The Love From Vengeance

341: HOLDING ON

ARIEL’S POV

Janice furrowed her brows, concern etched across her features. “Mom, you shouldn’t be pushing yourself like this. You’re hurt.”

“I know, sweetheart,” I sighed, wincing as I adjusted myself on the bed. “But I had to make sure your dad

was okay.”

“But the doctors are taking care of him, right?”

“Yes, they are.” I nodded, reaching out to gently stroke her hair. “But I just needed to see him for myself, you know?”

Janice nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. “I get it, Mom. But please, promise me you’ll take it easy. You need to focus on getting better too.”

“I promise,” I replied, offering her a weak smile. “Now, how about we both try to get some rest? We could

use it.”

Janice nodded, leaning against my shoulder. “Yeah, that sounds good.”

As we settled into the quiet room, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude wash over me. Together, we would confront numerous challenges, yet our unwavering unity would be the only thing that mattered.

L

Storms could come and chaos might unfold, but with my blood by my side, those terrors would be so

bootless,

how everything was going to work out. Luke being there to hold me tight, and Janice supporting the both of us. With smiles all

savor

ONE MONTH LATER

echoing the cacophony of emotions raging within me.

constant reminder of the stark reality that

hooked up to machines that

out to hold his hand, the touch so familiar yet foreign, as if he

of professionalism that did little to assuage my growing terror.

a beacon in the darkness a flicker of light that guided me through the long and torturous nights: 1 whispered words of encouragement and promises of better days to come,

that suddenly seems devoid of color and joy. The quiet hum of machines replaced the laughter that once filled our home, and whispered prayers escaped my lips like a plea

life raft, holding onto the hope that They would be sufficient to rescue her from the abyss. But deep down, I knew that love alone was not

the hardest, long and lonely stretches of darkness that seemed to

his bedside, holding his hand and watching the rise

fight just a little longer. The tears that fell were

so raw and consuming that at times I felt it

the machines, I would whisper words of love and devotion, promises of a future we might never share 1

the making I knew for a fact that we would go through it all, clinging to each other–two souls bound by a love that had weathered the storm and emerged stronger on the other side. The pain of these days and nights lingered like a scar, a reminder of the fragility of life and the resilience of the human spirit.

to fight, but also ours. The

would carry us through

brightest of days

the feeling, being optimistic, that any day soon we would walk hand in hand

force to be reckoned with, a beacon of hope in a

uncertainty and pain