ZOE’S POV
Time passed and it was midnight and we both lay there still. The silence was so powerful that we didn’t dare to didn’t talk to each other and so, we just held each other. As always, we were now in each other’s comfort. The time passed by so fast and yet, I was blank. I didn’t have anything in my mind.
Tiredness had taken over me fully that I wanted to sleep my eyes didn’t shut themselves. And so, I just looked at the ocean. Zack was still immersed in his zombie like state having no idea about anything around him. However, beyond all his blankness, my mind had started thinking about the next moment of crisis in my family. For me, my family was my everything and my world. I had already made them go through a lot and what killed now the most was the anxiety I felt because of my broken promise. Well, I didn’t have any choice and all I could hope was for them to understand it!!!!!
I had already began to think about the end and the first thing that came into my mind was the thought of what I would tell Mike, my crazy brother who loved her more than anyone, my dad who did everything possible for my happiness and my mother who gave her everything she could to support me in my hard times. I grew sad about what they would have to go through again because of me.
For a second, more than Zack, I got a deep urge to let go. Somewhere in my head, I did wished to free my family from the sufferings they had suffered till now for me. After a long time, I again had my terrible past flash in front of my eyes for one last time. All I could see and think of was how Jake had struggled in his life and what all he had to go through. And what made me go crazy were his final words. Gosh, the wordings in his diary which I had been reading repeatedly from the past 2 years played madly inside my head making me go psychotic!!!!!
I wanted to end these sufferings forever. But something was pulling her back. Even this deadliest urge was being pulled away from my heart by some unknown force and it was none other than the man I held in my laps, my love. The only reason my soul held me back from all the negative thoughts that hovered over me was because, I hadn’t confessed it to him nor had I told him my story. He didn’t know the real Zoe nor he knew the dying Zoe. He only knew what I showed him. I had a deep secret buried in my heart. And it was something which only my family knew!!!
Only because of this, I was happy that my last moments were with my love. What more could I wish for?? I did miss my family terribly but I was really content with my life. The only thing that haunted me was the truth that I was going to miss them terribly and then, it happened....
I felt it first in my legs. Then it was slowly started spreading all over my body, my heart and then my lungs. I was slowly going out of breaths. I felt that deep and deadly pain after so long as if my long-lost friend had paid me back a visit. Gradually, my hands trembled in pain and it reached my head which felt like it was going to explode.
The chilled night was making me go cold. Finally, the slow process came to the next level when my body started shivering in pain. Between all my pains, Zack woke up by feeling my purpled feet. My leg in which I used to wear the compression band was slowly turning purple. Zack woke up abruptly from his rest and the first thing he noticed was the stitch I had on my legs. And that made him do what I knew he would do when he got to know my truth!!!!!
He was scared when he saw me in that condition. His flabbergasted face proved that he didn’t know what was happening nor knew what to do. Yet his first instincts were to take his phone and call Mike. In my state, all I could hear was him telling Mike to come to the lighthouse quickly and to bring his car.
I was sure that Mike would have grown worried to hear Zack’s trembling sound and the same happened.
“What happened? Why is your voice trembling??” Mike hastily asked him and he told him it was me.
Obvious fact that Mike became totally panicked with the call. All he asked repeatedly if Zoe had run. I didn’t know what she did so he just told him about Zoe’s condition. That had happened which Mike was afraid of. She did it. She broke her promise. She knew it still she did it. Mike was in tears. He rushed to the lighthouse as fast as he could. I took Zoe in his arms and ran downstairs the lighthouse. Mike arrived and I quickly got in with Zoe in his hands. Mike raised the speed and drove to the hospital as fast as he could. Zoe was shivering too much. Both Mike and I were worried for her to hell. They reached the hospital and rushed Zoe inside. Her neurologist was called by the hospital. She was shifted to the ICCU. Both Mike and I were terrified seeing Zoe. She was under observation while her doctor reached the hospital. She was informed about the patient and her condition.
Then the doctor saw Mike and raised her voice at him asking “why did you let her do it”. Her raw behaviour furthermore increased I’s tension.
Now he wanted answers. He wanted to know everything. What was happening to Zoe, why was it happening, why was the doctor behaving as if they had committed a sin. Since he had come to the town he received a lot of surprises. Now it was enough. He wanted answers.
He turned to Mike and asked him “what is happening? Please tell me something.”
Mike was busy calling his family and informing them about the situation. When Mike heard I he couldn’t control his anger.
He held his collar and shouted at him “I should have never left Zoe with you. I trusted you”.
Now Mike’s allegations without I having any knowledge about the situation made him more and more depressed. Suddenly it struck him. Mike had asked him repeatedly whether Zoe had run. What was connected to Zoe and running. He was more puzzled. He couldn’t take it anymore. He felt a vibration in his pocket. He took out his phone and saw any missed calls of Stella. He called her back.
“Where are you, are you fine. Please come home. We can talk are clear all the misunderstandings. I am sorry I please come home.”
She was worried for him and it clearly reflected in her voice. He took a deep breath and told her “Don’t worry mom I am fine. Just take care of yourself and I will be backing home soon”. He went to the washroom and washed face. He was utterly confused about what was happening in his life. Did everything have to happen together? Couldn’t life give him a break? But he kept all his thoughts aside and made his mind blank. His hands were red with the blood from his wounds. It didn’t hurt him as his heart was already wounded. Nothing in the world could shatter him anymore. He came out and saw that Zoe’s parents had arrived and they were waiting for the doctor. After hours the doctor came out. I understood from her behavior towards Zoe’s family that she knew them very well. She had told them something terrible due to which Zoe’s mom went on her knees and her dad had to hold her. They were shaken after talking to the doctor. He wanted answers; he wanted to know it and this time he was ready to take any step to know what was happening. Mike was outside the hospital in the lawn. I went to him and held his shoulders. Mike was filled with tears. Zoe was the best thing that ever happened in his life. She was the best sister anyone could have. Mike hugged I and apologized to him for his behavior. I, begged Mike for answers.
Mike told him “For you to understand Zoe’s condition you must know her past” ....