The terrifying moment when doctors had rushed me in for my heart surgery.
My chest squeezed painfully, but I forced myself forward.
I pushed through the triage doors and rushed to the next desk.“Cole Harris!” I gasped again, clutching my side as I struggled to breathe.
The nurse barely glanced up.“Third curtain.”
I ran again.
My hands trembled as I reached the curtain and pulled it open.
And there he was.
Sitting on the edge of the hospital bed.
Trying to button his shirt.
A white plaster stretched across his forehead. Several bandages were wrapped around his arms and hands.
He was sitting up.
He was moving.
He was alive.
My knees nearly gave out beneath me.A sob escaped my throat before I could stop it.
“Cole!” I cried.
I rushed forward and threw my arms around him, hugging him so tightly that the force pushed him back a step.Tears spilled down my cheeks uncontrollably.The fear I had been holding back finally broke free.
“Jiya, are you okay? Is everything alright?” he asked in surprise.
But I could not answer.
My whole body trembled.All I could think about was how close I had come to losing him without ever telling him how much he meant to me.I held onto him desperately, as though letting go might somehow make him disappear.
He wrapped his arms around me gently, his hands steady against my back.
“Hey,” he murmured. “I’m alright. I’m okay.” He leaned closer and pressed a gentle kiss against my ear. “I promise you,” he whispered. “I’m fine.”
My body shuddered again as relief flooded through me. I allowed myself to stay there, pressed against him, feeling his heartbeat, feeling the comfort of his arms around me.
Then a familiar voice sounded from behind the curtain.
“Cole? I’m here.”
I immediately pulled away from him, wiping my tears quickly as I lowered my gaze toward the floor.
Stephanie walked in, slightly out of breath.
The moment she noticed me standing there beside Cole’s bed, her expression shifted to polite surprise. “Oh, hi Jiya!”
“Hi, Stephanie,” I replied quietly.
Before the awkwardness could spread through the room, another familiar figure appeared behind her.
Jack stepped inside, his eyes immediately landing on Cole. “Cole, are you okay?” he asked, his voice full of concern.
