cca'

e smell of medicine and disinfectant hit my senses immediately, and I realized I w

riel's face, cold behind the wheel... and the impact that sent everything into darkness. My chest tightened as

been my best friend since childhood, so I wasn't surprised to find her here. S

bled with relief, but when I tried to respond, the dryness in my throat made

help me adjust on the bed, but when I tried to sit up, she stopped me. "No,

s in my head-the cheating, the accident-flashed like broken pieces of glass. Then it hit me like a tidal wav

"Natasha, which hospital is this? I need to talk to my mom

with something I couldn't place. She hesitated, her lips pressing in

r mom once you're feeling better," Natasha said,

, and panic began to rise. "Natasha, what's happened? Tell me! Where's my

er eyes. "Rebecca," she began, her voice thick with emotion. "You weren

ed, disbelief crashing over me. "Ho

ell she was struggling to find the right words. "Your mom... She brought you to India for treatment after th

as something even more devastating coming. "What about her? What

ll me. "After you fell into a coma, the doctors told her there was a chance you wouldn't make it. The shock o

I couldn't process the weight of what Natasha had just told me. "No...

t tightly. "The doctors say she's improv

ing to believe it, trying to cling to that hope. But

y condition, shining a light into my eyes, nodding as if satisfied with my recovery. But none of it registered. My m

*

r. Natasha reluctantly helped me out of bed, supporting me as I walked with slow,

ed past us toward a room ahead. I froze as Natasha's grip tighten

spered, her v

s it...?" I couldn't e

hrough me, and I pushed myself forward, ignoring the pain as I hobbled do

Harder!" They sho

ere, helpless, watching through the glass as they worked on my mother. Every seco

e as he approached Natasha and me. His words were so

ry. We l

ckled, and I collapsed into Natasha's arms

might not have pulled the trigger, but he was responsible for this. For everyt

anymore. And Gabriel wa