Chapter 23

Ava

After my reunion with David, there was no way I was going back. Lucas left for Europe, he had to take care of the business. It's been a week since Shane and I moved in with David and Shane was loving it. He bonded with David quickly than I had imagined.

I was happy that I found David again. A month before I had never thought I will meet David again and now here we are. We haven't told anyone yet about our coming together. We are going to tell everyone tomorrow at dinner.

I yell at them as they were busy playing games with their eyes glued to the TV screen.

"Will you stop spoiling Shane, David? You both have been playing video games for the last two hours."

Yes, they are now a gang against me. David is a great father to Shane and he loved him dearly. There was no doubt in that but he was spoiling him and as for Shane he is happy because he is getting everything he wants.

I roll my eyes at them and David speaks while still playing."Just this last one."

"You said this at the last game." I scoff. They said that every time I asked them."Come on Mom, I am this close to defeating Dad." Shane says and David looks at him."No, he is lying. No one can defeat me."

"I am going to meet Samantha. This better be off when I return. You don't want to know what I will do?" I say to them and they didn't even look at me.  "Ok Madam." They say unanimously I roll my eyes at them but their eyes were on the screen as they laughed at me. I leave to meet Samantha at the restaurant as decided. "Byee."

I drive my car to the meeting place where I was supposed to pick up Samantha. We were walking down the street and talking. "You won't believe it. They gang up against me and convince me so easily."

"That's because you are so gullible."

She states as if it is obvious."That's so not true. What do you want to eat?"

"I want to eat some Chinese."

"I wanted to eat pizza but ok fine let's get Chinese." Samantha crosses her arms at her chest looking at me waiting for me to realize how she proved her point right. She is right. I am so naive. I get convinced easily."Oh my god. You are right."

"David and Shane."

"What?" I look at her as she points her finger across the street.

"He is spoiling him giving him whatever he wishes." I look up to them busy licking ice creams laughing around and I can't stop looking at them. It was so adorable to see them bond which makes me feel a bit guilty that I stole five years of his childhood. I was gazing at them when I noticed a car coming towards them and when I saw the person in the driver's seat. I ran across the street.

"Ava," Samantha calls out for me but I don't pay any heed to it. I ran across the street "Watch out David." And I pushed them on the footpath but it was too late.

As soon as I saw the car I ran across the road pushing them. Before I could get away it was too late. The car had already hit me and ran me over.

I don't fear death but I fear the loss of a loved one. Pain. Immense pain was all I was feeling now. I cannot keep my eyes open. I saw David and Shane. They were getting blurry with every passing second.

Doubt, whether I could make it.

Fear, whether I will see David and Shane again.

A crowd formed around me and David lifted me on his lap holding my face. I was feeling dizzy with every moment that passed. My heartbeat was becoming faint as time passed. I could barely keep my eyes open. I could see David, Samantha, and Shane surrounding me.

I could hear Shane's cries and David calling out for me. David's tears falling off his cheek touched mine and I didn't have the strength to lift my arm and wipe them. I tried to speak but I felt a jolting pain in my head and it was David and Shane's voice that gave me hope.

I stuttered as I called out his name and after some time. Memories of my life flashed in front of my eyes.

Is this the moment where I die?

They say when you are about to die, glimpses of your life flash in front of your eyes, and then. I saw all the memories I spent with David and Shane. I don't know if I am dying but I could no longer keep my eyes open. I didn't have the strength to. All I could hear was the ambulance siren and after that, I could not remember anything. My heartbeat came to a stop and I closed my eyes...

"Da-vid...I lo-ve y-ou. Tak-e ca-re of Sha-nee."

David

After Ava left for her lunch with Samantha. We started one more game."Peace. Mom wouldn't let me play for more than half an hour."

"Yeah, She is right but it's fine sometimes...Ahhh." I sigh as I lost the game but I wasn't sad after losing to my son because he was happy. He jumped up and down the sofa defeating him and I looked at him. Who wouldn't lose to see their child this happy? I would every time I can.

"Yeah yeah, I let win others sometimes," I said jokingly.

"All excuses. Since I am the winner and the loser has to do what the winner says. I want ice cream." Just like Ava. He loves ice cream. I bring my car keys and drove to the ice cream shop.

"Which one?"

"Chocolate without a doubt." He says. I took two scoops of ice cream cones and paid at the counter. I paid the bill and we went outside.

"Mom would kill me if she knows I had two scoops of ice cream before lunch." I bend down at him as he licks his ice-cream like it's the only thing he loves.

"Top secret."

"Done." He smiles and high-fives with me. We were eating our ice creams talking to each other when I see Ava running towards us from across the street.

I didn't know how to react. All of it happened in a fraction of a second. One second I was giggling licking ice cream and on the other, She pushed us and we fall on the sidewalk.

The car hit her and ran away. The driver ran away before I could see who it was. I ran over to Ava. Shane came after me and Samantha came too. I fell on my knees and rested her head on my lap holding her by her cheeks. She was losing a lot of blood. Her forehead was bleeding and there was blood all over. Bloodstained my shirt and it was all over my hands.

I was horrified. Her eyes were barely open. I was still shocked. I was numb. I couldn't stop the tears from my eyes. Ava laid in my arms in the most vulnerable state. Blood coming out nonstop and her blue eyes which always gleamed with happiness had a fear within. The fear of not having the strength to fight back but I know My Ava. She is going to fight back. I know it.

"Ava, Open your eyes. Somebody call the ambulance." I yell out as the tears streamed down my cheeks.

"They are on the way. I called them."

Samantha says"Ava talk to me."

I could feel the tears running down my cheeks. She was not responding. A crowd had formed around us and I could hear Shane's faint cries. Her face was pale and her heartbeat was getting faint second by second.

Shane clung to my shoulder crying. He tugged my shirt and this was the first time, I had seen him this sad. He held back his tears but I could see he was hurt and it made my heartbreak to see my little boy like this.

I don't even know how hard it was for him to see his mother like this. It would have been hard for anyone to be in a situation like this. I look back at Ava. Her face was getting paler with every second that passed.

I wasn't prepared for what was going to happen next. I tried. I tried to stay strong but couldn't. I take a look at her and break down.

Why is it that she has to go through all the pain?

It was like trouble always found her like a magnet. Her breathing was getting shallower and shallower. Blood was all over her face and she mumbles "Da-vid...I lo-ve y-ou. Tak-e ca-re of Sha-nee."I broke down. I saw her slowly closing her eyes as her hands let go of my hand. Then all of a sudden, her heart stops beating.

"Ava..."

(Will Ava survive the accident? Who is responsible for this? Read the next episode to find out.)

...Thank you for reading...