Chapter 8
Sasha was still screaming, demanding that Casper come see her.
The officer had no choice but to approach Casper again. “We can’t legally charge her. Her situation doesn’t warrant it. We can detain her for a few days, but we can’t have her causing a disturbance like this every day.”
He sighed before walking away.
Casper and I headed to Sasha’s holding cell.
The second she saw me, she stiffened before erupting into screams. “Why are you back? Just drop dead! This is all your fault! You’re the reason Cas left me! Listen! Don’t even think you can steal him from me! I’ll never let him go!”
She’d shouted herself weary and now sat slumped on the floor, her voice thick with misery. “Why did you leave me, Cas? I’m the one you loved… You promised me…”
Seeing her like this, I actually found myself pitying her a little.
“You think he left you because of me?” I crouched to face her. “Did you really believe pretending to lose your memory would make Casper come back? Well, now he’s yours forever.”
I walked out of the holding cell, and Casper rushed after me.
“I know how much you’re hurting, and this is all my fault. But please, just give me one more chance,” he said.
“And Sasha? You’re just going to leave her behind?” I asked.
“I’ll handle her. I promise she won’t get in the way again.”
Casper’s eyes were full of resolve. It seemed he had finally realized how much damage his past actions had done to our relationship.
“Lis, I admit I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but I truly hope you’ll give me a chance to make things right.”
I fell silent, my heart in turmoil. Everything he’d done had worn away the love and trust I once had for him.
“I need time to think, Casper.”
He nodded and didn’t pressure me further. Softly, he said, “I’ll respect whatever you decide.”
I turned and walked away, my thoughts a tangled mess.
When I got home, I sat by the window and looked out at the night, my thoughts swirling. Past joys and sorrows, happiness, and pain replayed in my mind like scenes from a movie.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to pull myself together. I had to get my head straight and figure out my future with Casper. I couldn’t let the past keep casting its shadow over my life.
I needed an answer, one that would put my heart at ease. Most of all, I needed time and space to take a fresh look at our relationship.
As I gazed at the night sky outside, a decision slowly formed in my heart.
The next day, I arranged to meet Casper. He arrived as promised, his eyes carrying a hint of both hope and nervousness.
“Lís, have you thought it through?” he asked.
I didn’t give him my answer directly. Instead, I took him to the hospital courtyard.
The sun felt warm today. I took a deep breath, catching the smell of freshly mowed grass mixed with the sterile smell of disinfectant.
“Do you remember? That day, you and Sasha were right here. You took care of her down to the smallest detail. And that was the day I was discharged.”
I kept my back to Casper, lost in my own thoughts as I went on, “You’ll never know how much it hurt me. And you’ll never realize just how badly you let me down.”
Casper came to stand before me, the remorse in his eyes still evident. “I’m sorry, Lis. This is all on me. Please give me another chance. We can have another child,”
He produced the anklet. It had been carefully wrapped. “I never gave the anklet to Sasha. She said those things deliberately to hurt you.”
Looking at the anklet, I felt the pain in my heart resurface sharply. “Do you really think this would make me forgive you?”
He shook his head urgently. “I know I still have so much to make up to you. But I hope you’ll give me this one chance.”
I took the anklet without saying anything and led him to a hospital room–the one where the pregnant woman I’d saved was staying.
“I came to see how you and the baby are doing,” I said quietly.
The newborn slept soundly in its mother’s arms.
Would my baby have been this beautiful? My heart ached. I could’ve had a baby just as sweet as this one.
212
After Casper and I left the room, I returned the anklet to him. “We could’ve had a child like that. This anklet could’ve been on our baby’s ankle. If you had just turned back to look at me that day, our baby would still be here. You’re the one who let our child go.”
I spoke my mind and left without sparing him another look.
Much later, a heartbroken wail echoed through the hospital hallway. I walked out of the hospital and never glanced back.
Goodbye, Casper.
Goodbye, the child I never got to meet.
My new life was beginning. The sunlight was kind, and the breeze felt just right.
