It was a quiet morning in the hospital. The soft beeping of machines filled the air, and Rachel lay in her bed, her eyes closed. The doctors said she was recovering well, but I could see the exhaustion on her face. It had been a long few days since she’d been shot, and even though she was safe now, the trauma still seemed to hang over her.
I sat beside her, holding her hand, trying to offer her whatever comfort I could. It felt like the world had changed in the blink of an eye. First, Victoria was dead, and now Rachel was here, recovering from something that could have taken her life. I kept thinking about the warning she gave Harrison and me about Mr. Blackwood. He was still out there, and who knew what he would do next? But I pushed those thoughts aside for now. I needed to focus on Rachel.
She stirred slightly, and I squeezed her hand gently. Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked at me with a tired smile.
“Good morning,” I whispered, trying to cheer her up a little.
She smiled back, but I could see the pain in her eyes. “Good morning,” she whispered. “I’m just glad I’m still here.”
I nodded, squeezing her hand again. “You’re going to be okay, Rachel. You’re strong.”
She didn’t say anything, just gave me a weak smile, and closed her eyes again. I stayed beside her, watching her, praying that she would heal quickly.
A few minutes later, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching, and I looked up. A man walked into the room, holding a bouquet of flowers. He had a warm smile on his face as he entered, his eyes landing on Rachel.
“Good morning, milady,” he said, his voice soft but clear.
Rachel’s eyes opened again, and I could see the surprise in them. “You’re… you’re the one who saved me, aren’t you?” she asked, her voice a little shaky, but grateful.
The man smiled again and nodded. “Yes, I’m the one who found you on the road that night,” he said. “I couldn’t just leave you there.”
Rachel looked at the flowers in his hands, and I could see the faintest blush on her cheeks. “Thank you,” she said softly, her voice full of gratitude. “Thank you for saving me. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t found me.”
He placed the flowers gently on her bedside table and took a step closer. “It was nothing, really,” he said humbly. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Rachel smiled at him, though I could see she was still weak. Her eyes lingered on him for a moment, as if trying to find the right words. “You must have been scared, finding me like that. I’m so sorry for the trouble I caused you.”
The man shook his head. “Don’t apologize,” he said. “You didn’t cause any trouble. I’m just happy to see you’re safe now.”
I watched the exchange between them quietly. It was clear that Rachel was still processing everything that had happened, but she seemed comforted by this man’s kindness. I wondered who he was and how he happened to be in the right place at the right time to save her. But for now, I was just grateful that he had.
“Do you mind if I sit with you for a little while?” he asked Rachel. “I just wanted to check on you.”
Rachel looked at him, a small smile on her lips. “Of course,” she said. “I’d like that.”
He pulled up a chair beside her bed and sat down, still smiling warmly. I could see that Rachel was starting to relax a little in his presence. Maybe it was because of how calm and kind he seemed, or maybe she was just grateful to have someone who cared for her after everything that had happened.
I stood up quietly, deciding to give them some space. I needed to get some fresh air, maybe clear my head for a moment. I glanced at Rachel one last time, then stepped out of the room. The hallway was quiet, and I leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath.
I couldn’t stop thinking about everything that had happened-the attack on Rachel, the warnings she gave us about Mr. Blackwood, the fact that Victoria was gone. My emotions were still all over the place. I didn’t know how to process all of this.
As I stood there, I found myself wondering more about this man who had saved Rachel. Who was he? Was he just an ordinary person who happened to be in the right place at the right time? Or was there something more to his story? I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something I wasn’t being told, but for now, I decided to let it go. Rachel needed time to heal, and I needed to be here for her.
After a few moments, I walked back into her room, where the man was still sitting beside her. They were talking quietly, and Rachel seemed a little more at ease now, smiling every now and then. It made me feel a little lighter, seeing her like this.
“Thank you,” I said to him, nodding toward the flowers. “You’ve really helped her, and I’m grateful for that.”
He looked up at me, his smile still kind. “It was nothing,” he said again. “I’m just glad she’s okay. I couldn’t stand the thought of her suffering alone on that road.”
I nodded, feeling a wave of gratitude. “Well, I’m sure she’s thankful. I know I am.”
There was a brief silence before the man stood up, preparing to leave. “I’ll come by again soon, if that’s okay,” he said, his eyes moving to Rachel. “I just want to make sure you’re feeling better.”
Rachel nodded, her eyes still soft with gratitude. “Thank you,” she said again, her voice barely above a whisper.
As he left, I sat back down beside Rachel, feeling a sense of calm I hadn’t felt in days. She seemed to be resting easier now, and I could tell that the visit had done her good.
I stayed beside her for a little while longer, just holding her hand and watching over her as she drifted off to sleep. I didn’t know what the future held for us or how we would deal with the threat of Mr. Blackwood still looming over us, but at least for now, Rachel was safe. And for that, I was grateful.
Everything was so uncertain, but I was determined to face it all. Together, we would find a way to survive.