002

♦♦♦♦

The elevator chimed, and their voices echoed in her mind repeatedly. Two images of her fiance and gazes…that was enough to bury her name as it slipped out of their tongues. ‘Why? Twin? The Lucas I crave every night isn't the one that saved me? He approached me… how did they know Vanessa?’ Her thoughts were ruined as she couldn't get to solve them one at a time.

Got to the front desk, returning the access card with trembling fingers.

“Ma’am…” the receptionist began but stopped when she saw Eleanor’s broken stare.

“Please… don’t tell anyone I was here.” She mumbled between breaths.

Outside, thunder cracked violently. Rain poured in heavy sheets, drenching her instantly. She didn’t care.

“It seems even heaven is crying for me,” she whispered as tears streamed freely down her cheeks, mixing with the rain.

Remembering the familiar name from earlier again made her tremble. She thought she was free from torture, but her freedom wasn't a survival but a trap for a bigger trauma.

“Revenge?” She muttered. ‘Since when did they start? The day we met?’ 

Another thunder strike jogged her memory to the day they met. ‘The car hitting me wasn't an accident?’ She thought as the memories of their first meeting flashed through her head.

“I’m so sorry, Miss.” Lucas bowed to her as she lay on the hospital bed that year. “I promise to take care of you until you fully recover.” And that's when he started; taking care of her at the hospital led to different things, which made them closer to each other.

‘He didn't deliberately run over me, right? To seduce me? Vanessa…’

Her thoughts spiraled… pain, humiliation, heartbreak… until her phone rang.

“Hello, Miss Monroe,” a nurse said gently.

“Yes… speaking.” Her voice trembled.

“Your grandfather’s condition has worsened. Please come immediately to sign some documents.”

“What?” Eleanor gasped, breath shattering.

‘Lord, please keep my grandfather safe!’ She rushed into the nearest taxi, soaked, shaking, with mascara streaking down her face. Her heart throbbed with agonizing fear. Her grandfather was all she had left.

She arrived at the hospital; it felt like it was closing in. The air was too sharp, too bright, and too loud. Every monitor seemed to scream at once… rapid beeping, alarms chirping, and metal clattering as nurses rushed past. Footsteps thundered against the floor, echoing like a heartbeat that was racing out of control, but Eleanor didn't care as long as he was fine (her grandfather).

“Doctor, what happened to my grandpa?” She cried as she burst into the ward.

“He’s not responding to treatment anymore… We can only wait.”

Nothing felt steady. Not the walls, not the floor, not the air. Just chaos, urgency, and a growing sense that something terrible was happening right now.

“Don’t say that! He was fine yesterday!” She screamed.

“Mr. Monroe wants to see you,” a nurse said softly.

Eleanor ran to his room. Her whole body was trembling from fear.

“Grandpa?” she breathed, voice trembling. “What’s wrong?”

“Eleanor… you’re here,” he whispered weakly.

“Yes, Grandpa. I’m here. Please get well. Please…”

“Happy birthday, my princess.” He forced a fragile smile. “I’m proud of you. Be happy… marry that man. He promised he’d care for you when I’m gone.”

Her heart twisted painfully. ‘How do I tell him the truth?’

Tears streamed down her face as she watched him struggle to breathe.

“Can I… see him one last time?” he whispered.

Eleanor swallowed her pride and dialed Lucas, wanting to grant her grandfather’s last wish.

“Please pick up!” She cried, slamming her palm against the wall. He refused her calls again and again.

She refused to give up as she dialed one of his friends she met randomly contact but no one picked-up.

She returned to the room, forcing a shaky smile. “Grandpa… I think he’s busy. I’ll call him tomorrow.”

He didn’t respond.

“Grandpa?” she whispered.

Nothing.

 “Grandpa!” she screamed. “Doctor!”

Voices overlapped… Doctors calling out instructions, Eleanor crying down the hall, and a frantic shuffle of wheels as a stretcher flew by. The harsh smell of antiseptic burned the nose, making it harder to breathe and harder to think. Lights flickered overhead, glaring white and unforgiving, turning everything into a blur of motion and fear.

After several attempts, the doctor lowered his gaze.

“Time of death… 12:01 AM, January 1st, 20XX.”

Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor, the world around her shattering completely.