Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Jonathan stirred awake in a hospital bed as the sterile scent of antiseptic filling his nostrils. The bright overhead lights were almost blinding, and he squinted against their intensity. Confusion washed over him as fragments of his memory of Laura began to resurface—the woman with the knife, the pain, and then darkness.

He took a deep breath, but it was shallow and painful. Panic tightened his chest as he slowly scanned the room, searching for familiar faces. The rhythmic beeping of machines surrounded him and it was a reminder of his fragile state. He hoped to see Laura's comforting smile, her presence always a source of strength for him. He needed her now more than ever.

"Laura..." he whispered hoarsely, but the sound barely escaped his lips. The room was empty except for the medical equipment humming quietly in the background. He turned his head slowly, every movement feeling like a monumental effort. His body felt heavy and weak, each breath a laborious task. A deep sense of loss washed over him as he realized that Laura had completely slipped away from his grasp.

As he lay there, a wave of loneliness washed over him. Time seemed to stretch endlessly in the stillness of the room. Each tick of the clock echoed in his mind, amplifying the void left by Laura's absence. Jonathan's heart sank, heavy with worry and regret.

Just when he thought he might drown in his thoughts, the door creaked open. Jonathan turned his head, hopeful for a moment, only to see his mother enter the room, concern etched on her face.

"You're finally awake," she said, her voice steady but laced with worry. She placed her bag down on the nearby couch before making her way to Jonathan's side. Taking a deep breath, she seemed to exhale all the exhaustion that had built up inside her since the incident.

"How many times have I told you to stop drinking?" she stated, her eyes narrowing slightly as she grabbed his arm, the warmth of her touch both comforting and unsettling. "Is this because you and Laura had a fight?"

The mention of Laura made him flinch, a pang of anguish shooting through him. Jonathan had never seen his mother look so weary, yet there was an urgency in her gaze that compelled him to respond.

Mrs. Reed sighed, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "I really don't like to dwell on small things, but ever since your accident last night—"

"Wait, accident? Last night?" he interrupted, confusion clouding his mind. He vividly remembered the woman, the knife, and the pain, but an accident? It didn't make sense.

"Yes," she continued, her expression softening as if she were bracing herself to explain something he wouldn't want to hear. "Remember when you went to the club last night? (refer to chapter 8). You were drunk but still drove your car. Then you crashed. It wasn't a severe accident, but you still got a few scratches. We're just glad you're okay."

Jonathan's head spun as her words sank in. "But I wasn't driving... I was stabbed," he murmured, feeling a mix of disbelief and frustration. "There was a woman... She attacked me."

His mother's eyes widened, concern deepening. "Attacked? What do you mean?"

He struggled to piece the events together, his heart racing. "There was a woman. She..." His voice trailed off as the memory of the knife flashed in his mind. "She... she—"

"Jonathan," Mrs. Reed interrupted gently, squeezing his hand, thinking that Jonathan might have hallucinations after the accident. "You need to focus on healing right now. We can deal with the rest later."

"But, Mom! I was stabbed!" Jonathan's voice trembled, thick with desperation. "I went out to get my car, and there was this woman—she had a knife! I was going to chase after Laura! She was leaving with her family. Mr. Levine told me they weren't coming back!" His eyes were wide with panic, the memories flooding back so vividly it hurt.

Mrs. Reed's face paled, her fear deepening. She stepped back, almost trembling at the thought that her son might be delusional. Could the crash have done something to his mind? Was he creating a world that didn't exist?

"Jonathan, please..." she whispered, her voice fragile as if it might break at any second. "Stop it, you're scaring me."

Jonathan who was unable to process her words, moved frantically. His hand shot to his back, fingers searching for the stab wound—the sharp pain he was so sure he had felt. He winced as if expecting the touch to sting, but his fingers met nothing. There was no wound. His breath hitched, and his hand froze in place.

"Where..." he stammered, staring at his mother with wide, frantic eyes. "Where is it?"

Mrs. Reed, her own fear now spilling over, shouted, "You weren't stabbed, Jonathan! It was a car accident! You crashed! Please, snap out of it!" Her voice cracked, raw from emotion.

Jonathan's heart pounded in his chest as his fingers fumbled over his unmarked skin. No blood. No gash. His body—unharmed. His eyes darted around the room, trying to make sense of it. 'Had it really all been in my head?'

He looked back at his mother, who stood there with tears streaming down her face, pleading for him to believe her.

"I... I wasn't stabbed?" His voice was barely a whisper as the realization dawned on him slowly and painfully. He stared at his hands, as if willing them to show him some evidence, something to prove he wasn't losing his grip on reality.

But a bitter laugh escaped him, hollow and desperate. "So... it was all in my head?"

And then another realization hit him like a jolt of electricity. His eyes widened, and with newfound urgency, he abruptly moved to completely face his mother, almost too quickly for his weakened body to handle. "So if it was all in my head... then—Laura! Where is she, Mom?" His voice cracked as he burst out the question, startling Mrs. Reed.

"Well... she's home with her mother," Mrs. Reed said softly, her voice hesitant. "I went to tell her what happened to you, but... she wasn't in the mood to see you at all. That's why I asked if the two of you had argued."

~~~~~

Meanwhile, Laura sat in her room with her thoughts heavy and tangled. She still felt the sting of Jonathan's rejection at the cafe, the hurt of him turning his back on her when she had been most vulnerable. She had given him everything—her trust, her hope—and yet he had shut her out, leaving her with nothing but the bitter taste of disappointment.

Even now, as she thought about what had happened between them, a sadness washed over her. She couldn't bring herself to face Jonathan anymore. Not after everything. It was too painful, and she wasn't sure her heart could take any more rejection.

For Laura, it was easier to retreat, to build walls around herself, rather than risk being hurt again.