Velia screamed. Her eyes closed, and in the explosion of her heart, she rebelled. She wanted to break free, but the embrace held her tightly.
“Why did you stop me, Luc?! I can’t bear to live anymore!”
Lucas could see the truth in Velia’s words. His clear eyes were more than enough to convey the pain. There were too many wounds and tears there. She had surpassed her limits to endure.
“Let me go, Luc! Let go!”
He would not. Lucas tightened his embrace, disregarding Velia’s resistance. He let her continue shedding tears and delivering punches. It did not matter; he would accept it all. Whatever Velia did, however much she wanted to, he would accept it.
“I just want to die, Luc. I can’t take it anymore. Please, let me die.”
“No. I beg you,” Lucas pleaded in a hoarse voice. All his sadness was palpable, and he begged desperately. “Don’t do that.”
Velia did not care. Lucas’s pleas held no meaning in the face of desperation and exhaustion that had engulfed her. She could not bear it anymore and chose to surrender. Perhaps that was the only way for her to stop suffering.
“You can punish me. You can do anything to me. Whatever it is, I won’t refuse. I’ll accept all your punishments. I beg you.”
Velia’s sobbing intensified. Each plea from Lucas brought forth a torrent of tears.
“I want you to stay alive, Ve. I beg you. Blame me. Punish me until you’re satisfied. I’ll accept it. I’ll accept everything. Tell me what you want. I’ll do anything to redeem your pain.”
Velia screamed. This was no longer suffering. It was a tangible form of hell.
Her eyes closed. Velia desperately wanted to reject the reality in front of her. Unfortunately, the more she resisted, the more vivid the truth became ingrained in her mind. The mother of the man she loved had taken away her own parents. She had lost everything.
“Luc.”
A mournful whimper escaped her lips. Her chest felt constricted, suffocating her. The few words Velia uttered brought hope to Lucas.
“Yes, Ve?”
“Now, I just don’t want to see you anymore.”
“You…”
The bitterness was too difficult for Lucas to swallow. Moreover, he knew he would not be able to bear it.
“… need time to calm down.”
Velia shook her head within Lucas’s embrace. “I don’t want to see you for the rest of my life.”
“Ve.”
Lucas loosened the embrace. He gently wiped Velia’s cold face. He offered all his tenderness in an effort to not hurt her in the slightest. It was as if he feared that she would be more wounded by his touch. It was difficult, but he tried to smile.
“I’ll wait for you. You can take as much time as you need to calm down, and I’ll still wait. I have plenty of time to wait for you, but I beg you.”
Once, Lucas shook his head. The cuts and wounds that sliced through him hoped not to be torn deeper.
“Never say that you don’t want to see me for the rest of your life.”
Velia closed her eyes. Tears seeped through and flowed down her cheeks.
“You know how much I love you, Ve. You know I-”
“This love is destroying us all.”
Velia’s words cut off Lucas’s sentence. Her words slapped him with an undeniable reality.
“There’s nothing left between us. So please, Luc,” Velia pleaded, her eyes open as she looked at Lucas with tears streaming down. “Let me go. Let me live without you. Let me live out the rest of this meaningless life.”
Lucas shook his head. Velia’s request was impossible for him. He could not possibly do it.
Seven years Lucas had spent in solitude. He was willing to pass time after time in the effort to find and reunite with Velia. For that, he was sure, it did not matter to go through thousands of similar seven-year periods. But not when Velia said it all so clearly.
Velia’s desire to live without Lucas was a curse. Lucas could easily imagine what his future would be like without her. Empty. Silent. Meaningless.
No. Lucas did not want that to happen.
“I can’t, my love. You have to know what has kept me going all this time. It’s the hope of having you.”
Undoubtedly, Velia’s heart felt an excruciating pain. Lucas’s plea tore at her emotions, crushing her heart until it became shapeless. However, Velia did not want to experience any more suffering.
“I beg you, Luc. Only by parting ways can both of us live in peace.”
Lucas shook his head. “No.”
“I don’t want you in my life anymore, Luc. I don’t want you to keep showing up all the time-”
Velia’s words hung in the air. All her words vanished when she realized something. Her face lifted, and she looked at Lucas with confusion.
“Why do you know I’m here, Luc? How did you find me?”
Velia’s questioning gaze cornered Lucas. His scrutinizing gaze left him speechless.
“Carter doesn’t know where I am. So how did you find me?”
Lucas couldn’t answer Velia’s question. He tried to find a reason, but the situation rendered him unable to say anything.
Velia’s confusion grew. Her astonishment made her wonder even more.
The phone in Velia’s pocket rang at the right moment. It was a call from the hospital, interrupting all the chaos.
Lucas briefly saw the name that appeared on the phone’s screen. His face hardened as he watched Velia answer the call.
“Hello.”
Lucas remained silent. He continued to observe Velia, who was serious during the hospital call. Motionless and waiting, he noticed a change in Velia’s facial expression.
“Oh, God.”
Velia covered her mouth in an uncontrollable gasp. Tears fell once again, but this time, they were accompanied by relief. She stood up.
Lucas did not need much time to confirm his guess. A moment later, he heard Velia speak.
“Thank you. I will come there immediately.”
Lucas was taken aback. The dark cloud that had been hovering over Velia instantly disappeared. It was replaced by a glimmer of relief.
The call ended. The good news Velia received filled her with immeasurable gratitude. She continued to express her gratitude until something caught her attention.
Velia looked at Lucas. The man seemed unresponsive to the call he received. Lucas appeared emotionless, which prompted Velia to ask.
“Do you know about Harry?”
Of course. If Lucas knew about the accident tragedy, then it was certain that he also knew who the victims were.
“How long have you known about this, Luc?”
“A few days after you returned to work.”
Velia was shocked. “It’s been that long, and you acted as if you knew nothing? Th-then you knew the reason I came back to you?”
“I knew,” Lucas confessed helplessly. “I knew you were willing to do all of that just for Harry’s recovery. I knew.”
“And yet, you remained silent?”
“What could I do, Ve?”
Distraught, Lucas looked truly pitiful. He resembled a helpless prisoner.
“I was willing to let you use me. Anything, as long as you came back to me.”
Velia held her breath. She felt ashamed, angry, and diminished. She never imagined that Lucas had known all along about her intentions and goals.
“You…”
Velia could not say anything. She could only curse herself. How naive she had been to think that Lucas was foolish enough to be deceived.
“I truly love you, Ve.”
Velia shook her head repeatedly. “You should know that I am already engaged to Harry.”
“I also know that I have always been in your heart,” Lucas concluded without a hint of hesitation. The warmth in his eyes showed his conviction. “I know that, Ve. Harry may have had you while I was gone, but he will never have your love.”
Another reality that Velia wanted to reject.
“It’s not just Harry. No one else can have you.”
No. Velia tried to deny it.
“You only love me.”
Velia growled. “No, Luc.”
“You can’t deny it.”
On the contrary, Velia did deny it. “I don’t love you. I love Harry.”
Whether that sentence was directed at Lucas or herself, Velia could not tell. It was an attempt to convince Lucas or perhaps herself.
“I will forget about you, Luc.”
Velia pulled away. She tried to free herself from Lucas’s grip with all her might, causing the phone to slip from her hand.
The phone flew and fell on the bridge floor. At that moment, Velia seemed to hear voices in her mind.
~
“Hmm, that’s strange.”
“What’s wrong?”
“My phone, Luc. It won’t turn on. I charged it last night, but this morning it suddenly won’t start.”
“Is it broken? Hmm, I just wanted you to save my number.”
“You’re right. I haven’t saved your number yet.”
“If you’re going back to work later, I’m sure you’ll have to contact me once or twice.”
“I know, but what do I do now? I can’t even turn it on.”
“Forget about this. It’s better for you to get a new one. Do you mind waiting until this evening? I’m sure Vlora knows the preferences of women these days.”
“I don’t think I need to buy a new one. Actually, this phone is still good.”
“If your phone is still good, it wouldn’t be in this state.”
“It seems you’re right.”
“Of course.”
~
Velia stared at Lucas. The confusion she felt earlier when she realized that Lucas knew her whereabouts suddenly became clear. It was not difficult to guess now why Lucas could come to save her from her suicide attempt.
“Did you break my phone?”
Accusingly, Velia approached Lucas. She was out of breath, and her eyes stared sharply.
“You gave me a new phone that-oh, God!”
Velia flared up. The possibility made her blood boil.
“You’ve been spying on me all this time, Luc?!”
Lucas closed his eyes. Two punches landed on his chest and caused him to step back.
“You bastard, Luc! You made me so foolish.”
“I had to, Ve. I-”
“I really don’t want to see you ever again, Luc.”
Every word she spoke had emphasis. Velia was serious about her decision. And with what she said next.
“I truly hate you.”
*
Velia ran. She hurriedly walked down the hospital hallway. Her footsteps became faster until she finally stopped.
A scene behind the transparent glass nailed Velia in place. She stood frozen with disbelief.
Harry was no longer lying down. He was sitting, although it looked difficult and stiff. Medical staff surrounded him, examining his condition.
Velia covered her mouth. Tears fell, and sobs threatened to burst out soon. The feeling of happiness truly overflowed in overwhelming relief. Everything she had done had finally paid off.
One moment snapped Velia back to reality, who was lost in gratitude. She caught Harry’s gaze directed at her.
Harry smiled. His lips moved. Even without sound, Velia could guess what Harry said. It was his name.
*