The Love From Vengeance

337: PRIORITIZING RECOVERY

ARIEL’S POV

Where’s Luke? “Is he okay?” I questioned my mother, looking fixedly at her.

Her smile faltered slightly, a shadow passing over her features. “Luko, he’s still unconscious, sweetheart. But the doctors are doing everything they can for him. He’s a fighter, just like you.”

My heart clenched at the news of Luke’s condition, a wave of worry crashing over me. “I need to see him, Mom. I need to make sure he’s okay.”

“We’ll ask the doctors, dear,” my mother assured me, her voice soothing. “But for now, you need to focus on getting better at yourself. You’ve been through a lot.”

“I know, Mom. But I need to go and see Luke. Please don’t stop me.” I tried getting up, but my mother was firm on me.

“You will see him, Ariel. But not in this condition; you’re too weak to move. “And it’s not quite advisable.”

“I don’t care about the lectures or whatever. I just want to see Luke. Did you see the look in his eyes when those men were beating the hell out of us? Did you?”

My mother’s tone was low as she replied. “You clearly knew I wasn’t there.”

“Yes, that’s what I’m trying to tell you. The pain, everything–Luke stood by my side, willing to die for my

sake. And now you’re telling me not to go and see him?”

“You’re getting things wrong, Ariel. That wasn’t what I meant.”

“I’m not buying any talk right now, and I don’t care what anyone has to say.“I just want to go and see Luke,”

“You’re stressing yourself, Ariel. Now your wounds might just become more painful.”

“I don’t care about that. The wounds are already there, anyway. I only want to see the one person who supported me in that dark moment. You literally had no idea what we had to go through.”

“That doesn’t mean that you have to stress yourself.”

“Stress mymeOkay, that is quite fucked, because I’m not doing that right now. I’m just being concerned about my husband.”

“I know that.“And trust me, I’m also concerned about Luke.”

וי

a skeptical look, and after seconds, I

you tell who?”

quite

clear?” Her face was filled with

me seeing my husband,

your great form, she defended herself immediately. “Who knows? Maybe you might stumble when you stand on your feet.”

but chuckle, looking in a different direction. “How nice.

a deep breath. She gently placed her hand on my shoulder. “I understand your situation, Ariel. But right now, I’m worried about you. Everyone’s worried about you. You love Luke; we all know that But please, love yourself as well.”

do love myself,” I said right away, interrupting her from completing whatever speech

next to say.

herself. “Yes, you do. But you’re not fit to walk or move around right now. You just woke up

and just when she thought I was about to heed her words, I gave her a shocking response. Well, not that shocking since we

this: “I’m

after that, a

him while he took some steps closer. “Doctor, I’m so glad

talk to her?

finally awake.” The doctor

haircut, and his smile was so

lady to crush on him. But count

your help,” my

glimpses at

quickly filled him in on our conversation, expressing her concerns about my insistence on seeing Luke despite my fragile state. She emphasized the need

as my mother spoke. When she finished, she left the room, saying she would be back, while

gentle and calming. His presence exuded warmth and reassurance,

demeanor.

mother is right.“Your body needs time to heal, especially after what you’ve been through. Pushing yourself too hard

hard to argue with

about Luke,” he continued, his gaze meeting mine with empathy. “But you have to trust that the medical team is doing everything they can for him. Right now, your focus needs to

2ST PRIORITIZING RECOVERY

regaining your strength.”

in the hospital bed, torn between my desire to see