“I’m sorry, Vanessa. I only wanted you to notice me… No one ever taught me how to love someone.”
“Please… Just don’t die. Hate me if you want, despise me if you have to – just please live…”
I didn’t respond. Silence would be my only parting gift to Ethan.
Saving him had been purely a moral obligation. That day by the sea, I hadn’t even realized it was him. There were too many coincidences in life. He’d been drowning, and I’d just happened to know how to swim.
The hospital security finally escorted Ethan out, leaving Adrian and Jonah behind. Bella hovered just outside the door, hesitating to come in. When I glanced in her direction, Adrian instinctively stepped in to block my view. Maybe Ethan had stirred a hint of insecurity in him because, for once, Adrian actually tried to explain himself.
“You’ve got it wrong. The only reason I didn’t come visit you these past few days was because Bella wasn’t feeling well. I was taking her to the hospital, back and forth. I just didn’t have the time.”
“Really?” I asked with feigned disinterest. “And what hospital did you go to?”
He hesitated, lowering his head in silence. He couldn’t answer because he knew I’d been at the same hospital. The second he confirmed it, his excuse would crumble.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t had time to see me – he simply hadn’t wanted to.
Adrian exhaled, about to respond, when Jonah’s frantic cry interrupted.
“Dad! Bella’s passed out!”
