ZACK’S POV
I couldn’t utter a single word in answer to him. The truth was that I wanted to tell him many things but everything just came to me and got stuck on the tip of my tongue itself. Honesty speaking, I wanted to yell and tell him that I too loved her as much as she loved me and I will do anything and everything I could, just to give her back the love and happiness she deserved from me and the world.
“Mike, please trust me as you had always done” after a lot of struggles it was all I could utter and promised him. There was no time for me to waste anymore and I had to act fast. So, I hugged him tightly to gain the strength I wanted to do what I wanted to and got out of the hospital. And hurrying down my out, I accidently bumped into someone.
“Oh I, thank god I found you. How’s she?” I was stopped me from behind asking me the question.
She held my hands in hastily with a face of mixed emotions of guilt and apology. Being blank already, I turned towards her and pushed her away to see who it was and when I saw her face, some kind of adrenaline of hatred spread across me wanting to squeeze her throat. But all I could do was to free my hands from her with a snarl.
“Stay away from her Caroline” I gritted my teeth in disgust of seeing her here, acting so concerned of her. However, from her face it was evident that she indeed was genuine this but it was too late for it!!! How did she even think I’ll forgive her so easily??? If the situation was not the present one, then I would have clearly shown her the real audacity of her. Girl you’re lucky for the day but don’t take it as a chance to do what you had been doing all these while with us!!!
“I, all I wanted…” just like I thought, she tried to explain herself and my patience was already done for the day. I held her more tightly making her feel the pain and looked into her eyes with my blood red eyes.
“One more time Caroline. Act you fucking innocent face one more time and you’ll see a I who’ll make you wish you hadn’t seen” the rage I had altogether inside me burst out and I told her in the most vicious tone I had ever used in in my life.
“I know you hate me but please let me help you. I too genuinely want to save her life. I want to pay her back for all the love she had given me even after I made her reach this stage” Caroline poured her heart out.
“For what? To blame her again for everything? To blame her that she killed your child which was never alive? To do the same to her like you had done to Jake? Trust me Caroline, stay away from her or else you’ll see my worst” I snarled at her like a vicious beast.
She was horrified to see me in that avatar and her frozen shivering body made it evident that she understood what I warned her. I let go of her and she wobblingly stood there taking heavy breaths as I stormed out of the hospital to my home.
Mom was still waiting for me awake all these while and when I reached home, she jumped up from the sofa and threw herself on me and we both hugged each other washing away all the misunderstanding we had between us. Her warm motherly hug filled with all the love she had for me was so powerful that I began to wish I had done this much earlier!!!
“What happened?” seeing my terrible condition, she got worried and asked me in her broken voice. If she had to hear out what happened all day, she had to have a lot of courage and I had none to give her. I mad her sit down of the couch and sat with her.
She looked at me with the tiny little eyes of her and after taking a deep breath, I confessed to her what all happened that night with me.
Tears ran down her eyes like a broken dam and I knew how she would react and things happened as I expected it would. Without wasting another second, she landed a tight slap on my face and a smile appeared on my lips. I deserved it; hence I didn’t give out any reaction to it.
“How on earth did you fall so weak I? Your dad hadn’t grown you to be like this. Promise me that you won repeat that hideous act again” the mom that I knew was now back and the fire I saw in her eye was the one that dad might have seen in her which had made him fall for her. Wow, this conversation was going nice and our differences were already covered up!!!
“I, I have already lost my love now I am neither ready nor willing to lose my life which is you” she cupped my face in her hands and kissed my forehead. If this love between us had blossomed earlier, I wouldn’t have to face this day in my life. Guess everything has its own time!!!
She was in tears saying this. What I could do? All I could do was to apologise for my entire mistakes till now. We had a very emotional confrontation and then I held her to tell her about Zoe’s needs. Without holding back anymore, I broke down before her and asked her about any way to save my Zoe. Mom was always the problem solver of dad and I believed that she would have solutions for me also.
To my astonishment, mom, from what all I told her, understood Zoe’s love and sacrifices that had kept me alive. She also wanted her back as much as me. Well, the ones who had fallen in true love were the ones who could truly understand its power and Mom was one of them. She was reminded of her and dad’s life after hearing about Zoe and that was the only thing that brought a smile on her face finally.
She let out a deep sigh and the smile she had widened up. I was confused for sure but the support that she gave me was Indescribable. We began to work our brains to figure out some way to help Zoe and then suddenly mom was struck with an idea.
“Have you forgotten about the GYT?” she blurted out in the excitement of the idea and I jumped in terror.
I was left petrified by her sudden change of topic. From where the hell did GYT pop in??
Mom moved my face to her and caressed it with her hands. She looked at me with a strange confidence and the smile she had was worrying me because I didn’t feel it to be a good one. If she was talking about the GYT, she would probably be hinting about the reward it offered for the winner and when it crossed my mind, I was appalled.
“No way..., I’m not going to take up any risk in this situation” I denied her idea sternly without a second thought.
“Think about the prize money you would receive if you win the tournament” mom made her strike in the right place and I was triggered.
Yes, she was right. The price money was all that was required for her treatment. But, even though the prize money was most suitable for Zoe, I couldn’t even imagine about taking that step. After what all had happened when I was adamant to come back, I had no courage to take a risk in the matter and bear the consequences of it again.
But then, something weird strange struck me on that one Idea. To save my Zoe, I had to do something and it was one of the ways, actually the only way possible in the meantime. Still, choosing to participate in the GYT was the biggest challenge of my life. My body trembled with anxiety by the thought of it even though my mind was filled with Zoe.
I was in a fix whether to do it or not. The Idea was a great deal of peril. I couldn’t just simply sit anywhere and keep on thinking. I had to take an action and thus decided to take part In the GYT still not being sure about whether I was doing the right thing or not. The path I chose for saving my girl was not a simple one. I had to prepare myself, mostly mentally. The notion of running on the same tracks which had made my dad a champion was discouraging me to death. What If I failed to live up to my dad? What if the decision I took in my broken state became another of my biggest mistakes that I would end up regretting my entire life? Will I be able to overcome my fears and save my Zoe or would I be losing her forever???
Amidst all these thoughts drowning me in a myriad of emotions, I somehow dragged my body to my room. Mom, without any question just let me because she knew I needed heck a lot of time alone. My head and mind were messed up in the worst way still, somehow it robotically made me go for the brochure of the GYT that once David had given me.
With trembling hands, I took it in my hands and sat on my bed blankly. I had no idea what was going on nor I wanted to know because the only thing I saw upon closing my eyes was my Zoe. My Zoe, who didn’t even think twice before saving my life, who had silently saved me from every manipulation I was stuck with, and had secretly loved me more than anyone could have ever had!!!!
I started turning the pages of the brochure and on the first page itself, a detailed analysis of GYT was mentions. The GYT consisted of many track races and other sports events like long jump, triple jump, throws and the rest everything. It was for the athlete to decide the four events he or she wished to participate in. The rules and regulation were exactly similar to the usual ones in every sports championship be it big or small. And finally, the athlete, who could win the highest individual points, would be declared the individual champion and will receive the prize money and scholarship to build up the athlete’s career.
Everything was going pretty formal for the time being, until I got a strike of disbelief...
“Holy shoot. The championship is tomorrow?” I was aghast seeing the dates. Was this for real???
I froze in shock as I couldn’t take anymore of such unexpected hits. I couldn't believe my eyes seeing the date and so I went to do a detailed check and still I remained the same. I couldn’t believe the fact that my fate was somehow lenient towards me because the tournament was to be held the very next day!!! That fact actually blew up my mind. I was in utter disbelief yet this shock made him feel as if he was blessed by his dad and God as they helped him at the right moment to find a way to save Zoe!!!!
But....there still remained a big hurdle to be overcome. For the championship, I had to prepare himself mostly mentally. The thought of running on the same tracks which had made my dad a champion was heavily discouraging me. What if I failed to live up to dad???
My fear was killing me from within and having no other choice, I had to let go of it if I had to save my Zoe. For that, I immediately called up Coach David and informed him that I wanted to participate in the tournament. As expected, Coach was stunned and was also very thrilled to hear my decision and hence was ready to do everything required even if it was a last-minute crisis. The only thing he asked me was to meet him in the morning for the formalities.
once I decided it, I called Mike and told him about my participation. Mike too was shaken by my decision and yes, I did ask him not to try to change my mind, how could I tell him that my mind was still fragile to accept my own decision??? Hence, after a small talk of encouragement, he told me that he would meet me in the arena. That was the least thing I wanted from him and so, I asked him to be with Zoe for me. Mike wished me luck and after hanging up the call, I freshened myself up and went to bed with the thoughts of Zoe. I had to take enough rest to participate in the tournament next day and for that, I had to get to bed as soon as possible. That was the only reason I slept otherwise I would have spent my whole day beside Zoe in the hospital.
But was my decision going to be worth it or was it going to be the worst decision of my life???