Life had been slipping out of my hands as I had sat there holding Norberto's numb body in my arms. But finally the fighting instincts had thankfully kicked in and I had rushed out to Chris. Grabbing his cell phone from his jacket pocket, I had unlocked it using his index finger and dialed the emergency medical service number.
Most of what followed is still fuzzy in my mind. All I remember is that within minutes emergency paramedics had arrived at the scene. They had looked visibly surprised to find one surviving woman around so many wounded men but fortunately none of them had commented on the same. Later on, police had met me and recorded my statement but fortunately Norberto's clout had helped to keep things quiet despite the scandalous revelations. I had to reach out to Norberto's Companies senior executives to request them to keep it all under cover from the media and they had done everything to not let me, their chief's new wife, down.
I wanted Chris and his men to suffer worst kind of punishment, but that all could wait. At that moment my only concern was to see to it that Norberto and Albert were all right. It had taken more than twenty four hours before the doctors had finally confirmed that both of them had been operated and that Albert was out of danger.
I had almost collapsed as the news had finally registered and my body which had been under intense stress, fearing for the worst, had finally given in. They had had to admit me in the hospital. Couple of intravenous feeds and few hours of sleep, my body had recovered from the after effects of the worst night of my life and I had sprang up to get out of that hospital bed.
The doctors had been strongly against the decision, advising I should rest more but it was impossible to lie in a bed when I knew Norberto and Albert needed me. Plus, I still didn't know how Norberto was doing. I had fought with the doctor telling him I was absolutely fine and that I needed to be with them right away. He had resisted but seeing my resolve, he had finally given in and accepted for me to be released.
The moment, I had been released, I had immediately looked out for Albert and Norberto. I was informed that while Albert was still serious, he had been shifted to a room. He continued to be under observation, but his condition was improving. The bullet had missed causing any serious injury to his internal organs but due to heavy loss of blood, he was still weak and needed time to recuperate.
I found Albert sleeping in his room. He had a large bandage running across his chest over his right shoulder. To my worried eyes, he appeared to have lost weight and sick but fortunately there was a calmness on his face. I hoped and prayed that he felt better too even though his physical body may take a little longer to fully heal. I wish I could have spoken to him but the nurse told me she had administered pain killers along with his medicines so that he could sleep peacefully. It would be long before he woke up. Not wanting to leave, I struggled with my emotions. But I knew I couldn't possibly be of any help to him and that he needed all the rest without any unwanted distraction I may cause like I always did in his peaceful life. I sat next to him for long before gathering enough strength to get up. Placing a light quick kiss on his left cheek, I finally turned around and left the room.
I was worried about Albert, indeed I was and I hated to compare my feelings for them but what I was feeling for Norberto was beyond comprehension. It was impossible to be expressed in words. An unimaginable fear gripped my heart as I moved towards the ICU where Norberto was still being treated.
Doctors had said it was lucky that he had reached the hospital just in time but the amount of badgering his body had suffered, it was surprising, he had endured it so long without giving up. Besides the lacerations on his back caused by the knife injury, which had miraculously escaped his lung capacity, he had suffered multiple injuries and internal bleeding causing severe physical trauma and possibility of long term damage. Apart from these, he had even broken few of his ribs along with several of his muscles, tendons and ligaments had been torn causing both internal and external injuries.
But the biggest cause of concern was the blood clot MRI scan had detected in his brain. Some forceful external injury had caused blood to clot, impacting the overall supply of blood to his brain.
He hadn't woken up or come to his senses since going numb in my arms in that basement. The doctors had immediately taken him for critical surgery which had taken hours to get over. Once it was over, the doctors had confirmed to have removed the clot from his brain as well as operated on rest of his body as well. They informed that the surgery was completed successfully but we still didn't know what would be the impact of the same. There was a time when his brain had been deprived of the blood and therefore oxygen, and that could have any kind of short term or long term repurcursions - memory loss, speech or hearing impairment, blurring of eye sight, partial or full body paralysis. I had fought with the fear as the doctor had explained the probabilities of any this happening to Norberto for a short or long term. The immediate real test was for him to wake up. If he didn't wake up in less twenty four to forty eight hours post surgery, they would have to declare him to be in coma.
Even as I was walking towards the ICU, I was informed that he had still not woken up. I stood in front of the ICU, staring across the glass facade at his heavily bandaged body. It's been twenty hours since the surgery but still no sign of response from him. I wanted to go in, touch him, speak to him but it was denied. The doctors said it was not safe for him and that the surroundings had to be kept infection free.
I didn't want any risk for Norberto and though my heart cried, I agreed to staying out. Holding my heart in my nervous hands, I waited for some news of his recovery but despite several medical attendants going in and out, none brought the news I was waiting for. It was several hours before there was a change.
"Mrs Fritz... Mrs Fritz,"
Somebody was calling out to me but I couldn't hear it properly. Slowly the voice grew louder and louder till I felt a slight nudge on my shoulders. Forcing my droopy eyes open, I saw a nurse speaking to me.
"Mrs Fritz, come. You can come inside the ICU," she said to me.
I must have fallen asleep standing outside the ICU but hearing her now my sleep disappeared. Jerking up to stand, I asked worriedly, "Is Norberto all right? Has he woken up?"
"No, Mrs Fritz. There is no change in Mr Fritz situation but you have been waiting here for twelve hours, I thought, may be you would like to take a closer look," she replied gingerly.
"Is it safe? Can I really go in? Can we go in now?" I was both excited and worried.
"Uhmmm... If you would come this way. The doctor is away for few hours. And I could see you desperately wanted to come in," she paused. "I know it's been almost thirty six hours since the surgery. He should have woken up. Sometimes it helps to have someone who loves around the patient," she explained quietly. She was an elderly lady, but I could see her looking at me sympathetically. She understands.
"You can come in for some time but we will have to follow some precautions," she added quickly.
"Yes, yes, ofcourse. I understand," I readily agreed and followed her into a small room next to the ICU. She ensure I changed into a cleaned uniform and help me follow the disinfectant routine, before taking me to the door to the ICU.
"You can go in now. I will let you know before the doctor returns. If you need anything, ring the bell inside." With that she was gone, may be to look after another patient or provide support to another attendant waiting for their loved ones.
I took a deep breath and stepped inside. My breath hitched up and an unbearable pain shot through my heart as I kept going closer to Norberto. I was afraid, I would give in to this tremendous urge to break into tears, but I couldn't give in. I had to be strong, for Norberto, for myself.
I stood next to his bed and reached out my right hand to touch him.
Can I touch him? I wondered.
My fingers tentatively touched his left hand. He was cold but placing my hand on his arm, I could immediately feel his warmth spreading all my body.
A small voice whispered in my head, Stay strong. He needs you.
I repeated the words aloud to convince me of them. "I am here. I will always be here with you."
I stood there long holding his hand in my hands. He was breathing very softly as if it was an effort in itself. Most of his body was bandaged, but fortunately his hands were free. I had no idea of what was happening inside his head or his battered body, but the fact that I was holding him in my hands, kept making me pray and hope that he would be okay soon.
The kind nurse came in once and gave me a small stool to sit next to Norberto's bed. There were several tubes inserted in his body and for once I was afraid she might scold me for touching his hands, but she didn't and left as quietly as she had come.
It had been almost thirty six hours but there was no response from Norberto. Things were looking darker and darker but I kept praying. Darkness was not knew for us. Both Norbwrto and me had always been engulfed with darkness but life still found a way around all that darkness. A small ray of hope kept building up and telling me I should keep hoping. I was still holding his hands telling him as well as myself that he would be fine soon, when his fingers stirred in my palms. I was immediately frozen at the touch.
Sitting up straight, I stared at his hand and saw the fingers moving slowly.
"Norberto?"
His face twitched, a slight movement of his eyes under his eyelids. Yes, there was definitely a reaction.
"Norberto, can you hear me. Answer me, please! Doctor! Sister! Sister! He is moving!"
I rushed towards the door to call the nurse back but I guess she had already heard my screams. She came in hurriedly and went straight to Norberto. She checked him and he moved his hands again.
"I will have to call the doctor, Ma'am. Please come with me," she said turning to me.
"No, please, I need to be here. Let me be with him," I pleaded to her but she had handled many relatives like me. She knew what had to be done and yet she was kind.
"He is all right. He is waking up and doctor will have to check him to ensure that everything is fine. He wouldn't be able to do it with you here and he would definitely not be very happy that I let you in without his permission. So, please come with me," she held my hand and took me outside.
Then without waiting for my reply she went back to get the doctor. They were there within few minutes and rushed inside the ICU. Next fifteen minutes were like torture for me while I waited for them to tell me what was happening.
Finally the doctor emerged out of the ICU and confirmed Norberto was out of the danger. He had woken up briefly and was responding to the treatment. He physical abilities, eye sight, hearing, etc seemed fine and they were hopeful that his overall condition would improve in few weeks. But it would be a slow process and that I needed to be patient with him.
I was more than happy to be patient with him. I would spend my full life taking care of him. I was just simply relieved that he had woken up after the surgery and that the most difficult part of this treatment was over.
"Can I meet him?"
"Uhmm, okay. You can meet him but please remember, it would be sometime before he fully recovered or for that matter even woke up again. It might take few more hours. Like I said, be patient with him." The doctor responded thoughtfully.
"Yes, yes, I understand. I won't disturb him. I just need to be with him," I replied with happiness.
The doctor smiled and walked away. Few steps away he turned and said,
"You are a strong woman, Mrs Fritz. He is lucky to have you by his side."
I was touched by the doctor's words and smiled in gratitude but only if he knew the truth. I had never been by Norberto's side. Never. He had been living the life of a lonely soul and despite everything that we had shared, I had never been for him when he needed me.
Stepping back into the room, I saw his quite face and heavily bandaged body. The doctors had said the road to complete recovery would be long and slow but the good news was that it had started.
The road to recovery, the road to getting back together, the road to our love had started and I was not stepping back ever on this road.
********************
Dear Lovely Readers,
The month of love, Valentine's, is back and so am I, with our heroes!
Norberto and Albert are both out of danger, as you had all wanted and soon they would be back to their normal lives. Well, as normal as their lives can be :)
WLAHC is really really drawing to a close. I just need to tie few loose ends together. Would you like that, a little more details from Norberto's point of view? Let me know in the comments below if you would like that or any other thing that I need to address. Not to forget how you found this chapter (it's still not edited so please ignore if there are some errors)
Well, stay tuned in as we bid goodbye to our beloved characters very soon - Melanie, Albert and Norberto!
Till next time, lots of love,
Anna