Shot

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out.

“Everybody, down," a man covered in tattoos yelled, holding up a gun.

A robber.

Everybody ducked under the nearest cover, children screamed and hugged their mother tightly, mothers screamed as they scooped their children to safety.  Valeria froze, she could feel the hand on her shoulder freeze too.

For a brief moment she couldn't take her eyes off the man with a gun, her body trembled like she was about to go into shock.

" Are you trying to die?,” the robber yelled again, pointing the gun above Valeria. " I said go down.”

Valeria did not turn, but she could tell whoever had their hand on her shoulder was too shocked to move.

" Okay, tough guy,”  the robber said. “Let's do it your way." 

Before Valeria could process anything, another gunshot rang out. Everybody screamed.

Without thinking twice, she ducked under the table, shutting her eyes tight and blocking her ears with both palms.

She screamed when she heard a groan, and then a thud, indicating someone had just fallen to a gun shot.

She trembled so much she almost peed herself.

“I said down," the robber yelled again, releasing another bullet on his second victim.

Again, everyone screamed.

Valeria could not utter a word, she couldn't even open her eyes.

Fortunately, one of the men using his body as a shield for his child decided he was fed up.

With one swift move, he knocked down the robber, causing him to release multiple shots in the air.

This time, Valeria screamed too.

He was restrained and disarmed.

Others rushed to the shot victims, the sirens of the ambulance were already announcing its presence.

Valeria was only able to come out of her hiding place when the victims were loaded into the ambulance.

Her knees wobbled as she stepped outside.

"That one on white is badly injured,” a woman said, pointing toward one of the victims. " I hope he survives it.”

Her  gaze followed the woman's hand, only to get the shock of her life.

On one of the stretchers, laid her boss. Ivan Crest.

The one she had seen and talked to earlier today.

Her legs moved before she could fully process the situation, as she ran toward him.

“You can't be her, young lady,” one of the paramedics said. " Only close family is allowed.”

She scrambled through her bag, pulling out her work I.D.

" Here,” she said, holding it out for him to see. " I'm his personal assistant.”

He scanned it quickly and shifted his gaze back to her. " Still, that doesn't make you family.”

"I'm sure no family members of his have arrived, so let me step in until someone comes,” she suggested.

The man paused, deliberating her suggestion.

" Okay, get on.”

Valeria jumped into the ambulance and sat beside her boss, her body trembling as she watched the many hands that were trying to keep him stable at the same time.

***

Valeria paced the hospital hallway long after they arrived, her pulse was racing so fast, so was her feet.

"Excuse me, Ms,” one of the doctors called.

Valeria's head snapped toward him, so did her feet.

" How is he? Is he alive? Will he be okay? Can I see him?” Valeria fired off.

“Calm down, Ms," he's in surgery.

She heaved a shaky sigh.

“Are you his wife?" 

Valeria shook her head frantically, like the title could bite her.

“I'm his P.A" 

“Were you with him when he got shot?" 

“No," she replied. “We happened to be in the same space." 

“I see," the doctor nodded. “Well, thankfully the bullet did not hit any vital organ, so he should be fine." 

A wave of relief washed over her, as she shut her eyes, her hands clasped together on her lips.

" You should grab some things he'd need, he's going to be here for a couple of days.”

She nodded.

After the doctor left, relief  hit her so much that her knees almost gave out.

She moved and sat on one of the chairs lined up in the hallway, murmuring words of prayers like she'd just escaped an execution.

***

When Valeria returned to the hospital, Ivan was already awake in his hospital ward, a nurse checking his vitals.

She stood by the door, watching through the glass that framed the upper part of the door. He was focused on his phone.

Suddenly, her phone began to buzz in her purse.

She moved back a little farther from the door to see who was calling.

Of course, it was her husband.

The name ‘Treasure’ stared back at her.

“Wrong timing," she muttered.

The door opened and the nurse walked out, indicating that Ivan was now alone in the room. As much as she wanted to speak with her husband, she had a boss to attend to. 

She turned off her phone and tossed it back in her purse, before stepping inside Ivan's room.

The moment he looked up and saw her, appreciation and shame danced on his features.

“Mrs Ravelle," he called, adjusting a little in his bed.

Valeria smiled faintly and walked in.

“You're fine." 

He nodded. " Yes.”

She walked in and stopped beside him.

“Thank you," he whispered.

She smiled. " I'm happy I could be of help.”

There was a brief and awkward silence between them, then she spoke.

"So,” she began, turning toward the bedside table. " I brought you some things,” she added, dropping a bag on the table.

His gaze followed her, taking in every movement as she removed the contents of the bag and placed them inside the drawers.

Suddenly, the door swung open , and a nurse walked in.

His attention snapped toward her.

" Sir,” she called. " We'd need you to fill these with the requested information,” she added, holding out a small folder.

The heading boldly states.  "Contact information of a relative." 

He took the paper and pen, but only stared down at it like he had forgotten how to use them.

“Preferably," the nurse continued. “We would need your wife's details." 

He swallowed hard.

His hand trembled slightly, not because he'd forgotten how to use a pen, but because he didn't have his wife's number by heart.

Valeria and the nurse stood each one beside him, watching and waiting.

" Well, I…,” he stammered.

He didn't know what excuse to give, and he didn't want to look like a terrible husband.

The nurse seemed to be running out of patients.

"I understand you're still in shock, maybe your assistant here can help you search for your wife's number in your phone.

He shook his head and rested the pen on the paper, then wrote V.

“I could come back for the form later." 

“Oh! There's no need for that," Valeria cuts in. “I can help him." 

He heaved a silent sigh, unlocked his phone and handed it to Valeria.

" Under what name?” Valeria inquired.

He cleared his throat " her name is…..”