EDITED: 21st March 2019.

Brooklyn.

I munched on the chips and looked at the clock once again. It was almost 7 pm and I knew Devin said he would be late but I couldn't help myself from looking at the clock every now and then.

I started a movie and halfway through it, the doorbell rang. My heart stopped. Devin wasn't home and even Peggy left 1 hour ago after making dinner. It couldn't be Devin too as he wouldn't have rung the bell. All the maids had finished their work and left in the afternoon. Meaning, I was alone.

I peeped from peephole on the door and found a tall lean man standing. I frowned, if he got in he must be someone Devin knows because as far as I know this estate is highly secured and only allowed people can enter.

I opened the door cautiously and the man burst in,

"Are you Brooklyn?" He said and he looked worried somehow.

"Yeah. Who are you?" I asked, scanning his shaking figure.

"I am Ryder, Mr. Francesco's second in command. He was shot and is in critical condition at the hospital. For your safety, please come with me." He said and I gasped.

It felt like someone tore my soul apart. Devin was in the hospital. He was shot. Tears welled up my eyes and I started crying as I hurried out of the house with Ryder, not even bothering to shut the TV off. He tried to comfort me but I was numb.

Please, God. Let him be okay.

---

I rushed near Devin's hospital room. Antonio and Sierra were waiting near the door on one of the seats. Sierra was sobbing and Antonio was hugging her but it looked like he wanted to shed a few tears of his own.

I was about to burst into the room but a hand tugged me back. I turned to face Ryder and he shook his head,

"They are running some tests on him. We can't go in until they are done." He said with a grim face and I reluctantly nodded, sitting on one of the waiting chairs beside Sierra.

She faced me and hugged me as sobs racked her body. I hugged her back, crying like a baby myself. I looked at Antonio and he was trying to be strong by keeping his tears at bay. I sadly shook my head at him and a lone tear fell from his eye.

A few minutes later, a doctor came out. We immediately stood up and faced him. His expression told me something was terribly wrong.

"He is stable but currently in a coma. We don't know when he will wake up." The doctor said and my heart broke all over again.

"Can we see him now?" I asked in a hoarse voice.

"Yes, but 1 person at a time please." He said and patted me on the back, walking away.

I looked at others to see who wanted to go in first but they all gestured for me to go. I nodded and entered the room. My stomach dropped at the sight of a very badly hurt Devin. He was pale, his eyes were closed and he looked so so helpless. I couldn't help but sob loudly.

How did we get to this?

I walked to his bed and sat beside him, taking his hand in mine. It was cold and an IV was stuck in it. I lightly squeezed it and leaned in, pecking his cold lips.

I then traced patterns on his fragile face and tears flowed like a river from my eyes. I sniffed loudly and got up, knowing I needed to give others a chance to see him as well.

I squeezed his hand one more time before letting it fall back limply on his side and walked out the room.

---

It has been 1 month since Devin has been admitted to the hospital and is in a coma. Every day, whenever I can, I go and visit him. I tell him about my day, tell him how much I miss him and how much I want him to open those beautiful green eyes.

I also stay with the mafia members now apparently. Ryder didn't want me to be alone in the big estate and hence gave me a room in the house where a total of 15 mafia members lived. The house was a big 4 story mansion and a room was allotted to every member who didn't have a place to stay or was a bachelor.

It did feel uncomfortable the first few days to live with a bunch of guys but soon enough I was okay with it.

Right now, Peggy was making lunch and I was sitting on the counter table. Opposite me sat Ashton and Jonathan talking about mafia stuff. Liam, a quiet member too sat on one of the chairs reading a book and waiting for lunch to be done. Ryder was gone to attend some mafia dealerships as Devin, unfortunately, was still in a deep coma.

But he was getting better and the doctor said every day he was taking a step closer to recovery and in no time he would be awake and well. That did uplift my mood a little.

Once lunch was done, I helped Peggy and the maids serve it to the men. After they finished eating, I cleared their plates and placed them in the dishwasher and packed a little food for the security team guarding Devin's hospital room.

As I sat inside the car, I tried to smile at the driver and muttered a greeting. He acknowledged my presence with a nod and started driving. I looked out the window, my thoughts drowning me.

The last few weeks have been hard on me. At nights, I don't get any sleep and end up taking sleeping pills which don't help in any way and I stay up like an owl, staring at a blank wall or cry silently. My days go dull and depressed, with as little interaction with humans as possible.

I wasn't eating much as well and I knew I had gotten weaker. Peggy had told me that, with a very disappointed expression may I add but I just couldn't find the energy to eat in myself.

It was as if ever since Devin got shot, he took a piece of me with him. I couldn't function or do anything without it and it was honestly so frustrating at times.

"Miss Brooklyn, we are here." I snapped out of my thoughts and said a timid 'thank you' to the driver, getting out of the car.

I made my way inside the hospital, the daily staff knows me by now. The receptionist, Macy, waved at me and I waved back trying to act happy but miserably failing.

As Devin's room came in my line of sight so did the security guards.

"Hey guys, I hope you people like pasta. I bought some." I said and they looked at me, their eyes shining with something I couldn't despair.

Eventually, they nodded and I took out a few plates and filled them with pasta. They sat on the waiting chairs and ate as I poured water into a glass for each of them as well.

When they were settled, I said, "If you need anything, call me."

They nodded again and continued chewing as I entered Devin's room, the fresh air filling my lungs. He laid there, looking a less pale than before and his lips seemed to have regained their softness. His bullet wound had healed by now and overall he looked better.

He was recovering. Finally.

I sat beside him and held his hand in mine like I do every day, "I-I miss you. I miss you so much I can't explain it. You might have thought that I would get used to you being in a coma by now but no, every day I feel myself breaking more. I hope you wake up soon because I can't stand being away from you anymore. I know you are right here physically but I need you here emotionally. I need you, Devin," I say and my voice breaks as I start sobbing but I will myself to stop crying and continue. For Devin. "because I love you. Yes, I love you so so much. I love your smile after we kiss. I love your eyes, how they shine when I say something. I love how you focus on me when I talk like I am everything you ever wanted. I love your stares, your naughty smirks, your chuckles, your winks. I love your everything but most of all, I love you. Never did I imagine to feel something like this for anyone. I am so grateful that you have given me a chance to experience it, to be in love. P-please wake up soon. For me."

Continuous trails of teardrops fell on our intertwined hands. I wiped my eyes with my other hand and smiled at his still asleep form. I gave his cheek a light peck and squeezed his hand, getting up.

Just as I was about to leave the room, I heard a voice. I heard his voice,

"I love you too, Brooklyn."

×××××



a u t h o r' s n o t e:

THANK YOU FOR 2K GUYS! LOTS OF HUGS AND KISSES XX.

btw, shoutout to everyone who adds my book to their reading list. you guys are the real MVP.

now back to the chapter..they confessed, awie! i am so happy for them even though they are fictional characters i created.

i dont know if their love was rushed or if they said their 'i love you's' too fast. but what i do know is that love has no particular time limit, age or place.

it can happen anywhere, anytime and between anyone.

i never got to experience it but i hope someday i can.

and before people start poking me with comments like 'love isn't all rainbows and sunshines blah blah'. i know it isn't, i never said it was.

love is a beautiful yet painful feeling. you don't just fall in love. you go through heartbreak, pain, torture and so much more before actually being in love.

but enough of that sappy talk, how was this chapter? as i said before, i am no poet neither can i express emotions in words amazingly like some wonderful writers out there. still though, i hope you enjoyed and if you didn't oh well.

thanks for reading. X

VOTE. COMMENT. SHARE.

much love,