He’s back

The snow got heavier the second I got outside.

The freezing air hit my face, but I barely felt it. My hands shook so badly I fumbled my keys before I finally unlocked the car.

I got in my car and drove.

I didn’t know where I was going. I didn't know what I was going to do.

All I knew was my husband had just given me the ultimate betrayal, wrapped it in good intentions, and expected me to smile and accept it.

All I knew was that in six months, his ex-girlfriend would give birth to his baby and everyone would expect me to play mother to a child that had nothing to do with me.

All I knew was that there wasn’t a single place left that still felt like home.

My phone rang. Dave. I declined.

It rang again. His mother. Declined.

A text came through: Rhea, come home. We can talk about this like adults. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. —Dave.

It rang again. I was ready to throw it out the window when I saw the name.

Nathan.

I bit down on my lower lip, willing myself to get it together before answering. I took in a deep breath and answered, putting it on speaker. “Hello?”

“Hi, Rhea. I was just calling to check in. We have that follow-up appointment next week and I wanted to…

“I'm sorry, I will have to cancel…” My voice came out hoarse and a sniffle escaped me.

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white, blinking hard at the road ahead.

“Rhea, are you okay?”

My breath hitched. “Yeah.”

He paused. “What happened?” He asked in almost a whisper.

“I’m… I’m fine.” A lump formed in my throat.

“Don’t lie to me, Rhea. Please, tell me what’s wrong.”

“I don't know.... I'm just... “ My vision became blurry. Tears I've been fighting so hard to hold spilled down my cheeks.

“Where are you exactly?”

“I’m…I’m in my car.”

“You're driving right now?” His voice lost its professional calm, replaced by something sharper.

“Yeah, I just… I had to leave. I couldn't stay there, I couldn't…”

“Okay, breathe for me. Slowly. Can you please pull over for a second?”

“I can't... If I stop, I'll fall apart and I can't…I can't do that. Not yet.”

“Rhea, you're crying. It's snowing heavily. This isn't safe.”

“Nothing about my life is stable anymore.”I laughed, but it sounded absurd even to me.

“I understand you're overwhelmed but you need to pull over. Tell me where you are. I'll come get you.”

“You don't have to do that.”

“I know I don’t have to.” His voice stayed calm. “I want to make sure you’re safe. You’ve trusted me with the hardest parts of your life for three years. Let me help you just this once.”

A fresh wave of tears burned my eyes. I blinked them away, tightening my grip on the steering wheel.

“Nathan, I…”

A shadow darted across the road.

I screamed and jerked the wheel.

The car swerved out of the lane and the tires screeched. I yanked the wheel to get back to lane but it was too late. The car was sliding, hydroplaning, completely out of my control.

Trees rushed at me.

I slammed my foot on the brakes, but the car kept sliding.

CRASH.

Then…

The car hit a tree and the windscreen shattered. The airbag exploded into my face. Pain shot through my head and chest.

Then everything stopped.

I couldn't hear anything except ringing in my ears.

The smell of burnt rubber and the sharp bite of the deployed airbag filled the car.

“Rhea? RHEA!” Nathan's voice was tinny and far away.

“I'm…here.” My voice sounded weak. “I… I just crashed.”

“What?! Where are you? Rhea, stay with me… where are you?”

“I don't know. Side of the road. Trees. I…” The notification of battery low sounded. “My phone's dying.”

“I’m not going anywhere, I’m calling for hel..”

The line ended.

“Fuck.”

I fumbled with my seatbelt. It took forever to get it unbuckled. When I finally got the door open, I fell out onto the ground.

I tried to stand but they gave out. I crawled a few feet, then collapsed against a tree.

Everything hurts. My head was pounding. Something warm dripped down my face—blood probably.

The snow had slowed but it was getting dark.

I pulled my knees to my chest and just sat there.

Maybe I was just too tired to keep fighting.

Too tired to think.

Too tired to care.

My eyes got heavy and I let them close.

TWELVE HOURS LATER

My eyelids felt heavy as I forced them open. A bright light stabbed at my eyes, making me squint before the white ceiling above me finally came into focus.

The steady beep of a monitor filled the silence. My mouth felt dry, and every part of my body ached.

I looked down to see a tube in my arm…

“Riri?”

My heart skipped.

It’s been five years I heard that name and no one calls me that name except him.

No. It can't be real. The pain medication must have been messing with my head.

I turned slowly, ignoring the sharp ache shooting through my skull.

For a second, I thought I was still dreaming.

He was sitting in a chair next to the bed.

He had changed. His face looked leaner than I remembered, his shoulders broader. His shirt was wrinkled, and his hair stuck up like he’d been dragging his hands through it for hours. Dark circles sat beneath bloodshot eyes.

“You’re awake.”

The words shattered the illusion.

“Rian?”

He was out of the chair before I had fully turned my head.

“You're awake. Thank God, you're awake.”

“What are you doing here?”

He moved closer, his hand lingered over mine like he wasn't sure if he should touch me. “Mom called me. I got on the first flight out.”

“You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Yes, I did." His voice was low. “You scared the hell out of me."

I stared at him.

Five years.

Five years since he’d left for London and slowly disappeared from my life.

And now he was here, looking at me like I’d scared ten years off his life.

“I’m fine,” I said.

“You're not fine. You drove into a tree.”

“I didn't mean to.”

“I know.” His thumb brushed lightly over the back of my hand before he seemed to catch himself.

“Dave… he…” My throat tightened.

“We don't have to talk about it.” He squeezed my hand. “Not now. Later. When you're ready. But right now…” He let out a slow breath, almost like he’d been holding it since the moment he walked into the room. “Right now, let me go get your doctor.”

I nodded in response.

The door clicked shut and I closed my eyes.

A minute later, Dr. Patel and Rian walked in. She checked my pupils with a light, asked me basic questions, and listened to my heart.

“Everything looks stable,” she said. “We’ll keep you for observation for a few more hours. Any dizziness or nausea, press the call button.”

I nodded and she left.

Barely a minute passed before another knock sounded at the door.

My father walked in and Dave was right behind him.