THREE WHOLE WEEKS LATER, Fatima still hasn’t woken up from her coma. They’re worried for the worst but the bullet wound seems to be recovering at a fast pace. Thank god the doctors were able to prevent the bullet from piercing further. If her mother shot her a little bit more to the lower left, she would’ve shot her daughter in the heart, making it close to impossible to save her life.
“You should head home, Grian.” He looked up and saw Christopher standing behind him. Grian looks tired and seems to not have slept for the past three days. Worry consumes him.
Fatima will be transferred to the hospital near Christopher’s company. It is best to do so since this hospital is too far away. The only problem is the media, they won’t leave them alone. Everyone wants updates on what happened, what will happen, and any other possibilities. They are also alarmed about the people who did this because their children might be targeted by the kidnapping too.
“I’m coming with her as she is transported,” he uttered and Christopher sighed.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t prevent this from happening,” he apologized and Grian looked at him before looking at Fatima. “It wasn’t your fault anyway,” he murmured, realizing he shouldn’t be blaming his friend because of this. The people at fault are those who took her.
After a few hours of preparation, Fatima was getting transported to the ambulance outside and the media spotted them. The reporters tried to get an interview but guards blocked them from doing so. She was escorted to the ambulance as Grian followed her inside while Christopher went to his car to start driving.
While the ambulance was driving, Grian held Fatima’s hand as they were getting transported. The ride is going to take a few hours before they’ll be able to go to the other hospital. Everything is set though and once she arrives, she’ll be transported to the VIP room.
A few hours of driving later, they arrived at the hospital and with no surprise, the media was there. Christopher got out of his car and they surrounded him. “I cannot disclose anything, pardon me.” He tried getting away when he suddenly heard someone shouting from a distance.
Everyone stopped and stared at the person before they start running to her. “Mrs. Denver, what do you think-“ She walked to her son and stared at him with daggers for eyes.
“Follow me inside!” she commanded.
Christopher ignored her and went to Fatima, who was getting transferred. His mother couldn’t do anything because the media keeps stopping her from doing so. She grew frustrated as she watched him follow the woman he once loved inside.
Fatima was given a private room for the VIPs and the doctors and nurses took special care of her. After everything was set, Grian and Christopher were allowed inside. Grian sat on the couch, exhausted from the day. He laid down and his body started falling asleep.
Christopher watched Fatima before looking at Grian who’s passed out. He sighed before he went back outside the room. He was surprised to see his mother standing there. “Are you going to continue ignoring me?” She crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. He’s been ignoring her for weeks.
“I don’t have anything to say to you,” he uttered and she scoffed.
“I’ll take care of her bills, expenses, everything. Just don’t get involved with her, please,” she begged and his eyebrows furrowed.
“Why? Are you afraid I’ll go to prison? I’m already planning to turn myself in, you don’t have to worry,” he said before he walked past her.
THE RAIN STARTED POURING, Hannah grabbed her umbrella and got out of the car, and started walking to the cemetery. She took a deep breath before finding her mother’s grave. She walked for a few minutes till she reached her private graveyard. “Woah, mom. Your garden looks fantastic,” she said as she looked around. She smiled and looked at the bouquet she was holding.
“Looks like you won’t need the flowers I brought,” she said and chuckled lightly before walking up to the gravestone with her name on it.
“Hello, mom,” she greeted before placing the bouquet down.
“It’s been a while, isn’t it? I’ve been working hard these past months. The man I love still doesn’t like me though... he might even despise me. Even my sister seems to hate me, well, I hated her. Can you believe it, mom? Your overly dramatic and jealous daughter wants to get along with her sister. I don’t know if I can though, it might be too late to create that bond,” she said and sighed.
“Can’t believe I found her,” she added.
“It’s unfair though! She might be prettier than me!” she complained and crossed her arms like a kid.
After spending an hour in her mother’s garden, she started walking outside as the rain calmed down. She was reading the names of the graves she passes by and saw a name that sounds familiar. She stopped in her tracks and looked at the grave curiously.
“Fatima’s father?” she questioned and pursed her lips. (I didn’t know he was buried here,) she thought to herself.
“What are you doing here?” She turned around, startled, and saw Christopher towering behind her. She held her chest and took a deep breath to calm down. “The hell? Don’t surprise me like that,” she said and cleared her throat before backing away. He squinted his eyes as he looked at her.
“Answer my question,” he demanded.
“I-I I was..”
“Are you planning to do something to Fatima again? Visiting her father’s grave?” he accused and her smile faded.
She slapped him across the face, and his eyes widened. “You... You’ve accused me of so many things. I was visiting my mother’s grave! I can’t even believe you forgot that it was today,” she said in disappointment and annoyance. She looked at him up and down before walking away.
“I’m sorry,” he uttered and she stopped. She took a deep breath before walking away again.
BACK AT THE HOSPITAL, Grian woke up from his nap and saw that it was already night when he looked at the clock. He got up from laying down and scratched his eyes before yawning. “Tired?” He nodded in response and his eyes widened when he realized who it was. He ran to her bed and saw her smiling ear-to-ear. “Hi?” She greeted him.
“W-what? You’re awake.. How are you feeling? Does anything hurt?” She shook her head.
“Since when were you awake?”
“About an hour ago,” she answered and he sighed in relief.
The following morning, everyone was given the news that Fatima had woken up. Everyone rushed to the hospital and was delighted to see that she looks better. They brought fruits, vegetables, and snacks. “Are you sure this is necessary?” Fatima asked as she looked at the mountain of food.
“Of course it is! You need lots of food to recover,” Nikki answered.
“A bit overdramatic, isn’t she?” Philippe asked and Nikki glared at him. He laughed before turning to his sister and saying, “I’m glad you’re safe now.”
A couple of minutes later, the police officer arrived to question Fatima. Everyone else was told to go outside while Christopher and Grian were allowed to stay in. They started playing the recording and she listened quietly. “Hm. What you heard is right. She’s not my real mother. I’m not sure if she’s telling the truth or not though…” she answered, avoiding the eyes of Grian and Chris.
“Do my brothers know?” she asked slowly while avoiding eye contact.
“No,” Grian answered and she nodded. A sigh of relief was heard from Fatima. “Don’t tell them..” she requested with a sad smile. After they were done asking her questions, they left and the others went back inside the room.
FATIMA’S MOTHER ESCAPED WITH the other people involved but she just got shot. She dragged her body to somewhere safe and where no one could find her as she looked at her bleeding left leg. She cut the pants she was wearing and looked at the bullet wound. She breathed heavily as she gathered all the courage she had. She used her right hand to fish for the bullet inside her leg. “AHHHH!” she screamed in pain as she was taking the bullet out. She stopped midway and held her forehead, spreading the blood on her face.
She grabbed a piece of wood and placed it on her mouth and bit it before she returned to fishing the bullet. Her sweat ran down her face as she took the bullet out. She was running out of breath but managed to throw the bullet to the side and wrap her wound with a clean cloth. “Fuck!” she screamed as she felt the dizziness. (I’m going to kill that girl!) she thought to herself before sighing and putting her head back.
While she was resting, she heard footsteps coming her way. She immediately grabbed the gun and pointed it at the door in front of her. She waited in anticipation and when the person appeared, she didn’t hesitate to shoot. The police officer fell to the ground right in front of her. When she thought it was over, she heard footsteps again. She waited in anticipation again as she pointed the gun to the door. Her body felt at peace when she saw who it was. “Aish, I thought they got you,” the other person said and ran to Fatima’s mother and held her up so they could both escape.