I almost felt like I couldn’t breathe at all when he was immediately rushed into the emergency ward.
What the hell… why? Why is he being taken there? Was it that serious?
More tears rolled down my cheeks as I tried to comprehend what had just happened.
Why the hell did Reggie touch him at all? I frowned, the anger boiling inside me as I thought about the senseless violence my brother had inflicted on Cyrus.
Reggie and Ezra stood nearby, their faces etched with tension. The cold sterility of the hospital only amplified the surreal horror of the situation.
I glared at Reggie, my voice shaking with fury. “What were you thinking? He was already sick!”
Reggie’s face was pale, but he didn’t meet my eyes. “I… I didn’t know it was that bad.”
“That doesn’t excuse it!” I shouted, my voice echoing in the hospital corridor. “He could die because of you!”
Ezra stepped forward, placing a hand on my shoulder, but I shrugged it off. “Don’t touch me! This is your fault too. You should have stopped him.”
The weight of the situation pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe. I sank into a chair, burying my face in my hands as the tears continued to flow.
I hated having four brothers, I hated it too much. If only Blue and Grey could be my only brothers, maybe this wouldn’t have happened at all.
“Lena,” Ezra called, walking towards me.
I looked up at him, my eyes red and puffy from crying.
“I’m so sorry for my anger, for…” he trailed off. “For laying my hands on you, for telling you the truth. I should be more focused on Eva because she needs me the most, and I’m sorry for not stopping Reggie. I was so consumed by my anger. I thought I was trying to be a good brother, not knowing I was making everything worse. It hurts me that Cyrus is in there right now. And I would do anything to make sure he was alright. I get he betrayed me by being with you, but I still love him as my best friend,” he said, but my mind was too clouded with anger.
I wasn’t happy with them at all.
“I get you’re really angry and I’ll give you the space you deserve, but just know that I’m seriously sorry,” he said and then walked away.
I watched him go, my heart heavy with anger and sadness. The only thing that mattered now was Cyrus’s health. I just hoped he would pull through.
~~
It felt like I was sitting here for days. I was so scared… What if something happens to him? What if he becomes more sick…
Then it would be all my fault. I should have stayed away from him for real. Maybe he would have been in a better condition.
“You should eat,” Ezra said, passing me some food.
“No,” I said, turning my gaze to another place.
I couldn’t even think about food right now. My mind was consumed with worry and regret. All I wanted was for Cyrus to be okay.
Ezra sighed, placing the food on the chair beside me. “Lena, starving yourself won’t help him.”
I didn’t respond, my eyes fixed on the double doors of the emergency ward. Every time they swung open, my heart leaped, hoping it would be a doctor with good news.
Minutes felt like hours as I sat there, replaying everything in my mind. Why did it have to come to this? Why couldn’t we just have some peace?
Just as I was about to spiral further into my thoughts, a doctor walked out of the ward, his expression unreadable. I stood up immediately, my legs feeling like they might give way.
“Selena?” he called, looking at me.
“Yes,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
He walked closer, glancing at the clipboard in his hand before meeting my eyes. “Cyrus is stable for now, but it was a close call. The fever, combined with the stress of the incident, caused him to faint. We’ll need to keep him here for observation, but he should be okay with proper rest and care.”
Relief flooded through me, and I felt my knees buckle. Ezra was there in an instant, supporting me.
“Thank you,” I managed to say, tears streaming down my face.
“You can see him now, but he needs to rest,” the doctor said, stepping aside to let us pass.
I walked into the room, my heart aching at the sight of Cyrus lying there, pale and weak. I took a seat beside him, gently holding his hand.
“I’m so sorry, Cyrus,” I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. “I promise, I’ll take care of you. I’ll be here for you.”
Ezra stood in the doorway, watching us. He gave me a small nod as if to say he understood before quietly leaving the room.
My heart ached as I looked at the bruises on Cyrus’s face. It hurt to see him both sick and beaten. If only Reggie hadn’t acted so impulsively, Cyrus wouldn’t be in this condition.
I gently brushed a strand of hair from his face, marveling at how handsome and perfect he looked despite everything. “I’ll get you some food so you don’t starve when you wake up,” I said softly, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead.
“I’ll be back soon,” I added as if he could hear me. I stood up and walked out of the room, spotting Ezra waiting just outside.
“I’m going to get some food for Cyrus,” I said, avoiding his gaze. “Can you take care of him until I return?”
“Yeah, sure,” Ezra replied. I nodded and headed down the corridor, my heart heavy with worry.
I hoped Cyrus would wake up before I returned. I missed him already and couldn’t wait to apologize for what happened.
I walked out of the hospital, my mind still clouded with worry. The smell of food from nearby restaurants seemed to pull me away from my thoughts. I decided to grab some lunch, something comforting and far better than the bland hospital food. I chose a small cafe down the street, known for its hearty sandwiches and fresh salads. I ordered a chicken soup, a fresh salad, and a sandwich. I also grabbed a bottle of orange juice and some fruit.
After picking up the food, I made my way back to the hospital. My heart sank when I entered the building, my nerves on edge. As I walked down the hallway, I noticed my father standing near Cyrus’s room.
Seeing him there, I rushed forward and threw my arms around him. “Dad!” I said, my voice trembling with relief and exhaustion.
He hugged me back tightly, sensing my distress. “I heard what happened. How’s Cyrus?”
“Still unconscious,” I replied, pulling away just enough to meet his eyes. “I just went out to get some lunch. I’m hoping he wakes up soon.”
My father’s expression softened as he nodded. “You did the right thing. Let’s go see him.”
Together, we walked to Cyrus’s room, and I placed the lunch on the small table beside his bed. I hoped he would wake up soon so I could talk to him, and feed him lunch at least.
I could see that my dad was giving Ezra and Reggie glares, and I knew he wasn’t going to go easy on them, especially after hearing that Ezra had hit me.
“You should go home and have your bath,” Dad said gently.
“No, it’s okay. I can wait,” I said, my gaze turning back to Cyrus.
“He’s going to be okay. Don’t worry. I and your dumb brothers will make sure he’s fine. All you have to do now is go home and have a refreshing bath while we take care of Cyrus, okay?” he said, and I nodded reluctantly.
I looked at Cyrus for a while before placing a soft kiss on his cheek. “Take care,” I said, forcing a smile. “I’ll be back in an hour.”
Dad nodded. “Reggie, take your sister home,” he ordered.
“No, I’ll order a ride,” I said, not wanting to be in the same car as Reggie.
“Okay, good,” Dad said, his gaze turning back to Reggie.
“Take care of yourself. Maybe Grey will bring you back,” Dad said, and I nodded before hugging him.
“Tell Mom I said I love her,” Dad added with a soft smile.
“Will do,” I said, chuckling as I walked out of the hospital room.
As I left the hospital, the midday sun warmed my face, but my thoughts remained on Cyrus. I ordered a ride and waited outside, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and anxiety. When the car arrived, I got in and gave the driver my address.
The ride home felt longer than usual. My mind raced with worries about Cyrus and anger at Reggie and Ezra. I tried to focus on Dad’s words, trusting that he’d make sure everything was okay.
When I got home, I headed straight to the bathroom. The hot water washed away some of my tension, but my thoughts never strayed far from Cyrus. After a quick shower, I dressed and checked my phone. Messages from my brothers, Mom, and Eva too.
Ignoring them for now, I decided to go see Mom. I made my way to her room, feeling a mix of emotions-anger, fear, and exhaustion. When I opened the door, I saw her cradling Roma, my baby brother. The sight brought a small, bittersweet smile to my face.
“Hey, Mom,” I said softly, walking into the room.
She looked up, her eyes immediately filling with concern. “Lena, what’s wrong?”
As soon as she asked, I felt the dam of emotions break inside me. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I rushed to her, collapsing into her arms.
“It’s Cyrus,” I sobbed. “He’s in the hospital. Reggie… Reggie hurt him, and he was already sick.”
Mom held me tight, gently rocking back and forth. “Oh, Lena,” she murmured, her voice soothing. “Tell me everything.”
I recounted the events, from the fight at Cyrus’s house to the hospital, my voice breaking several times. Mom listened, her face a mixture of anger and sadness.
“I just don’t know what to do, Mom,” I said, tears streaming down my face. “I feel so guilty. If I had just stayed away from him, none of this would have happened.”
“Shh, sweetheart,” Mom whispered, stroking my hair. “This isn’t your fault. You were trying to help him. It’s your brothers who need to learn to control their anger. And Cyrus is strong, he’ll get through this.”
I nodded, sniffling. “I just feel so helpless.”
Mom kissed the top of my head. “You’ve been through a lot today. Why don’t you rest a little before going back? You need to take care of yourself too.”
I shook my head. “I can’t rest until I know he’s okay.”
“Alright,” she said, understanding. “But at least have something to eat and drink. You need your strength to be there for him.”
I nodded reluctantly. “Okay, I’ll eat something.”
She handed Roma to me, and I held him close, his tiny presence comforting.
” Dad said he loves you,” I said.
“Tell Dad I love him too,” she said with a small smile.
“I will,” I replied, managing a smile back.
After spending a few more minutes with Mom and Roma, I left the room and went to the kitchen. I made myself a sandwich and a cup of tea, forcing myself to eat and drink. I knew Mom was right, I needed to keep my strength up.
Once I finished, I checked my phone again, replying to Eva to let her know that I was okay, Then, I ordered another ride back to the hospital, my heart heavy with worry and hope.
As I arrived back at the hospital, I hurried to Cyrus’s room, eager to be by his side again. I hoped he had woken up, even if just for a moment. I needed to see him, to make sure he was okay.
When I entered the room, I saw Dad still by his bedside. He looked up as I walked in, giving me a reassuring nod. “He’s stable,” Dad said softly. “Still unconscious, but stable.”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding and sat down beside Cyrus, taking his hand in mine. “I’m back,” I whispered. “And I’m not going anywhere,” I said with a gentle kiss on his head.
ONE HOUR EARLIER
Aziel looked at Ezra and Reggie, shaking his head in disappointment.
“I didn’t react when I was told about her relationship with Cyrus. That doesn’t mean I was stupid, but since you both want to be so stupid and take it out on Cyrus, congratulations-a round of applause for you both,” Aziel said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. They both looked at him, completely remorseful.
“You were told that he was sick, weren’t you?” he asked, his tone stern.
“Yes, sir,” they both answered, their heads hung low.
“But you went ahead and beat him up. Are you dull or what?” Aziel asked, glaring at Reggie.
“And you,” he said, pointing at Ezra, “you dare lay your filthy fingers on your sister.”
“When she was born, the first thing I said to you all was that she should be protected and no one lay a finger on her. But you did. Because of what? Why? I wonder who raised you because it is not me,” he said, his voice filled with frustration.
“I’m sorry, Dad,” Ezra said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Sorry for yourself, not me, because I have never raised my hands on a woman before. Except you… know,” Aziel said, chuckling.
“I’m taking your car for two weeks,” he said to Reggie, then turned to Ezra. “You are becoming a dad soon, so I don’t have a good punishment for you. Maybe… no allowance? No, that’s a bad idea… uh… gosh, I’ll Google a good punishment for you.”
Aziel’s gaze turned to Cyrus, lying on the hospital bed. “See what you did to him. His dad wouldn’t believe this was done by you,” he said, his voice softening as he looked at Cyrus.
“Useless kids,” he muttered, placing his hands on his forehead before sighing deeply.
TBC