The Unexpected Night

Emily noticed Jane smiling ear to ear the next day and she looked like a curious cat.

"What's going on, Jane? You are smiling," Emily said, settling on the couch.

She took a deep breath, my heart racing. "Emily, remember Richard, the guy I told you about, the one I… Well, I met him last night."

Emily's mouth dropped open, and she let out a small gasp. "No way! The guy you were hoping to find?"

"Yes," She nodded, unable to contain her smile. "He's friends with one of my colleagues, and we just… bumped into each other at dinner. He even asked for my number and said he'd stay in touch."

Emily squealed, practically bouncing in her seat. "This is fate, Jane! It's a sign! You've got to give this a chance."

Jane smiled, though there was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. "I don't know, I haven't heard from him. She kept checking her phone, hoping he'll call or text."

Michelle raised an eyebrow, her voice light and teasing. "Jane, you guys only met last night. Give him some time, you're not just some face he can forget." Jane smiled at her statement. 

Days stretched into a week, and still nothing. The waiting was starting to feel like it would never end, and every time Jane glanced at her phone, she couldn't help but feel a little more disappointed. Finally, one day she casually asked Michelle about him, trying to keep her tone as light as she could.

"Oh, Richard went to India on vacation," Michelle replied, adjusting her glasses. "He'll be back in about a month." She informed Jane with a teasing smile.

A month was such a long time, and it felt like fate was just toying with her at this point. Jane tried her best to push thoughts of him aside, focusing on work, keeping busy, and burying herself in work. But still, thoughts of him lingered in her mind. 

One evening, Jane's car was being serviced, so she decided to walk a few blocks to find a cab. The streets were quiet, and as she walked down a dimly lit alley, her footsteps echoed in the silence. Suddenly, she heard something—a low whimper, like someone was hurt. Her heart skipped a beat, and she stopped, scanning the shadows as the sound pulled her toward the far corner of the alley.

There, lying on the ground, was a man. His shirt was soaked with blood, and his breathing was shallow. Panic surged through Jane, but she rushed over, her heart pounding. "Sir, are you okay?" she asked, trying to keep the fear out of her voice. Without thinking, she took off her shawl and pressed it gently against the wound on his stomach. He let out a sharp cry, his face twisted in pain.

"It's okay," Jane whispered, her hands trembling but trying to stay calm. "I'm here. Just hold on."

With shaky fingers, she dialed for an ambulance, forcing herself to sound calm even though fear was tightening in her chest. She stayed close, murmuring comforting words, urging him to stay awake, to keep his eyes open. When the ambulance finally arrived, they lifted him onto a stretcher, and without thinking twice, Jane climbed in with him. She couldn't leave him alone.

As Jane sped toward the hospital with the man beside her, she looked at his face for the first time. He looked young, maybe in his mid-20s, with delicate features that made him look even more fragile. His skin was streaked with blood, adding to the surreal feeling of the situation. She kept her hand on his, squeezing it lightly, silently willing him to hang on just a little longer.

At the hospital, doctors quickly took over, checking his injuries. "It's a stab wound," one of them said, his expression serious. "He's lost a lot of blood, and his blood type is quite rare. We've requested a transfusion from a nearby hospital."

Without thinking, Jane stepped forward. "I have O-negative blood," she said, her voice strong despite the fear inside her. "Will that help?"

The doctor nodded, and soon, Jane found herself lying in a hospital bed. The soft hum of the machines around her made her feel more tired than she could remember. She closed her eyes, hoping her blood donation would make a difference.

Hours later, she was told that the surgery had been a success. The man had been moved to the ICU, and the doctor said he would probably wake up soon. Jane felt a wave of relief, leaning against the wall, thankful that he was going to be okay.

Before leaving, she stopped the nurse on her way out. "Could you call me if he wakes up?" she asked. The nurse promised to keep her updated. As Jane stepped out of the hospital, she realized she still had the man's wallet and phone in her hand. She must have picked them up in the ambulance without even realizing it.

Once Jane got home, she placed the wallet and phone on the kitchen counter. A strange sadness washed over her as she thought about the man she had just helped. It felt unreal—saving someone's life without even knowing who they were—but at the same time, it felt like she had been exactly where she needed to be.