And for a while Mira and Alex cracked up some jokes to make me feel better and to be honest it worked. I chuckled lightly easing myself with the present moments.
Mira with a playful glint in her eyes she announced to Alex and Adrian, "Cera and i need to have a little talk together, privately." Alex and Adrian in a dramatic play protested loudly with fake shock and heartbreak at the idea of being excluded.
"No, no you can't leave us out of this!" They exclaimed. However, after a dramatic play and with exaggerated sighs they made their exist, leaving Mira and me alone in the room. Mira sat beside me and gently inquiring about Felix's motives and for a moment I hesitated.
How could I explain the tangle web of revenge that led us to that horrifying confrontation?
Taking a deep breath, I finally spoke, my voice soft and weighed down with the burden of my past.
"Mira, Felix wanted to kill me because of revenge," I told choosing my words Carefully. Mira's eyes searched mine, her curiosity evident. "Revenge?" She echoed, waiting for me to continue.
"In my younger days I went through countless struggles and difficulties all because of my dad's actions and Felix was also trapped in the web of cruelty. So he wanted to settle the score to make me pay for the sins of my past." Mira's expression shifted from curiosity to understanding and she nodded without pressing anymore further.
"How did you end up with Felix?" I asked. It was a question which kept on lingering in my mind. Mira hesitated for a moment before beginning her explanation. "I was out for a casual walk, when Felix approached me. He told me that you wanted to meet me urgently and took me along with him."
My heart sank at those words. I realized that Felix had used my name as bait to pull Mira into this trap. It was a manipulative tactic that had ultimately led her to being hostage.
"Why did you listen to him?"I asked softly, searching for answers.
"I knew I shouldn't have but Felix seemed convincing. He mentioned that you were in trouble and needed my help and I couldn't ignore the thought that you were in trouble and needed my help." I nodded, understanding the complex mix of fears, concerns and manipulation that had led her to make that fateful choice.
With a heavy heart, I asked about our rescue and Mira's response brought tears to my eyes. "Adrian and Alex got suspicious when neither of us answered the calls. They contacted the police and when they learned about what happened to you last night and realized we both were missing, they took immediate action. They tracked us down." The words touched me deeply and I controlled my tears.
"When they found us you were covered in blood, Adrian carried you in his arms as your blood stained his clothes. He was determined to save you Cera. And now as you were laughing and talking with us, he couldn't take his off you. Cera he loves you deeply." My heart swelled for his infinite love he has shown me and I felt just one thing as I recollected our memories.
How beautiful it is that I have found a heart like Adrian, who loves me unconditionally, only desiring for my happiness and well being without even asking for anything in return.
Just then Adrian and Alex returned to the room, accompanied by a guy who appeared to be slightly younger than Adrian. Adrian introduced us saying, "Sierra, this is Asher. The one I told you, who stays with me at the apartment sometimes. He is a police man."
I nodded giving Asher a polite smile. Asher extended his hand for a handshake but to my surprise, Adrian playfully shaked his hand with him saying, "No need for formalities here. You can just talk casually." A hint of playful jealousy colored at Adrian's words and I couldn't help but smile at his possessiveness. Mira and Alex shared a silent chuckle at the exchange.
Asher settled beside me on the chair and the others stood nearby. I exchanged a brief glance with Asher and he silently reassured me while nodding. Asher began with his questions and the room grew quite. His first inquiry was direct and to the point.
"What's your relationship with Felix?" I hesitated for a moment, casting a brief glance around everyone. Then with a touch of uncertainty in my voice, "Felix was no one to me. He was my dad's friend's son. We never met nor did we speak to eachother." Asher nods, absorbing my answer.
"Then why did he try to kill you?" I took a deep breath before answering, "He wanted revenge."
"Revenge?" He inquired his gaze steady on me. I nodded, my gaze briefly shifting to Mira and Adrian. I hadn't shared this information with them before and I knew it might come as a shock. "My dad killed Felix's dad over some money. And now Felix came to take revenge on me because of what my dad had done."
The room felt silent and I took a glance at Adrian as he was clenching his jaws with anger. Then he asked about the danger i had faced last night. I told him that they were his men and he ordered them to kill me. Then came the question I had been dreading—Why haven't I informed the police when Felix had called me to that omnious location. My response carried the weight of my fears and guilt, "I wanted to but Felix threatened to kill Mira if I told anyone. And I couldn't bear the thought of losing her, so I kept silent and agreed to him."
As I explained my reasons I saw a nod of understanding from Asher and then he left the room with Adrian, presumably to discuss what he had learned. After they both went, my mind couldn't help but wonder back to the omnious place where Felix had called me. At first, as I entered the rusty broken down house, a sense of deja vu had washed over me. It was as if I knew this place but I couldn't quite figure it out. However, as the battle between Felix and me continued, something caught my eye—childish drawings and writing written on the walls. And in that moment it all became clear. This house wasn't just an abandoned building, it was the very place where in my younger days, I had taken a life—Felix's dad on my father's command.
The flood of memories and guilt washed over me like a tsunami. I didn't want to confront the past, to relieve those horrors. But as the battle had raged on, Felix said—It was either him or me. One of us had to die, that's when I decided to free myself from the relentless ghosts of my past. And so in that moment of desperation I killed him with all my strength.
A week later
After a week of healing in Adrian's hospital I was finally released. It had been a challenging and emotional week, but the support of my friends and the care of Adrian had made it bearable. Mira and Alex visited me everyday. Mira would sit by my bedside and tells me all the college gossips and stories, ensuring I didn't feel disconnected from the outside world.
Adrian had gone above and beyond to make my recovery as comfortable as possible. He had surprised me with a TV with Netflix in my personal room, knowing that I needed entertainment to keep boredom away. The variety of shows and movies kept me engaged during the quieter moments of my hospital stay. And not to mention, Adrian had even hired a personal cheif who prepared meal according to my dietary requirements.
His gestures made me feel cared and loved in every possible way. And despite his demanding schedule as a doctor, Adrian found time to check on me regularly. His presence brought me comfort and reassurance. He would sit by side and we would talk continuously, non stop, sometimes in early morning or late night and at those moments, I realized that I hadn't felt this happy in many years.
And as for the case with Felix, the police had closed it. There was simply no evidence or reason to suspect me of any wrongdoing. And the police had throughly investigated the incident, it declared as a desperate justifiable act of self preservation. The men who had attacked on me were arrested, not only for their attack on me but also for their connections to drug activities.
After my release from the hospital, we had exams. Mira had told me about our upcoming final exams and I was determined to excel and get my bachelor's degree. My time was divided between preparing for these exams and my part time job at the Heavens cafe. However, there was one constant presence that made me happy—Adrian.
Adrian with his unconditional support and affection became my anchor during my exam days. He would accompany me on late night walks by the serene lake, a calming ritual that had helped me ease the stress of exams. And his sweet gestures like surprising me with my favorite chocolates, never failed to bring a smile to my face. But what touched me the most were his words of encouragement. He praised my dedication and hardwork, something I had never received from my parents.