Adrian was on his way back home, his thoughts tangled in the events of the day, when something caught his eye. He glanced toward the university’s pool, where Elena stood, alone. Her long hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and her silhouette was soft against the fading light.
He felt a sudden pull to go to her, but just as he took a step forward, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was his assistant, calling about an urgent board meeting at the office. With a frustrated sigh, Adrian answered, trying to focus on the conversation. But his eyes kept drifting back to Elena, who stood there, seemingly lost in her thoughts.
Then, a sharp splash broke through the quiet evening air. Adrian’s heart jolted. He quickly turned his head, only to find that Elena had vanished. His stomach dropped, and he ended the call abruptly, his fingers shaking with panic as he rushed toward the pool.
His gaze darted across the area, searching for any sign of her. He spotted her phone lying on the ground near the poolside. His breath caught in his throat as he knelt to pick it up. No sign of Elena.
“Damn it,” he cursed under his breath, his mind racing. His heart hammered in his chest as he ran his fingers through his hair, trying to think clearly. She couldn’t have gone far. She couldn’t just disappear.
Adrian’s eyes scanned the area desperately, his mind spiraling into dark thoughts. He dashed toward the surrounding garden, calling her name out loud, but there was no answer. No sign of Elena anywhere. His steps grew frantic, his thoughts clouded with fear.
After what felt like an eternity of searching-thirty minutes, but it could’ve been hours-Adrian found himself back at the poolside. He was exhausted, his body trembling with anxiety. He was about to give up when something caught his attention-a movement in the water.
His eyes widened, and for a moment, his heart seemed to stop. There, in the pool, was Elena. Her limp form floated in the water, her hair splayed out like dark silk around her. Panic surged through him. Without thinking, Adrian dove into the pool.
The cold water hit him like a shockwave, but he didn’t care. He pushed through it, his arms reaching for her, his heart racing. He pulled Elena to the edge of the pool, dragging her out as quickly as he could. Her body was cold, and her skin pale, but she was still breathing-thank God.
Adrian’s hands trembled as he laid her gently on the ground beside the pool. He could barely hear anything over the roar of his pulse in his ears. His mind raced with questions. What had happened? Why was she in the pool?
He bent down, pressing his ear to her chest, hearing the soft, shaky beat of her heart. His relief was almost overwhelming, but it didn’t stop the worry that knotted in his stomach. Elena was unconscious, but she was alive.
“Elena,” he whispered, brushing a strand of wet hair from her face. He could see the pain in her expression even in unconsciousness. It killed him to think that it had been his silence, his absence that had caused her to fall apart like this. “I’m sorry…”
He held her close, his arms wrapping around her fragile form, feeling the warmth slowly returning to her skin as the shock wore off. The soft rise and fall of her chest was a comfort, though the weight of guilt still hung heavily on him.
“Don’t do this again,” he muttered under his breath, his voice a quiet plea.
Adrian sat there for a long moment, holding her, the weight of everything crashing down on him. He didn’t know what had led her to the pool, but he promised himself, right there, that he wouldn’t let her go through this alone. Not ever again.
Adrian’s hands trembled as he cradled Elena in his arms, her body cold and limp against his chest. His heart hammered wildly, but the rush of adrenaline only made him more impatient. She needed to wake up-now.
“Elena,” he muttered, his voice strained with panic. He shook her lightly, but her eyelids remained firmly closed, her breathing shallow. His mind raced, his thoughts muddled. He couldn’t afford to waste any more time. She was still breathing, but that didn’t ease the burning anxiety coursing through him.
He moved quickly, pressing his hands gently but firmly against her stomach, trying to force the pool water out of her body. His fingers dug into her soft skin as he pressed, his actions almost frantic. “Come on,” he muttered under his breath, desperation creeping into his voice. “Please, wake up.”
But nothing. Her body remained still.
Frustration surged through him, his face flushing with anger. Why wasn’t she waking up? Why wasn’t she responding?
“Goddammit!” Adrian snapped, his voice raw with emotion. He let out a short, sharp breath, trying to calm himself, but it didn’t help. The helplessness was overwhelming. He couldn’t stand seeing her like this-couldn’t stand feeling this powerless.
“Elena, damn it, open your eyes!” His voice cracked, the words coming out in a rush of anger and fear. His fingers gripped her shoulders, shaking her slightly, but she didn’t stir. It was like she was trapped in a deep, unyielding sleep.
His frustration turned to irritation. He had done everything right, hadn’t he? He had gotten her out of the pool. He had checked her breathing. He had even tried to clear the water from her lungs. But none of it mattered. She wasn’t waking up, and it felt like he was losing control, losing everything.
He took a deep, shaky breath, his hands running through his hair in frustration. Why wasn’t she waking up?
He cursed again, this time under his breath, his tone venomous as he stared down at her still, pale face. The weight of guilt pressed down harder. If only I hadn’t been so careless. If only I hadn’t been so distracted by my stupid phone call…
He couldn’t keep it in any longer. The anger, the fear, the helplessness-everything that had been building inside him for what felt like hours finally burst free. Adrian slapped the ground beside her in frustration, the sound of his palm striking the concrete sharp and forceful.
“Why the hell won’t you wake up?” he growled, his voice thick with frustration. His chest felt tight, and his breathing grew ragged. He couldn’t lose her not like this, not without knowing why.
Adrian’s hand moved to her face, brushing a strand of wet hair from her forehead. His fingers gently traced the contours of her face, the soft skin beneath his fingertips a reminder of how fragile she was, how fragile everything was right now. He felt a lump rise in his throat as he watched her, the weight of his anger turning into something else something far deeper.
Please, Elena. Come back to me.