Shadows of Affection (GxG)

Chapter 48: Blurred Memories

Luciano, who had been pacing nearby, came over and knelt in front of Lily. "You won't lose her," he said firmly. "Not Alessia. She's too damn stubborn to leave you, Lily. Trust me on that."

But even his words, meant to reassure, couldn't silence the deafening what ifs in Lily's mind.

The hours dragged by like days. Lily couldn't sit still. She paced, wrung her hands, and stared at the door leading to the operating room as if willing Alessia to walk through it. Her friends tried to comfort her, but their words barely registered. All she could do was replay memories of Alessia in her mind—her smile, her laugh, the way she said my sweet girl.

Please come back to me, she thought over and over, her heart breaking a little more with each passing minute.

Finally, the door to the operating room opened, and the surgeon stepped out. Lily shot to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for the words that would either save or destroy her world.

The surgeon's face was grim, each word carrying the weight of a hammer as he addressed the room. "Miss Sorento sustained significant head trauma in the crash and subsequent delay before reaching surgery. While we've managed to stabilise her condition, I'm afraid she's slipped into a coma."

The room fell deathly silent. No one dared to breathe as the doctor continued, his voice somber. "The next 24 hours are critical. We'll be monitoring her closely, but I must be honest—there's no way to predict when or if she'll wake up."

It felt like the floor beneath Lily shattered. Her legs buckled, and she dropped to her knees with a wail so raw it seemed to shake the very walls. Rosa, her sister, was at her side instantly, pulling her into a tight embrace as Lily sobbed uncontrollably, her tears soaking into Rosa's shirt.

"No, no, no..." Lily whimpered, shaking her head. "This can't be happening. This isn't real. Alessia...she has to be okay. She has to come back to me. She promised!"

Marco stood a few feet away, his face pale and his eyes wide with shock. He rubbed his hands over his face, muttering, "Dio mio...this can't be happening."

Emma, Lily's best friend, clutched Isabella, her girlfriend, tightly. Isabella was crying silently, her body trembling as Emma whispered words of comfort that didn't seem to reach her.

Luciano had been standing by the wall, his arms crossed tightly, but the news broke through his stoic facade. He stormed out of the room, his heavy footsteps echoing down the hallway. Lucia, her own tears streaming down her cheeks, quickly followed her brother, calling after him softly.

Francesca, always the composed one, stood frozen in place, her hands balled into fists at her sides. A single tear slipped down her cheek, but she quickly brushed it away as if showing emotion might shatter the fragile thread holding her together.

Alessia's parents were seated near the corner, their faces etched with grief. Her father had one arm wrapped tightly around her mother, who looked like she was on the verge of fainting. Her mother's lips trembled as she buried her face in her husband's chest, her muffled cries adding to the suffocating tension in the room.

After a long, agonizing silence, Francesca took a deep breath and approached the surgeon. "Can we see her?" she asked quietly, her voice thick with suppressed emotion.

The doctor nodded. "Only one at a time, and briefly. She needs rest."

They all exchanged glances, silently deciding who would go in first. Rosa gently helped Lily up from the floor, her arm still wrapped protectively around her younger sister.

"I'll go last," Lily choked out, her voice barely audible. She wiped at her tear-streaked face, though the effort was futile. "I need...a moment."

Francesca nodded solemnly and stepped forward. "I'll go first."