CHRISTINA.


    The car is approaching me at an inappropriate speed. I understand that I probably won’t have time to jump away, but it’s worth trying. The suitcases are big and unwieldy, but is it worth thinking about now? I probably love clothes more than myself. I’m frantically trying to push one of them forward, but the car is already close. I only have time to look, but I don’t see the driver, the headlights are too bright. Everything happens like in a movie. The car crashes into me at full speed, first I fall with my nose on the hood, and then I fly, fly, and a sharp pain pierces me… I try to get up, but I can’t, my legs don’t obey me. The car drives away, and accelerates again. It seems to be intentional.


    “Could it really be those two again?” I think tiredly.


    A young woman runs up to me and shouts something. But I can’t answer anything. I don’t feel anything anymore.


    JOHN.


    The ambulance has already left, the police too. Some people are still standing there. I run up to them.


    “Excuse me, may I ask what happened to the girl who was here?”


    A woman answers me:


    “Oh, so a car hit her, they took her away in an ambulance.”


    “Do you know where? Wait, those are her suitcases, aren’t they?”


    “Yes, it is.”


    “Give them to me, I’ll take them, but where can I find out where they sent her?”


    “Ask the airport workers.”


    “Of course. Thank you,” I say. I take the suitcases and am about to throw them in the car.


    “Hey, who are you to her?” a man calls out to me.


    “We were supposed to get married soon…”


    And why did I say that?


    “Then write down the car’s license plate somewhere, I remembered them. And I gave them to the police.”


    “Thank you very much, I am very grateful!” I say and write down his information on my phone.


    I ran inside the building. There are two hospitals nearby where they could have taken her. At least that’s what the staff told me. I’ll have to call both. Right now I can’t let my emotions get the better of me, otherwise I won’t be able to be near her. I need to stay focused for as long as possible.


    “Hello. Have you had Christina Vinnes? The girl in the car accident. No? Have a nice day!” Okay, next.


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    “Hello! Christina Vinnes? We don’t have that.”


    “Did you look carefully?”


    “Yeah, sure.”


    “Hey, Dad!”


    “Son, we’re on our way. Did you find her?”


    “No. They said probably the two closest ones, but they’re not there. I’ll call all the hospitals in the area.”


    Two more. But she hasn’t been admitted there either. I stop the car. I’m starting to panic again, and I can’t let that happen. My father calls me again.


    “Son, I found her, I’m sending her the address. But she’s in surgery now.”


    “Never mind, send it to me soon.”


    I’m flying faster than the wind. I’ll probably get a speeding ticket later, but that doesn’t matter right now. I ran into the hospital and inquired about her condition.


    “You can wait near the operating room, but I think it will take a long time” they tell me at the registration desk.


    “What the hell difference does it make?!” I curse to myself and run there faster.


    The doctor doesn’t come out for a long time, and I start to worry a lot. I don’t keep track of the time, but Jack and Aela have already joined me. They are also seriously worried. The doctor comes out after some time.


    “Tell me what’s wrong with my daughter, she’s okay, right?!”


    I’ve never seen Jack like this. Although I probably don’t look any better now.


    “A broken leg, we removed the bone fragments. Also, a bruised spine. She’s unconscious now, I think the pain shock played a role. When she comes, you’ll be notified.”


    “But she’ll be okay, right?” I ask.


    “I think so. She’ll stay in the hospital for a while.”


    “Doctor, do everything you can!”


    “We’ll definitely do everything we can,” he assures.


    The doctor leaves us, and we’re left alone with our thoughts and worries.


    “Boys, I understand that you’re very upset, but you probably haven’t even eaten much today. You need to have something to eat and drink some coffee, you look like ghosts. And don’t even dare argue. Follow me!”


    She tries to cheer us up, although it’s obvious that she’s worried, too. She doesn’t know how to hide her emotions.


    THREE DAYS LATER.


    My apartment is a little cramped now. Of course, there are three of us. I gave up my huge bed to my father and stepmother (that’s what the papers say, right?), and moved to the couch in the living room. Aela didn’t even cook these days. And neither did I. We just ordered something to keep up our strength and waited for them to tell us something, but nothing was changing. The ringing of the phone interrupted our already unhealthily light sleep.


    “Christina has come to her senses. Let’s go.”


    “I’m driving,” we’ll take turns on duty anyway, “one car is enough for us, right, father?” I say as we go.


    We’re racing at full speed. It’s still dark in the ward, the soft light is on, the blinds are closed. Christina is pale as death. There’s a big bruise on her arm. My heart boils with anger at the sight of her. How dare these idiots mock my girl like that? She’s dozing, but it seems shallow. We whisper something to each other. The nurse leaves, leaving us alone.


    “Calm down, John, the police are already looking for them.”


    “I’m thirsty,” a barely audible voice comes from the bed. We turn our heads at the same time.


    “Hey, hey, how are you?!”


    “Be quiet, can’t you see?” Aela is the most reasonable one this time.


    Christina winces, but she can’t get up. And she gives up trying.


    “No, the doctor said it takes time to recover. Don’t strain yourself and don’t rush,” Aela hands her some water, “stop standing there like idols and staring at her, she just woke up. Let the person rest.”


    She irritates me with her words, but she’s right.


    “Go, I’ll stay with her,” I tell them and sit down on the couch nearby.


    The ward is for two, but Chris is alone in it now. There are all the amenities, and most importantly, one of us was allowed to look after the patient, because she won’t be able to get up for a while. They inserted a plate, as far as I understood from the doctor’s conversation. Jack and Aela exchange glances, nod encouragingly at me and leave me alone with Chris and my heavy thoughts.


    “How did we get to this?” I ask her in my head, “Why didn’t I tell you about my feelings earlier? Maybe I could have protected you and today wouldn’t have been so terrible for you.”