“Hi, this is Maggie from St. Luke’s hospital calling.”
My heart fell into a black hole.No. No. No.She can’t be hurt.She just can’t be.
The lady on the other end of the phone continued to speak.“Do you know a Mr. Brian Alvarez?”
What?This isn’t about Sara?
“Sir?Are you still there?”
“Sorry, yeah, I’m here.”
“Do you know a Brian Alvarez?Your number is in his phone.”
“Yes, I know him.Is he all right?” I asked in confusion, still trying to process the rapid thoughts, which were scrambling around in my head.
“It seems he was attacked earlier this evening.He’s doing better, but he took quite a blow to the head.”
I hung up the phone after letting her know I was on my way.I was halfway out the door when it dawned on me Brian was keeping watch over Sara.
So, whereisSara?And who assaulted Brian?
Once I entered his hospital room, I knew it was bad news, not only for Brian since he seemed to be in pretty bad shape, but also for Sara.I had a gut feeling she wasn’t simply late coming to the house.
No, something was terribly wrong.
Brian saw me as soon as I walked in and immediately looked anywhere but directly into my eyes.
Yeah, this is bad.
“What happened?”I strode closer to his bedside so he didn’t have to turn his head to speak to me.
“Damn it, Mr. Devera.I don’t know.One minute, I’m talking to Sara and the next I’m on the ground, fading in and out of consciousness.The only thing I saw was Sara fall down next to me and a shadow of another person looming over her.Then I blacked out for good.Next thing I remember is waking up in this hospital bed.”
My mind was reeling.My worst nightmare had come true.
I knew who the shadow was.
It washim.
It was Samuel.
I ran.
I ran from Brian’s hospital room.
I ran until I reached my car.
I didn’t know where I was going but I was going to find her.
I would cease to exist if she was taken from me.I was more alive than I’d ever been since that fateful day I decided to walk into her flower shop and finally meet her in person.
I found exactly what I had been yearning for my entire life.
It was the day I took my first breath.
And I wasn’t going to let anyone take her from me.
Not ever.
I needed to find her so I could breathe again.
