“Just saying, ‘Sherilyn, I’m on it. I’ll swap him in.”
“Edgar… no, don’t…”
As he turned to leave, a weak voice stopped him in his tracks.
Sherilyn looked pale, her voice barely above a whisper, drained of all strength. “Edgar?” he asked, bending down to grasp her hand, “What’s wrong?” Sherilyn shook her head, struggling to speak, her voice raspy and hoarse, “No, don’t… see him…”
“Not see him?”
Edgar repeated, confused, then a realization hit him, though he was still uncertain, “Sherilyn, are you saying you don’t want to see Gilbert?” With great effort, Sherilyn nodded.
She knew there needed to be closure between them, but she was just too exhausted now, needing rest more than anything.
Although Edgar didn’t understand why, he was ready to support Sherilyn without question.
He simply nodded, “Alright, I got it. You rest up.”
Relieved, Sherilyn closed her eyes.
…
Outside the hospital room, Edgar emerged to find Gilbert, his eyes lighting up with determination as he moved to enter. But Edgar stopped him. “Don’t go in.”
“Let go!” Gilbert glared, frustration boiling over, “You think you can stop me?”
“I can’t stop you, but what about Sherilyn?” Edgar countered, voice cold and firm.
“What do you mean?” Gilbert froze, confusion etching his face.
“It’s Sherilyn!” Edgar’s grip tightened on Gilbert’s arm, “She said it herself. She doesn’t want to see you!”
“Bullshit!”
Gilbert refused to believe it.
“Why wouldn’t she want to see me?”
Even though she had been rejecting his advances lately, she’d never refused to see him!
“Edgar, quit your damn scheming! You think because you saved her, she’s yours? Get over yourself!” “Move!”
With a strong shake, Gilbert broke free from Edgar’s grasp and pushed the door open, charging into the room. “Gilbert!” Edgar hissed, “You can’t go in there! Sherilyn doesn’t want to see you!”
The commotion startled Sherilyn awake.
Struggling to open her eyes, she immediately felt a headache surge upon seeing Gilbert. Why was he still here? She had barely escaped death’s grasp, and all she wished for was some peace and quiet to rest.
me
But there was Gilbert, rushing to her bedside, seeing her frail form lying there his heart clenched with pain and guilt.
“Sherilyn, you’re…”
Before he could finish, Sherilyn turned
face away, closing heret
a clear display of refusal. She didn’t want to see him!
“Sherilyn?”
“Gilbert!” Edgar stepped forward, trying
get it pull him away, “Don’t you
sea
Sherilyn really doesn’t want to you!”
“Get lost!”
Gilbert’s handsome face darkened with anger, he shrugged off Edgar and suddenly grasped Sherilyn’s hand.
“Sherilyn, what’s wrong?”
Why wouldn’t she want to see him?
The moment he touched her, Sherilyn’s body stiffened, and she began to struggle in panic.
Her oxygen levels dropped sharply, setting off the monitor’s alarm with a piercing ‘beep beep’ sound!
“Sherilyn!” Edgar panicked, going pale, “What’s wrong?”
He quickly pressed the call button.
“VIP Room 9, Sherilyn’s in distress!”
“I’m on my way!”
Edgar glared at Gilbert, “Will you let go now? Do you believe it now? She doesn’t want to see you!”
The alarm’s beeps became more urgent and shrill.