His Lethal Love by Monika Singh (short story to read txt) 📗

Chapter 35

Past

Camille

Everything was hurting. My face, arms, legs, and stomach. Everything was hurting me. I peeled open my eyes and cringed at the white light. I looked at the pale walls, white curtains, and monitor next to my bed. When I tried to straighten myself up, my stomach hurt. Confused, I placed my palm on my abdomen and felt fabric wrapping around it. 

“What happened to me?” I mumbled into the puzzle. “Why am I here?” 

And suddenly I recalled everything. 

‘Go please go..!’ 

‘Cami, no! You’ll be sorry for the rest of your life if you cross this room without my fucking permission. I’ll kill your fucking friend if you dare to leave me…’

‘Cami go!’

 

‘Go away!’ 

“Rika!” I screamed when everything flashed in my head like it was happening right in front of my eyes. “Rika!” I looked around for her but I was alone in the room. Throwing the sheet off my body I jumped off the bed before rushing outside the room. 

“Ma’am!” a nurse called out. “Where are you going?” She tried to grab my arm, but I dodged and ran away. 

I felt myself moaning in severe pain in my abdomen but I couldn’t stop and approached the receptionist’s counter. 

“Rika Cruz!” I breathed out her name to the receptionist. 

She frowned. “Sorry, Miss you…” 

“She is my friend. I want to know her room number! She must have been brought here with me.” I rasped and was unable to stop my tears. I didn’t even know whether she was alive or dead. “Please, tell me,” I begged. 

“Ma’am…” I saw pity in her eyes as she let out a heavy sigh. “We’re not allowed to give information like that but I’m doing this for you. Wait for a moment.” 

I nodded. 

“She is in room 284.

“Thanks.” I smiled and stepped into the elevator. 

An old woman cringed at the sight of me. “You’re bleeding, girl.” 

I pressed my wound with my palm before forcing a smile. “I need to see my friend.” 

“What is her name?” she asked politely. 

“Rika Cruz.” I waited impatiently. 

“She must be something for you,” she said, glancing at my wound. “Don’t worry. She is gonna be alright.” She gave me an encouraging smile. 

“I hope so.” I smiled with wet eyes. As soon as the elevator door clicked open, I stepped out and ran into the hallway. As I spotted many people standing in front of her room, my heart thudded with an inaudible thud. 

Swallowing hard, I walked over to her room and paused. Her parents and sister were sobbing. Slowly I stepped to her door and pushed it open. I was shaking with grief the moment my eyes landed on her. She almost looked lifeless. I wondered if she was still breathing. 

“Camille.” The woman called my name. I turned around to see Rika’s mother, Mrs. Cruz, was on her knees sobbing harder. “How could this…?” Her face crumpled like used tissue as she was unable to form a sentence.

It was my fault! It’s all my fault! If it was my fault, then why was I standing there and why was she lying there? I must have been in her place. I put her in this situation. I was a criminal. How could I leave her to die? I should have fought for her and my unborn baby. Now, I lost both. I lost them. I lost everyone. I was a loser. I fell to my knees and sobbed quietly. I couldn’t bear to say goodbye to Rika. 

“I’m sorry.” My voice cracked as I cried harder. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” I screamed. “I should have listened to you. Rika, I should have talked to you. I hate myself for putting you in this. I’m a bad person. I’m mean. I’m a bitch!” 

*******

I stared blankly at my hands. Dad was sitting next to my bed, speaking something I couldn’t understand. Maybe he was disappointed in me, but all I could think about was my friend Rika. Her life, her smile, and her voice. That was unfair of God to do to her. The doctor said she had a deep wound in her brain which put her in a coma. No one had any idea when she would be woken up. 

“Camille, are you even listening to me?” Dad growled. 

I sighed and looked at his face. After the death of his wife, he aged for ten years more. He had been consuming alcohol for four consecutive months. He looked terrible and so did I. Natalie sat next to him, staring at me. Her eyes were emotionless. I wondered what she was thinking about. 

“I need to be alone, Dad.” I groaned. 

“Well, we need to talk about this matter, Camille. Now, this is the headline in the town.” 

“What headline?” I frowned. 

“You and your best friend tried to kill Samuel Martinez because he wanted to save his unborn baby. You were aborting, and he didn’t want that.” He closed his eyes briefly in embarrassment. “Was it true you were pregnant with his child, Camille?” His voice was slightly shaking as if he was trying to keep his cool. 

“Yes, but he…” 

“Now, stop!” he spat. “I don’t want to hear any more words from your mouth. I’m handling this case, and you won’t speak a word until I want you to.” 

“Dad, listen to me.” I pleaded. “We didn’t try to kill him…” 

“No one listens to you, even if you are innocent, Camille. Everyone knows about you and your gay friend. How ill-mannered and shameless were you two?” 

“For fuck’s sake, stop talking about Rika like that, Dad!” I growled. “She was in this condition because of me. How could you blame her?” 

“I should have disowned you the moment you entered this world!” he said with a pained expression. “Our love faded away when you came between us. How could she give me time when you demand all her attention? You were just an accident, Camille. I never wanted you between us. I just did it to make things better between us, but who knew things got even uglier?” He shook his head, breathing hard as if these words were consuming all his strength. “I loved your mother more than anything, Cam. I loved her so much that I couldn’t help but hate you for taking away our love. I knew I was not a good father, but I was a better husband.” 

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