The Distance Between Us

The next day, Jane called Nick, but after several rings, the call went to voicemail. Maybe he's just busy, she told herself, trying to shake the unease tightening in her chest.

The following day, she tried again—still no answer. She hesitated before sending a quick text: Hey, are you alright? I've been worried about you. She stared at the screen, her fingers hovering over the phone, but no reply came.

By the next evening, worry turned to anxiety. The calls still went unanswered, and the silence gnawed at her. She couldn't stand it any longer. Grabbing her bag, she headed to his office.

At the receptionist desk, she introduced herself with a forced smile. "I'm Jane. I'm here to meet Mr. Nick." The receptionist asked her to wait a moment and called his office.

"Mr. Nick is in a meeting. He's unavailable right now," the receptionist said kindly.

Jane forced a smile, though her insides were in turmoil. "That's fine. I can wait." She took a seat, but her mind raced, replaying every moment she'd shared with Nick. Why isn't he answering? What's going on?

Minutes dragged on, and her fingers nervously tapped the edge of the chair. Her stomach twisted, anxiety settling deep within her. What could be taking so long?

After what felt like an eternity, the receptionist returned, apologetic. "I'm sorry, Ms. Jane. Mr. Nick's schedule is full today. Maybe you could come back later?"

Jane's heart sank. She exhaled slowly, trying to hold back the frustration. "It's okay," she murmured, quieter than she intended. "I'll just leave him a note."

She grabbed a pen and quickly scribbled her message: Hey, did I do something wrong? Why are you ignoring me? I'm really worried. Is everything alright?

She hesitated for a moment before folding the note and handing it to the receptionist. Their eyes met, and Jane's desperation showed. "Please, just give this to him."

The receptionist nodded, understanding. Jane watched as she left, turning away with a heavy heart.

Nick sat at his desk, staring at the note Jane had left. His hands gripped the edges of his desk, his mind a swirl of anger and hurt. The image of Jane laughing with Richard—the way they seemed so easy together—twisted inside him. He wasn't ready to face her.

But as his eyes scanned the note, something tugged at him. She's worried about me? The words hit harder than he expected. Guilt gnawed at him. She cared. And there he was, pushing her away.

He hadn't expected her to come to his office, but now, as he saw her standing outside, waiting for a cab, panic surged through him. Why didn't she drive? The question nagged at him. She was alone, and it was late—she shouldn't be out there by herself.

Her heels clicked rhythmically on the pavement, echoing in the quiet alley. Little did she know that this ordinary evening was about to take a terrifying turn.

As Jane turned a corner, two shadowy figures emerged from the darkness. Her heart rate instantly spiked, and a chill ran down her spine. She quickened her pace, hoping to pass by without incident, but the men blocked her path.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" one of them sneered, his breath reeking of alcohol.

Jane's mind raced, searching for an escape route. "Please, let me pass," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

The other man laughed, a harsh sound that made Jane flinch. "Not so fast, pretty lady. We're just getting started."

As they moved closer, Jane's survival instincts kicked in. She turned to run, but one of the men grabbed her arm, yanking her back roughly. Pain shot through her shoulder, and she let out a cry of fear and frustration.

"Let me go!" she shouted, struggling against his grip.

Just when she thought all hope was lost, a familiar voice cut through the night air like a knife.

"Hey!" Nick yelled, his voice filled with rage. "Leave her alone!"

Nick's heart pounded in his chest as he took in the scene before him. He left his office in a hurry when he saw Jane walking on the alley trying to get a cab. At first, he had considered not to go after her, but something made him feel unease, and that's when he took his car and dashed out of the parking, his gut feeling was right, he saw two men cornering her.

Without a second thought, Nick slammed on the brakes and leapt out of his car. As he approached, one of the attackers turned to face him, a sneer distorting his features.

"Get lost, pretty boy," the man spat. "This girl is mine for tonight. You can have her tomorrow, after I'm done."

The words made Nick's blood run cold, but they also ignited a fire within him. He charged forward, shoving the first man aside with all his might. The attacker stumbled back, caught off guard by Nick's sudden assault.

Nick's eyes locked onto Jane's, and the fear he saw there fueled his determination. He spotted a metal pipe lying nearby and grabbed it, swinging it with all his strength. The pipe connected with the second attacker's shoulder, eliciting a scream of pain as the man crumpled to the ground.

But Nick's victory was short-lived. The first attacker, now recovered from the initial shove, landed a solid punch to Nick's face. Pain exploded across his cheek, and his vision blurred momentarily. Yet, even through the haze of pain, one thought remained crystal clear in Nick's mind: I won't let them hurt her.

Nick's body moved on instinct, years of martial arts training kicking in. He blocked the next punch and countered with a powerful kick that sent his attacker stumbling backward. Every move, every strike was fueled by a potent mixture of fear for Jane's safety and anger at these men who dared to threaten her.

The fight was intense but brief. Nick's training and adrenaline-fueled strength proved too much for the attackers. With a final, decisive blow, both men fell to the ground, groaning in pain and defeat.

Panting heavily, Nick turned to Jane. "Jane!" he called out, grabbing her hand and pulling her close. The warmth of her skin against his own grounded him, reminding him of why he had fought so hard. "We need to go."

He led her quickly to his car, helping her into the passenger seat before jumping behind the wheel. The engine roared to life, and they sped away from the scene, leaving the dark alley and its dangers behind.

As they drove through the night, silence filled the car. Nick kept his eyes on the road, but he couldn't help stealing glances at Jane. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with the shock of what had just transpired.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice thick with concern.

Jane nodded slowly, but her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I... I didn't think you'd come for me," she whispered.

Nick's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Of course I would," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "I'd never let anything happen to you."

"Thank you," Jane murmured, her voice trembling.

As the adrenaline began to wear off, Jane became acutely aware of Nick's condition. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his cheek was swollen and beginning to bruise. The sight made her heart clench with worry.

"Nick," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're hurt."

Nick tried to brush off her concern with a weak smile. "I'm fine," he insisted, but the tremor in his voice betrayed him.

At the Hospital

The sterile smell of antiseptic filled Jane's nostrils as they sat in the emergency room. A doctor approached them, his eyes immediately focusing on Nick's injuries.

"What happened?" the doctor asked as he began to examine Nick, cleaning the cuts and tending to the bruises on his face.

"It was nothing," Nick said, trying to downplay the situation.

But Jane couldn't stay silent. "We were attacked by some thugs on our way back from the office," she blurted out, her voice shaky.

The doctor raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to report this?"

Nick shook his head firmly. "I'll handle it," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

After finishing his examination, the doctor turned to Jane with a small smile. "Your boyfriend is very brave."

Jane felt a blush creep up her cheeks at the word 'boyfriend,' but she pushed the feeling aside. Instead, she shot Nick a sharp look. "He's brave, but also stupid!" she scolded, her worry evident in her voice. "Why'd you do that? What if something had happened to you? What would I have done?"

Nick scoffed, trying to wave away her concern. "What else was I supposed to do? Stand there and watch them hurt you?"

The doctor, sensing the tension, quietly excused himself, leaving them alone.

Nick's voice became serious as he looked at Jane. "Did you get hurt anywhere?"

"No," Jane lied instinctively, her hand unconsciously moving to her stomach.

Nick's eyes narrowed. "Let me see," he insisted, his face filled with genuine concern.

"What are you doing?" Jane gasped, surprised by his directness.

"Just let me check," he said, his eyes locking with hers.

Reluctantly, Jane lifted her shirt slightly. A bruise had already started to form on her side. Nick's face darkened at the sight.

"How did this happen?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Jane hesitated, the memory flooding back. "He kicked me when I tried to fight back."

Nick's jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists. "I'll kill that bastard," he growled, his anger palpable.

Unable to contain herself any longer, Jane threw her arms around Nick, hugging him tightly. The warmth of his body and the comfort of his presence made her breath catch in her throat.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice thick with guilt. "I always get into trouble."

"It's my fault," Nick replied, his voice heavy with regret. "I should have come down to see you. I shouldn't have let you go back alone."

Jane pulled back slightly to look at him, shaking her head. "You were busy; it's not your fault," she said, her voice soft but firm.

But when she looked into his eyes, the guilt she saw there made her heart ache. She could see how much he blamed himself, and she wished she could take that burden away from him.

A female doctor approached them, her smile warm and reassuring. "Let's take a look at that bruise," she said gently, guiding Jane to sit on the examination table.

Nick stood nearby, watching with a worried expression etched on his face. After a thorough examination, the doctor gave a small sigh of relief.

"Luckily, there's no internal injury," she said. "Just some bruising. Be careful when you move, but it should heal quickly. Here's some medicine for the pain." She handed Jane a small prescription and gave her a reassuring smile.

Turning to Nick, the doctor added with a teasing grin, "But you, on the other hand, almost broke some ribs out there."

Nick winced at the reminder but nodded. "I'll take care of it."

The doctor nodded back. "Rest up, both of you. You'll be good to go by morning."

As the doctor left, Jane and Nick found themselves alone once again, the weight of the night's events hanging heavily between them.

In the quiet of the hospital room, Jane finally found the courage to voice the question that had been nagging at her since Nick's arrival in the alley.

"Nick," she began hesitantly, "why did you come back?"

"Of course I would," Nick said, his voice filled with emotion. He gripped the steering wheel harder, still furious. "I'd never let anything happen to you."

"Thank you," Jane whispered, her voice trembling. Her heart raced, not just from the attack but from the sight of Nick. Blood dripped from his mouth, and his cheek was swollen, a painful reminder of what had just happened. She gripped the seatbelt strap tightly, her knuckles turning white as she silently prayed for him to be okay.

"Nick," she whispered, panic filling her chest. She glanced up at him, her eyes wide with worry.

Nick gave a weak smile, trying to brush off her concern. "I'm fine," he said, but his voice trembled, betraying his words.

The hospital was cold and smelled of antiseptic, but Jane barely noticed. The doctor walked up to them, his eyes focused on Nick's injuries.

The doctor began to examine Nick, cleaning the cuts and bruises on his face. Jane sat beside him, her heart heavy with worry. "What happened?" The doctor asked. 

"It was nothing," Nick said, trying to brush it off, but Jane couldn't keep quiet.

"We were attacked by some thugs on our way back from the office," she blurted, her voice shaky.

The doctor raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to report this?"

Nick quickly shook his head. "I'll handle it," he said, his voice firm.

After finishing up, the doctor looked at Jane with a small smile. "Your boyfriend is very brave."

She smiled faintly but shot Nick a sharp look. "He's brave, but also stupid!"

Nick gave her a small grin despite his pain, but winced slightly as he shifted in his seat.

"Why'd you do that?" she scolded, her concern evident. "What if something happened to you? What would I have done?"

He scoffed, waving her worry away. "What else was I supposed to do? Stand there and watch them hurt you?"

Her expression softened. Her anger melted into the reality of what had happened. The doctor smiled at their playful argument and left them alone.

Nick's voice became serious as he looked at her. "Did you get hurt anywhere?"

"No," she lied, instinctively touching her stomach.

"Let me see," he insisted, his face filled with genuine concern.

"What are you doing?" she gasped, surprised.

"Just let me check," he said, his eyes locking with hers.

Reluctantly, she lifted her shirt. A bruise had already started to form on her side. Nick's face darkened. "How did this happen?"

She hesitated, the memory flooding back. "He kicked me when I tried to fight back."

Nick's jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists. "I'll kill that bastard," he growled, his anger obvious.

At that moment, Jane couldn't stop herself from hugging him tightly. She felt the warmth of his body, and the comfort it brought made her breath catch. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice thick with guilt. "I always get in trouble."

"It's my fault," he replied, his voice heavy with regret. "I should have come down to see you."

His eyes flickered with a mix of emotions, regret, and worry. "I shouldn't have let you go back alone."

Jane pulled back slightly to look at him, shaking her head. "You were busy; it's not your fault," she said, her voice soft but firm.

But when she looked at him, the guilt on his face made her heart ache. She could see how much he blamed himself, and she wished she could take it away.

A female doctor walked over to Jane, her smile warm and calming. "Let's take a look at that bruise," she said gently, guiding Jane to sit on the examination table. Nick stood nearby, watching with a worried expression on his face.

After checking Jane thoroughly, the doctor gave a small sigh of relief. "Luckily, there's no internal injury," she said. "Just some bruising. Be careful when you move, but it should heal quickly. Here's some medicine for the pain." She handed Jane a small prescription and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Your girl is fine. Just bruises. Nothing serious," the doctor continued. Then, turning to Nick, she added with a teasing grin, "But you, on the other hand, almost broke some ribs out there."

Nick winced at the reminder but nodded. "I'll take care of it."

The doctor nodded back. "Rest up, both of you. You'll be good to go by morning."

With a final smile, she left the room.