Andreas was on the verge of despair when he arrived home. He saw that Jonas’ car was still parked, and without wasting any time, he quickly got out of the car, entered the house, and heard the terrible sounds.
“Vlora!”
The horrible sight shocked Andreas. Vlora was lying on the floor in a pitiful state, her clothes disheveled and her body covered in bruises.
Andreas’ panic turned to fear. His heart seemed to stop when he saw the blood running down Vlora’s legs. His breath caught and he realized something-blood could never be a good sign.
Something terrible had happened to Vlora, and Andreas knew exactly who was responsible. It was Jonas.
Andreas looked up and saw Jonas frozen. When their eyes met, Jonas became aware of the situation.
Jonas rushed down the stairs, ran and fled.
Andreas resisted the urge to go after Jonas. Vlora’s safety was more important, and luckily Frans arrived just in time.
“Sir.”
Andreas looked at Frans blankly. “Help me, Frans. Vlora. Sh-she.”
His tongue was tied. The air choked in his throat. Andreas could not speak as fear took over his world. Vlora no longer moaned in pain. She had lost consciousness and fainted in his arms.
Please, God. Don’t let anything bad happen to Vlora.
Frans acted quickly. He called the hospital, and the ambulance ride was the longest Andreas had ever endured.
Andreas’ mind was in danger. He could really go crazy waiting for the medical team to get to Vlora.
Andreas paid no attention to the world. He didn’t care where Frans or anyone else who had been contacted by Frans went. Only one thing occupied his mind – Vlora.
Time passed, and finally Andreas was allowed to see the doctor who was taking care of Vlora. He sat down and tried to calm down.
Stay calm. Vlora is fine.
The doctor explained Vlora’s condition. X-rays were on the table and the doctor reassured Andreas that nothing serious had happened to Vlora. No broken bones or brain damage.
Andreas remained silent. He didn’t interrupt or speak at all. He listened carefully to the doctor’s explanation, absorbing every word while trying to calm himself. Strangely, he still felt restless. Tension still surrounded his entire body, as if he felt that the worst was not yet over.
In the end, Andreas learned the true cause of the persistent anxiety he felt. The doctor looked at him sympathetically and spoke with full understanding.
“I am sorry. We couldn’t save the fetus. The patient suffered a miscarriage.”
Andreas froze. His body went numb. “Th-the fetus?”
A bitter lump clogged Andreas’ throat. He could barely breathe, let alone speak. Then warmth appeared and filled both his eyes.
The doctor nodded with deep remorse. “Forgive us.”
At that moment, black was no longer the right color to describe the dark reality that seemed to unfold before Andreas’ eyes. Everything was really dark!
*
Andreas might as well be dead. Or perhaps he was now living without a soul in his body. As he walked through the hospital corridor, his face seemed devoid of life.
“Andreas!”
Andreas lifted his face. He saw Noelle, Amanda and Vian approaching.
Andreas’ gaze was blank. He looked at each of them with an expression he had never seen before. Grief, loss, and explanation struggled within him.
Andreas tried to control himself, but the grin still managed to escape. Then tears streamed down his face.
The grin turned into a snarl. Andreas grabbed his hair with all his strength. He was frustrated by the realization that he was just an ordinary man who felt shattered by this reality.
“Oh, God. Vlo. Vlora.”
There was nothing else Andreas could say, but everyone knew how wounded he was now. He felt pain just like Vlora.
They tried to comfort Andreas, but it was impossible. There were no comforting words in this world that could comfort Andreas. He was sad and angry.
No explicit explanation was necessary. Everyone could draw conclusions at a glance. Vlora’s pitiful condition, with her disheveled clothes and bruises in several places, was undeniable evidence. She had been humiliated and unlucky, and her struggle to defend herself had had a fatal consequence.
Vlora lost her baby. The seven-week-old embryo had to go as she tried to save herself.
Time seemed to stop. The earth seemed to stop spinning. The world froze in the cold of the grief that had come. The sense of loss was truly piercing, making it impossible for her to move even a little.
The door of the room opened. Frans came out and said, “Mrs. Vlora is conscious now, sir.”
Andreas turned around. His devastated face left Frans speechless. In all the years he had worked for Andreas, this was the first time he had seen Andreas so completely broken. Andreas was truly in despair.
“You have to be strong, darling.”
Andreas blinked. He looked at Amanda without saying a word. Only her eyes spoke with a wounded look.
“Vlora needs you. So, you have to be strong. You have to be there for her.”
Andreas knew that. Of all the wounded, Vlora had to be the one who suffered the most. He should be there to support and strengthen Vlora, but he himself doubted if he could.
Andreas took a deep breath. He held back the turmoil in his chest for a moment and tried to control himself as best he could.
Vian tried to put Andreas’ condition in order. He wiped his tear-stained face with several handkerchiefs. Only then did Andreas get up.
When he entered the patient’s room for the first time, Andreas felt incapable. He almost gave up and went out. His legs were shaking. His knees felt weak. But a soft voice made him stop.
“Reas.”
Andreas looked at Vlora. Her face looked pale. Her smile seemed weak. Then Andreas could no longer resist the pressure, so he ran.
*