Chapter 9: Lives

Lying across the window ledge, my stomach pressing against the cold wood, I stretched my body as far as I could. Half of me hung dangerously outside, gripping Kaleth’s limp form with everything I had, while my legs strained for balance inside the room. His blood, warm and slick, coated my fingers, threatening to loosen my grip.

"Jessica!" I screamed, desperation clawing at my throat. "Get up here now!"

My voice cracked with urgency, echoing off the walls, but time seemed frozen, the seconds crawling by as I held on. Kaleth felt heavier with each passing moment, his life slipping away from me like grains of sand through my fingers.

"Jessica!" I screamed again, my muscles burning with effort.

Her footsteps finally reached the stairs, each thud louder, but the distance felt infinite. When she burst into the room, her face was pale, her eyes wide as they landed on us.

"Celine, what happened?!"

I couldn’t answer. My breath came in short gasps, my focus entirely on Kaleth’s dangling body. "Help me!" I pleaded, tears streaming down my face.

Jessica didn’t hesitate. She rushed to the window, bracing herself beside me. Her hands joined mine, and together, we hauled Kaleth upwards. Every second felt like an eternity, every movement a battle against gravity. At last, we managed to pull him inside, collapsing onto the floor as his legs scraped against the ledge.

Jessica’s voice trembled as she dialed 911, her hands shaking. "We need an ambulance immediately. It’s an emergency!"

I knelt beside Kaleth, my trembling hands hovering over his lifeless body. "Kaleth," I whispered, choking on the lump in my throat. "Why would you do this? Why now?" My tears fell like rain onto his bloodied shirt. "You can’t leave me, not now. I thought I was the broken one. You’re supposed to be the strong one."

He didn’t move. His face, pale and serene, was a stark contrast to the chaos around him. I reached for his hand, clutching it tightly. "Please, Kaleth, come back to me. Blink. Move. Anything. Just don’t leave me here alone in this world."

But his silence was deafening, his stillness unbearable.

When the paramedics arrived, their faces were grim, their movements swift and practiced. They worked around me, assessing Kaleth’s injuries—the deep gash on his wrist, the stab wound in his abdomen. I could barely breathe as they loaded him onto a stretcher, their murmured words blending into the cacophony of my racing thoughts.

At the hospital, the fluorescent lights bore down on me, harsh and unforgiving. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled my lungs, and I felt like I was suffocating. The waiting room was cold and unwelcoming, a place where time seemed to stretch infinitely.

When the surgeon finally emerged, his expression softened as he spoke. "Kaleth is stable. He’s lost a lot of blood, but he’ll recover. He needs rest, but he’ll be okay."

Relief washed over me, a tidal wave that left me trembling. But I couldn’t leave—not yet. The thought of going home without hearing Kaleth’s voice was unbearable. I stayed by his bedside, the steady beep of the heart monitor a fragile reassurance.

His face, even in unconsciousness, was beautiful. His lips slightly parted, his dark lashes resting against his cheeks. I reached out, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead.

"Please wake up," I whispered. "I need you. I can’t do this without you."

The hours slipped by, and I lost myself in memories of us—his laughter, his teasing grin, the way his arms felt wrapped around me. He was my anchor, my safe harbor in the storm.

I was so lost in thought that I didn’t hear the door open.

"Celine," a familiar voice said softly.

I turned, my heart clenching as I saw my parents. My mother’s eyes were red and swollen, her face etched with guilt. My father stood behind her, his hands clenched at his sides.

"We’re so sorry," my mother said, her voice trembling. "We thought we were doing what was best for you, but we were wrong."

Her words shattered something inside me, a dam that had held back months of pain and anger.

"You left me," I said, my voice breaking. "You left me when I needed you most."

Tears streamed down my mother’s face as she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around me. "I know, my dear. And I’m so, so sorry. We thought we were helping, but all we did was hurt you."

My father joined us, his arms encircling us both. "We’ll make it right, Celine. We’ll be here for you now, for as long as you need us."

I cried into their embrace, the weight of my loneliness finally lifting. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt their love, their warmth, and it was enough to begin mending the cracks in my heart.

When they pulled away, I turned back to Kaleth, my fingers brushing against his hand. "Now I just need him to come back to me," I whispered.

My mother placed a hand on my shoulder, her touch steady and reassuring. "He will, my dear. He’s strong, just like you."

I nodded, holding onto hope like a lifeline. I wouldn’t give up on Kaleth. I couldn’t.

As I sat there, the minutes ticking by, I whispered to him, telling him stories, reminding him of the life we still had to live together.

"Wake up, Kaleth," I said softly, my voice steady even as my tears fell. "Wake up and come back to me. I’m not ready to say goodbye."