The Weight of Guilt
The bright lights in the hospital waiting room buzzed as Louis walked back and forth, nervously wringing his hands. Time felt slow, each minute dragging on. The strong smell of the hospital and its cold feel made everything seem like a bad dream.
His thoughts were filled with guilt, worry, and fear, hitting him one after another until he felt overwhelmed. He couldn't sit still since they took Victoria into surgery. Every time he tried, the seriousness of the situation pulled him back up, making him pace again.
Claire, his assistant, called several times, wanting to come to the hospital, but Louis couldn't face anyone. Not now, when everything felt so uncertain.
How did it end up like this? How did things go so wrong?
He kept thinking about the moment in Victoria's apartment-the gunshot, the blood, and how Victoria pushed him out of danger, saving him. That memory was stuck in his mind, and he couldn't stop seeing her pale face in pain as she fell in his arms.
The door to the surgery room stayed closed, and every time he looked at it, his stomach hurt. He wanted to know what was happening, but the doctors had been vague when they rushed her in. There had been too much blood, and every second without news felt like torture.
Louis ran a hand through his hair, feeling scared. What if she doesn't survive? What if I lose her?
That thought made it hard for him to breathe. He had already lost so much-his father, his sense of family, and now possibly his wife. He couldn't bear to lose her too.
Just then, the waiting room doors opened, and Louis turned quickly. Two doctors walked out, their faces serious as they approached him.
"Mr. Sebastian," one of them said calmly. "Can we talk to you?"
Louis's heart sank. He recognized that look-the one doctors give when they have bad news.
"How is she?" Louis asked, his voice trembling. "Is she going to be okay?"
The doctors exchanged glances before the older one spoke. "Victoria survived the surgery, but... she's still in danger. The bullet caused serious damage inside, and she's in a coma."
Louis felt like the ground was shifting beneath him. A coma.
His breath became quick and shallow as he tried to understand what he just heard. "A coma? How long will she be like this?"
The female doctor stepped closer, her eyes kind. "It's hard to say. Comas can last for days, weeks, or even longer. It depends on how she heals."
Louis's chest tightened, and he forced himself to breathe. "Is she... is she in pain?"
The older doctor shook his head. "No. Right now, she's stable but unconscious. Her body needs time to heal, and the coma is a way for her brain to protect itself."
"But she'll wake up, right?" Louis asked desperately. "She has to."
"We're doing everything we can," the doctor said. "But it's too early to predict anything. We just have to watch her closely and hope for the best."
Louis felt weak and sank into a chair, gripping the armrests until his knuckles turned white. He couldn't believe this was happening.
Victoria was in a hospital bed, fighting for her life, and he couldn't do anything to help.
The guilt inside him overflowed. This is my fault.
If he hadn't gotten close to her, if she hadn't been forced to marry into the dangerous world of the Sebastians, she wouldn't be in this situation. Daniella wouldn't have acted so violently, and Victoria wouldn't have been lying unconscious in a hospital bed. Tears filled his eyes as he buried his head in his hands, overwhelmed by emotion.
The doctors stood quietly, giving him a moment. When he finally looked up, pale and strained, the female doctor offered a small, sad smile.
"I know this is hard, Mr. Sebastian," she said gently. "But Victoria is strong. She made it through surgery, and that's a good sign. We just need to take it one day at a time."
Louis nodded, though her words did little to relieve the weight of guilt he felt. "Can I see her?"
"Of course," the doctor replied. "She's in the ICU, but you can visit for a few minutes. Just be careful."
Louis stood up shakily, following the doctors down the long hallway to the ICU. Each step felt heavy, and he was reminded of the reality: Victoria was fighting for her life, and he didn't know if she would wake up again.
When Louis entered the ICU room, seeing Victoria lying still in the hospital bed hit him hard. Her face was pale, and an oxygen mask covered her mouth and nose. Tubes connected her arms to machines that monitored her health. The steady beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound, reminding him how fragile her life was.
Louis walked slowly to the bed, his heart aching as he looked at her. Her chest rose and fell with each shallow breath, but there was no other sign of life. She looked so small and vulnerable, and it hurt to see her like this.
"Victoria," Louis whispered, his voice cracking as he took her hand. He held it gently, brushing his thumb over her cold skin. "Please come back to me. I can't lose you."
But there was no answer, no sign of recognition, no movement. Victoria was lost in darkness, far from him, and all he could do was wait-wait and hope she would return.
The guilt ate away at him. If he had just acted faster, if he had stopped Daniella, this wouldn't have happened.
He closed his eyes, leaning over the bed, resting his forehead against their hands. "I'm so sorry, Victoria," he whispered. "I'm sorry for everything."
The machines continued to beep, indifferent to his pain. And Louis knew that all he could do now was wait.