"Mom?"
"Jake, my son. How's Emma? How's she doing?" She hugged me as soon as she approached me.
"She is out of danger, mom, but she is still unconscious." I struggled to get those words out as the tears built in my eyes ever since I saw her, just broke loose. I hugged my mom and let it all out.
"It's fine baby. It will get better." She caressed my back as she sat down next to me. I partly lied down in her laps and poured all my pain and suffering out.
I was feeling so lost.
"I won't survive a day if anything happens to her ma. She stood with me through everything.... she never...ever cared about herself.......
She... she knew she was in danger, but she still stayed, and I let her down..." My voice got hoarse as countless tears kept crawling down my cheeks.
"Shhh... Calm down, baby. She will wake up. She will get better son. I know it." Her voice was cracking, and her breathing became uneven too.
"How did I let it happen, mom? How will I live with myself?"
"Sometimes, things are beyond our control son. Don't walk down that road. It's a dark place to be. You saved her. Worse could have happened, but she is out of danger now, all because you found her in time." Mom tried to console me, and suddenly I felt a tear fall on my forehead. She was crying too.
I got up and cupped her face, "Mom?"
"I could not stop your dad from getting in that ill-fated car. I live with this guilt every single day of my life. It weighs me down more than anyone can know, and I feel I can never be at peace again."
"Mom you couldn't have known...." I managed to mumble these words, but before I could complete, she cut me out, "He died Jake, your father died. But Emma is safe, you saved her and you will be strong for her. You will help her all through the way and get her home safe and sound. Promise me, son."
She broke down. She was utterly dejected. Ever since Dad died, this was the first time she talked about her feelings. She had been very distant.
"I promise mom. I will give Emma everything and help her recover as soon as possible."
We were interrupted by some commotion at the far end of the corridor. A nurse came rushing in our direction.
"Are you, Jake? The patient is now conscious and has been asking to see Mr. Jake."
"Yes, I am Jake." I almost jumped up from my seat.
"Please stay on standby. The doctors are now with her. You can go inside once they complete their examination."
"Thank you. I will be right outside." A sense of relief washed over me. Emma was awake. Mom got up and hugged me again. She gestured me to go ahead and meet Emma while she will wait outside.
I was pacing up and down outside the massive glass door of the ICU unit, waiting for the doctors to give me the go-ahead to enter the premises. Almost after 30 long minutes, the door finally opened.
A team of doctors stepped outside.
"Hello Doctor, I am Jacob Richmond. How is Emma doing?"
"Oh, Hello Mr. Richmond. Emma's vitals are stable now, and she is responding well, which is a good sign. She is weak due to excessive bleeding, and her left leg is fractured, which will take recovery time of at least 4-5 weeks. Apart from that all other wounds on her head and face are relatively minor and will heal with time."
"Thank you, doctor! Can I see her now?"
"Yes, of course. She has been asking for you."
My legs were trembling as I took brisk steps to meet Emma. The moment I entered her room, I saw her eyes, wet with tears, that still got lit up when she saw me. She had two small bandages, one on her forehead, the other next to her jaw and several deep blue marks on her cheeks, arms, collarbone and neck.
I took a deep breath, seeing her like this formed a lump in my throat, but I had to be strong for her.
"Jake." Her meek voice fell on my ear.
"Emma." I rushed to her side and hugged her softly.
"I am so sorry, Emma. I am sorry I didn't find you sooner. I am sorry this happened to you in the first place." I whispered as I caressed her hair.
"I was so scared, Jake. She shot me, she beat me up, and she got so many people killed." She whispered as tears fell down her cheeks.
"I know baby. She will pay for all this. She will regret ever laying her filthy hands on you. I will make sure of that."
"Did you catch her?"
"Yes, she was arrested."
She suddenly let out a sigh of relief; this only shows how terrorized she felt of Erica. I cupped her face and gave her a soft kiss on her forehead. "I love you so much, Emma, I was so scared I will lose you."
"I was scared too, Jake. I was sure I would die in her hands."
"Shh… Don't say that ever again, Emma. I am here for you now, and I will never leave your side ever again. Please forgive me for all that happened. I am so sorry." I tried to put a brave face, but my tears defied me, and I just couldn't hold them anymore.
We both stayed in each other's embrace for a very long time. Our eyes were wet, but our souls were finally united. No words could express the feelings that our touch and hold on each other conveyed. It felt as if we were healing in each other's arms, drawing comfort and spirit to
