Chapter 31: chapter 31

Elora's fingers around my neck come loose and they eventually slip away and fold into fists."How could you do this to me?" She choked out, hitting my chest with her weak fist. I pull back my hands from her cheeks."YOU CRUEL THING!!" I stay silent, bound by my guilt and regrets, besides she is saying the right thing.The sight of her crying face has shattered my heart into a million pieces. Every drop of her tears feels like a dagger penetrating my bones.She was such a happy and cheerful person and I've turned her into someone she must have never imagined becoming. She grabs both of my hands and places them over her stomach. I gasp at that moment. My chest tightens immediately and a scorching pain starts running all over my body as the sudden realisation hits me. "You remembered?" I find myself asking."Rodas, What happened... to our baby?" And then I'm silenced by her question."Elora!" It stops at her name and I cannot take my words further."Answer to me... Rodas Castillo!" She screams.My hand reach for the back of her head but she slaps them away and grabs my neck again."Rodas Please," she sobs. "Please tell me my baby is fine and being taken care of. I will forget about every bad thing that happened... Just tell me my baby is-""Elora..." I interrupt her. She is having a hard time breathing properly. "Sunshine... Calm down for a moment." "No!!!" She shouts. "JUST FUCKING TELL ME WHERE MY BABY IS!!" I was not prepared. I'm not prepared to tell her the truth. I must be the happiest and the saddest person at this moment. I'm so happy that she has regained her memory and at the same time, I just cannot bear to tell her that what she is asking to hear is something that's not possible. "Tell me that the nursery has been used."I swallow the lump in my throat. How could I tell her that the nursery has been locked ever since she lost consciousness?She starts hitting me again. This time I grab her hands and pull her into my embrace. She resists with all her might but I do not let her go and hug her tightly. "Let go!" She cries out, fighting back to break free from me."Calm down, please," I tell her again and again."Why can't you just tell me?" She mumbles and her strength to resist has become lesser.Within a few minutes, her loud sobs subside into small hiccups.I look at her face and she has closed her eyes. I gently pat her head, careful not to trigger her anymore. The room falls into silence.Thirty minutes later, I'm still lying on the floor with Elora on top of me. My arms protectively around her while her head lays on my chest. Neither of us said a single word in those thirty minutes but I know I've to clear things with her now that she has remembered the most crucial thing. I take in a gust of wind."I know it will not make any difference if I say it now but I should've listened to you Elora... I should've stayed with you that day" I feel her warm tears soaking my chest again."I really wish I could tell you what you're asking to hear about our baby but... Y-You got hit by the car and went into a coma, we couldn't - we couldn't save our baby" My voice tremble even though I try to be strong for her.Elora's hands shook uncontrollably as she cling to my arms. Her trembling lips attempt to form words but only a small cry escapes her mouth.Within a few seconds, her body wracks with sobs that seem to emanate from the depths of her soul.I keep holding her as I feel my own shameful tears oozing out of the corner of my eyes.My pain is nothing in comparison to hers. I cannot even imagine what she must be feeling right now. Her heart must be crumbling into million pieces along with the hopes and dreams she has carried while having the baby for months in her stomach and while making that nursery for the baby.She must be too shocked and trapped by sorrow. She must be longing to feel those tiny kicks and to cradle that precious life that had been growing inside her tummy.She must be feeling so empty. She must be feeling so much more that my imagination can't reach. I'm so powerless right now. All I can do is hold her and let her know that she can blame me all she wants. She can take her frustration out on me. She can slap me and hit me all she wants, but I won't move an inch and won't send her away to anyone ever again.I thought sending her away with Rei until she regain her memories naturally would be better than keeping her with me and showing her my unstable character filled with guilt and regrets. I did everything to make it believable. The home, the photographs and the things Rei would tell her. I know it was the stupidest thing I've done. But I just couldn't bear it when the doctor told me about the baby and when she didn't wake up even after three weeks.I lost my composure. Who thought Rei could betray me? In an attempt to protect her, I ended up hurting her again. But not anymore. This time I would protect her even if it cost me everything, I won't let anything happen to her ever again and for that, I have to kill that Mason fucking Turner. "R-Rodas..." Elora's small voice brings me back from my depth of thoughts.I kiss her forehead."Yes, Sunshine!" She raises her head and looks at me with her teary eyes. I wipe her cheeks and tuck some hair strands behind her ear."What is it, Angel?" I ask again, softly."Please... Take me away from this place!" She pleads. "I want to get away from here,"