No More Waiting, She Chooses Love



After the transfusion went overboard, I was plunged into a deep sleep, the kind that felt like being sucked into a black hole-no way out and no sense of time.

And the dreams, they were relentless. Voices hovered around, whispering warnings and reprimands that felt all too real.

"Licia, be careful, will ya? You can't just go around getting hurt. We can't always be there to patch you up."

"Felicia, losing that much blood...are you out of your mind?"

"You nincompoop, why on earth did you let them do a transfusion?"

"Felicia, help me, I'm so cold..."

The voices were a chaotic mix-my parents', Ernest's, and Conrad's.

I tried to speak, to scream, but my mouth wouldn't cooperate, not until the dream's spotlight landed on Conrad. He was riddled with wounds, bleeding out like a broken faucet.

I panicked. Conrad, with his rare blood type, wasn't supposed to bleed like this.

"Conrad, Conrad," I called out, my hands a frantic mess trying to stem the flow of blood.Original content from NôvelDrama.Org.

But it was no use. The blood slipped through my fingers like water...

Fear gripped me, and all I could do was keep calling his name, "Conrad, Conrad..."

"Felicia, wake up, wake up..." A voice, urgent and filled with concern, pulled me from the nightmare. My eyes fluttered open, breathing ragged from the terror.

"Felicia," the familiar voice said again.

Turning my head, I saw Dustin, his face etched with worry, holding my hands tightly in his.

"Bad dream?" he asked softly.

I tried to pull my hands away, and Dustin let go. I struggled to speak, my voice raw as if I'd swallowed glass, "How did you get here?"

"You and Rad got into such trouble, how could I not come?"

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The mention of Conrad brought back the dream's vivid imagery. knew it was just a dream, but Conrad's critical condition was no figment of my imagination

Ignoring the pain in my throat, I asked, "How's Conrad?"

"He woke up a while ago, came to see you a few times. Told me to make sure you're okay," Dustin explained, catching me off guard.

12

"Have I been asleep long?" I asked, turning towards the window. The daylight matched the day of the incident, but I knew too much time had passed.

"Three days and nights."

I was shocked, "That long?"

"Yeah, you've been here three days. Scared us half to death," Dustin said, gently brushing my hair. "Why'd you risk so much for Rad, huh?"

I didn't answer, instead, I searched the room, trying to get a better view from my confined position. Struggling, I attempted to sit up.

Dustin quickly helped me, adjusting

pillows for support. His closeness

was overwhelming, his scent-a mix of fresh wood and something indefinably warm-filled my senses. I even caught a glimpse of a tattoo peeking out from his slightly unbuttoned shirt. Content,

Yes, a tattoo.

Before I could get a better look, he straightened up.

It was unexpected. Dustin, always so proper, had a hidden rebel streak.

But then again, doesn't everyone have a side they keep hidden?

"Need some water?" Dustin's voice snapped me back to reality.

I remembered then what I was looking for. I was looking for someone.