Awake

The only sounds in the hospital room came from the soft hum of the machines and the steady beeping of the heart monitor. Louis sat beside Victoria's bed, just as he had done every day since the shooting. His hand lay gently on hers, his thumb brushing across her fingers as he watched her face for any sign of movement, any hint that she was coming back to him. It had been a week since Daniella turned herself in, a week of emotional turmoil and endless waiting. Louis had felt he was living in a state of suspension, stuck between the past and an uncertain future. Every moment had been steeped in guilt and regret, his brain replaying every act that had brought them to this point. But today was different; today had that air of expectation hanging precariously, a glimmer of hope after such a long time without it. The doctors had told him she was stable, and though they still couldn't predict when she would ever wake up, Louis had clung to that fragile hope. He'd spent hours talking to her, apologizing, confessing to everything he'd kept bottled up inside, even though she couldn't hear him. Now, sitting beside her, his heart heavy with the weight of all he hadn't said while she was awake, he suddenly saw her lying there, her hand in his, and it twitched. Louis's breath caught in his throat, and he hunched forward, eyes wide, as he watched for any further movement. "Victoria?" he whispered thickly. "Can you hear me?" First, there was nothing. The silence in the room just seemed to lengthen. Then, painfully slowly, her eyelids fluttered. Louis's heart surged with excitement in his chest as he watched her eyes start to open, her lashes flickering against her pale skin. "Victoria," Louis said again, his hand tightening upon hers. "It's me. I'm here." Finally, her eyes opened, squinting into the light, her gaze unfocused as she struggled to take in her surroundings. She looked confused and disoriented, piecing together fragments of where she was and what had happened. "Louis?" she whispered, weak and raspy. The sound of her voice was like a tidal wave that washed over him and brought instant tears to his eyes as he nodded. "I'm here, Victoria. I'm right here." Victoria blinked several times, her eyes still heavy from sleep as she gazed up at him. "What... what happened?" Louis swallowed hard; his throat was tight as he struggled for words. "You were hurt," he said softly; his voice cracked. "Daniella... she-she shot you." Victoria furrowed her brow, definitely still quite foggy. "Daniella?" Louis nodded, his heart in agony at the pain so clearly residing in her eyes. "She was angry, out of control. I tried to stop her, but... you pushed me out of the way. You saved me, Victoria." Victoria's eyes welled up with tears as, little by little, that night's memory started seeping back into her mind piece by piece. She turned her head slightly to the side, wincing at the stinging pain, and her gaze softened as she looked upon Louis. "I... I thought she was going to hurt you." Louis felt his chest grow tight, his weight bearing down on her words. "You saved my life," he whispered, his voice strained. "But I... I failed you." Victoria blinked, an expression of confusion and concern in her eyes. "Failed me? Louis's heart was racing as he leaned in closer to her, his feelings overwhelming him. "I should have kept you safe. I should have noticed what was going on with Daniella, and I should have put a stop to it before it ever got to this point. But I didn't. And because of that, you nearly died. Because of me." Victoria shook her head slightly, her eyes shimming with unshed tears. "Louis, no... Louis couldn't hold the tide of emotion that had built up for weeks inside of him. "I've made so many mistakes, Victoria," he said, his voice thick with guilt. "I've let you down over and over again, and I don't know if I can ever make it right. Yet, I need you to know how sorry I am. For everything." Victoria listened, her heart breaking as her eyes filled up with tears, looking at his anguish. She had never seen him like that vulnerable, so raw. She reached for his hand, squeezing it gently, though her strength was weak. "Louis," she whispered, her voice shaking. But Louis could not help himself anymore. "I have been so blind, Victoria. I didn't see how much you loved me, and I didn't realize how much I loved you. I got caught up in my family's mess with everything that was going on, and I let you slip through my fingers. I didn't fight for you the way I should have." Tears streamed down Victoria's face, as her heart was swollen with emotion, listening to him, for it was what she had been waiting to hear all this time to know that Louis cared for her. Now, at a time when raw vulnerability oozed out of every pore, she saw how much he loved her. "I love you, Victoria," Louis whispered with emotion. "I love you more than anything, and I am so sorry I didn't show that to you sooner. But if you give me a chance, I will make the rest of my life up to you. I will fight for you, for us. I swear it." Victoria's breath caught, tears streaming down her face as her heart squeezed with love and pain. She'd been through so much, endured so much heartache, but hearing Louis's words, his heart-felt apology, his declaration of love, somehow made everything feel just that little bit lighter. "I love you too, Louis," she whispered back, barely audible over her tears. "I always have." Louis's heart swelled, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he allowed himself to hope. Hope that things could be different, that they could rebuild what had been broken. He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers, his tears mingling with hers while they let the emotions of the moment wash over them. "I am not going anywhere," Louis whispered, shaking. "I'm here, and I'm going to fight for you. For us." Victoria closed her eyes to the warmth of his presence, to the sincerity in his words. She was weak yet, groggy from the weeks in a coma, but she could feel the wave of love emanating from him, and she knew that whatever came next-they would face each together. They had walked through hell, but perhaps they could find their way back to each other.