Chapter Two

Gesare

The first thing I notice is the sound of machines, beeping around me. 

A slow, rhythmic sound that seems to echo inside my skull.

My eyelids feel heavy, like someone glued them shut, but I force them open anyway. The bright white light above me stings my eyes, making me squint and for a moment I just lie there, confused, then the pain hits.

My muscles ache, my head throbs with pain and every breath feels like it drags glass through my chest, I try to move my fingers twitch slightly and my arms feel completely weak. 

But when I try to move my legs nothing happens, they feel heavy. A cold wave of panic spreads through my chest as I try to move the again but still nothing moves. 

“Where am I?” My voice comes out dry and hoarse, barely louder than a whisper. I glance around the unfamiliar room, searching for something, anything that might explain where I am or what's happening to me. 

“Why can’t I feel my legs?” I ask trying to hold back the tears threatening my eyes. 

“It’s okay,” a gentle female voice says softly as her warm hand rests on my arm. “You are safe, you are okay.”

I turn my head slowly.

A nurse stands beside me, adjusting one of the machines. She looks kind, her dark hair pulled neatly into a bun.

“You are at Memorial Hospital,” she says calmly. “You were involved in a car accident last night.”

The words echo in my mind, Car accident and suddenly fragments of memory flash through my head, I remember walking, the screeching tires, voices and then nothing. 

“Oh no” I whisper.

The nurse looks at me with concern, “Is something wrong?”

“I’m sorry,” I say quickly, trying to push myself up. “But I have to go. I need to leave.”

Pain shoots through my entire body the moment I try to move.

“Why can’t I feel my legs?” I ask again, panic creeping into my voice.

The nurse gently presses my shoulder, guiding me back onto the bed.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” she says softly. “But we can’t let you leave yet. You were in a serious accident.” Her voice lowers, “You can’t walk right now.”

“No that’s not possible.”

I try to move my legs again but they can't move. My breathing becomes shallow as fear claws its way up my throat.

I glance at the nurse’s name tag, Maya.

“Maya,” I say slowly, grabbing her hand before she can move away. “I can’t afford this treatment, I can't afford to be here” I say my voice desperate. 

“I don’t have any money,” I continue desperately. “No family I can call, no one who can pay for this.” My voice cracks, “I’m homeless.”

The word tastes bitter in my mouth, but it was true. 

“I don’t even remember how I got here,” I add quickly. “I’m sure I can manage to walk if I try. Please just let me go.”

Tears spill down my cheeks as I attempt to push myself up again.

Pain explodes through my body and I collapse back against the pillow with a weak cry.

For a moment, Maya just looks at me.

And for the first time since I woke up, I see something different in her eyes, pity. 

She quickly looks away.

"Even if I could let you go I can't." she states, “One of your legs is broken,” she says gently. “You won’t be able to walk for a while.”

My heart sinks deeper.

“And” she hesitates slightly.

“Your baby is also at risk. We need to monitor her heartbeat for at least the next twenty four hours.”

Baby, I had forgotten I had just found out I was pregnant too, hoping it was just a bad dream. 

“I told the other doctors already,” I say weakly. “I’m not pregnant.”

Maya doesn’t respond, Instead, she reaches for something on the tray beside the bed. It's a small black and white image and she holds it up so I can see.

“You are fourteen weeks pregnant, Gesare,” she says gently. “. And look, it’s a girl.”

My eyes focus on the blurry image.

“And she is a fighter,” Maya adds with a small smile. “Just like you.”

My hand slowly moves to my stomach.

“How long until I can walk?” I ask quietly ignoring everything else she had just said about the baby.

Maya continues checking the machines beside my bed.

“I can’t say yet,” she answers. “The doctor will explain everything.” she sighs softly.

“But your pregnancy is considered high risk. Which means you will probably need a wheelchair until you deliver.”

The words settle heavily between us, it was like she didn't hear the part where I told her I could not afford any of this. And now I was supposed to be on a wheel chair for months? How was I supposed to survive like this?

A moment later Maya pulls a small piece of paper from her pocket and writes something down before she hands it to me.

“You should call this number when you are discharged,” she says quietly.

I ook down a the small piece of paper she handed me, 

“It’s a shelter for vulnerable women,” she explains. “They can help with food, clothes maybe even temporary housing until you get back on your feet.”

“Thank you,” I whisper.

She nods once before quietly leaving the room.

The moment the door closes, the room is filled with silence.

I slowly sit up despite the pain and I glance down at my leg, It’s wrapped in thick white bandages.

Maybe Maya was exaggerating, I think to myself, maybe I could still walk.

Carefully, I reach for the crutches leaning against the wall.

The moment my foot touches the floor, pain explodes through my leg but I grit my teeth and keep moving.

I grab the ultrasound picture and my clothes from the chair and make it halfway across the room before my leg finally gives out.

Pain shoots up my body and the crutches slip and everything goes dark.

When I wake up again, I am back in the hospital bed, I lift my head slightly.

“We are glad to have you back, Gesare.”

I turn my head and the doctor is standing beside the bed, flipping through a chart.

“What you did earlier was very dangerous,” he says calmly. “You added some stress to your already broken leg.”

He sighs,  "But it's nothing we can’t fix.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

He glances at me.

“No need to apologize,” he says kindly. “Just don’t try escaping again.”

Then he leaves and the room is silent again. 

That’s when I notice him, a tall man standing by the window, one hand in his pocket and the other holding a file.

The sunlight behind him makes it impossible to see his face clearly.

For a moment I wonder if I’m still dreaming, but then he turns slowly and begins walking towards the bed.

My heart starts beating faster, he stops beside me and studies me carefully.

His eyes move from my bandaged leg to the ultrasound picture still resting beside my pillow.

“You know,” he says calmly, “running away from a hospital with a broken leg isn’t exactly a brilliant plan.”

I blink at him confused.

“Who are you?” I ask cautiously.

He ignores the question.

“You barely made it ten meters before collapsing in case you were wondering.” he adds and my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

“Well,” I mutter defensively, “I would have made it further if they hadn’t drugged me.”

A faint smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.

“That’s a bold claim miss.” his eyes go back to the file he was studying, "miss Gesare."

I cross my arms stubbornly.

“You still haven't answered my question.”

His dark eyes meet mine.

“I’m the unfortunate man who hit you with his car last night”

“You!” I gasp and his eyebrow lifts slightly.

“Yes, me.”

I stare at him before I look at the machines around me and then back at him.

“So this is your fault,” I say accusingly.

He lets out a small amused breath.

“If it makes you feel any better,” he replies dryly, “your hospital bills are already taken care of.”

My eyes widen, I did not expect that at all. 

“They are?”

“Yes.”

I narrow my eyes suspiciously.

“What’s the catch?”

His smile grows slightly.

“There is no catch.”

I stare at him for a long moment.

Then I sigh dramatically.

“Fine.”

“What?”

“If you are paying the bills,” I say, settling back into the pillow, “then I guess I won’t sue you.”