The hospital was quiet, with only the occasional sound of footsteps and the hum of machines breaking the silence. Mr. Taylor, a tall, imposing man with sharp features, walked through the white hallways with purpose. His tailored suit stood out among the casual attire of visitors and medical staff. His eyes scanned the numbers on the doors, searching for the one that matched the information he had received.
He paused when he reached the right room, his heart pounding in his chest. His hand hovered over the doorknob, hesitating for the first time in years.
“This is it,” he murmured to himself. “Aurora.”
He pushed the door open slowly, the sight inside taking his breath away. The room was dimly lit, with a single bed in the center. Aurora lay motionless, her pale face framed by soft, dark hair. Tubes and wires surrounded her, connecting her to machines that beeped rhythmically.
Taylor stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind him. He stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. He had never seen her in person before, only in pictures sent by his spies. And yet, seeing her now felt overwhelming.
“So, this is my daughter,” he said softly, his voice trembling slightly.
He walked closer to the bed, each step feeling heavier than the last. He stopped at her bedside, his eyes scanning her face. She looked so fragile, so small. It was hard to believe she was the daughter of a man like him.
“I never thought I’d meet you like this,” he said, his voice low. “Lying here, fighting for your life.”
He reached out hesitantly, his hand hovering over hers. After a moment, he let it rest gently on top of her cold hand.
“You don’t know me,” he continued, his tone bitter. “And that’s my fault. I left before you were even born. I didn’t want you, didn’t want the responsibility. I thought I was doing the right thing, cutting ties with your mother. I thought I was protecting myself.”
His jaw tightened, and he looked away for a moment, staring at the wall. “But I was wrong,” he admitted. “I made a mistake. A terrible mistake.”
He turned back to her, his eyes softening. “I don’t know if you can hear me, but I want you to know that I regret it. Leaving your mother, leaving you-it was the worst thing I ever did. I don’t expect you to forgive me. I don’t even deserve it.”
He swallowed hard, his throat tight. “But when I found out about you… when I saw your picture for the first time… I knew I couldn’t stay away. I had to see you, even if it was just like this.”
Taylor sat down in the chair beside her bed, his hand still holding hers. He watched the steady rise and fall of her chest, the only sign that she was still alive.
“I’ve lived a selfish life,” he said quietly. “Everything I’ve done was for myself. But you… you’re innocent. You didn’t deserve any of this. Not my absence, not this coma, not any of it.”
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “If you wake up-no, when you wake up-I’ll be here. I’ll stay this time. I promise you that.”
His eyes scanned her face again, taking in every detail. She had her mother’s features, but there was a strength in her expression that he couldn’t ignore.
“You’re strong,” he said, his voice filled with a strange mix of pride and sadness. “Stronger than I ever was. You’re fighting, even now. And I know you’ll make it.”
He paused, his thoughts swirling. “I don’t even know what kind of person you are,” he admitted. “What you like, what makes you happy, what you’ve been through. I missed everything. And I hate myself for that.”
The sound of the machines beeped steadily, filling the silence after his words. Taylor sat back in the chair, his mind racing. He thought about all the years he had missed, all the moments he could never get back.
“I don’t know if it’s too late to be your father,” he said softly. “But I want to try. If you’ll let me, I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. “But first, you have to wake up,” he whispered.
The door opened slightly, and a nurse peeked inside. She looked surprised to see him but quickly composed herself. “Sir, visiting hours are almost over,” she said politely.
Taylor nodded. “Thank you,” he said, his voice quiet.
He stood up, his hand lingering on Aurora’s for a moment before he let go. He looked down at her one last time, his heart heavy.
“I’ll be back,” he promised. “And when you wake up, we’ll talk. I’ll tell you everything.”
He turned and walked to the door, pausing to glance back at her. The sight of her lying there, so vulnerable, was etched into his mind.
As he stepped out into the hallway, he felt a mix of emotions-regret, guilt, and a faint glimmer of hope. For the first time in years, he felt like he had a chance to fix something in his life.