27. Hazel

Chapter 27

Hazel

T wo days had passed since I found out about Ian’s deception. You would think the pain would have subsided in that time, but it was still just as raw as the moment I found out. It was like every time I tried to put the pieces of my heart back together, they fell apart all over again.

Nothing had ever hurt this much. I’d had my heart broken before, but it never felt like this. It never felt like I couldn’t breathe, like a large hand was squeezing my chest and stopping me from taking in oxygen. That was what this felt like.

I was grateful for Jade. She came by often and she called to check up on me. The only downside was that she constantly encouraged me to speak to Ian. She truly believed he would never do what George said.

I wished I could believe that too, but I was too scared to trust Ian again. My heart still hadn’t recovered. If I gave him another chance and he hurt me again, it would be too painful. This was safer. Staying away from him was safer.

This way I didn’t have to worry about getting hurt again. I just needed to overcome the pain I felt right now. It hadn't been easy, but I was getting there… slowly.

I dragged myself out of bed and walked into the kitchen. I still hadn’t been back to work. Thankfully, Bradford was really nice about it. He understood that I was going through something and he let me stay home.

After all, I was his hardest worker. I was usually the one who worked extra hours but right now, I couldn’t bring myself to go to work. I could only imagine the questions Kira would ask me if I went there, and I wasn’t in the mood to hear them.

As I poured water into a glass, I scrolled through my phone. It took a lot of strength to ignore Ian’s text messages. Sadly, I didn’t have that strength. I opened and read through the messages he sent.

He still seemed oblivious about what made me leave his house that day which meant George hadn’t told him what happened. He was likely trying to avoid Ian’s fury. I imagine he would be very upset when he finds out about George’s slip-up.

I read the final message out loud. “Please, Hazel. Please just let me see you. Whatever it is, we can work this out. Please.”

The words cut my heart into new pieces. And even though I knew I shouldn’t, I found myself desperate to see him. Even if it was just one last time. So, I got ready and drove to his apartment. For a while I just sat in the driveway, wondering why I was there.

I shouldn’t have come here. What was I doing here? I was about to leave when I noticed someone waving at me. It was the old man who told Ian and me that he’d seen Fred lurking around the building.

“Mr. Wilson!” I greeted as I stepped out of the car. The man gestured for me to come over and I did. “Is everything all right, sir?”

“He’s here.”

“What? Who’s here?”

Mr. Wilson looked around before speaking. “That young man. The one who lurks in the shadows. You and Ian came by to ask about him the other day. He’s here.”

Realization dawned on me. Fred was here. He’d come back for Ian. He could be with him right now. I didn’t think twice. I ran as fast as I possibly could. I rushed into the building and took the stairs. My heart pounded in my ears as I took each step. The closer I got, the more intense the pounding became.

My worst fears flashed before my eyes. I saw Ian, dead on the ground. The image was so clear that it made my eyes sting. I fought back tears as I ran to him, determined to save him even though I didn’t know how.

I pushed his door open, and my stomach fell when I saw the blood on the floor. I searched for Ian frantically. My eyes widened when I saw him in the corner. He and Fred were struggling with a knife.

They were both covered in blood, so it was difficult to tell whose blood it was. There was so much blood. Whoever was injured was likely on the verge of a collapse. It broke my heart to see the whole thing.

“Hazel,” Ian said my name, and Fred looked up at me. I saw the hatred in his eyes and it chilled me to the bone.

That brief moment of distraction was enough for Ian to knock the knife out of Fred’s hand. Ian subdued Fred, pinning him to the ground so he wouldn’t be able to reach for the knife again.

Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived. Ian winced and lifted his shirt, giving me a clear view of his gaping stab wound. The blood was his.

My heart broke all over again. I hated seeing him in so much pain. “Help!” I shouted, and I didn’t stop shouting until his neighbors showed up. They held Fred down while I rushed to help Ian.

Ian crumpled to the floor.

“No. No. No,” I cried as I saw Ian’s eyes slowly close. “Please open your eyes, Ian. Please.”

I pulled out my phone and called an ambulance. One of the neighbors was already calling the police. I took off my cardigan and used it to stop the blood, but it was too late, he’d already lost so much. He was barely able to keep his eyes open.

“Please stay with me, Ian. The ambulance will be here soon. Please, just stay with me. Ian!”

He opened his eyes and smiled when he saw me. “You’re so beautiful. I’m really going to miss being able to see you.”

“Don’t talk like that Ian. You’re going to be fine. The ambulance will be here soon, and you will be fine. Just keep your eyes open. They’ll be here before you—”

“I love you.” His confession cut me off. I was certain I’d misheard him. The place was rowdy. Several of his neighbors were there, many of whom were crying or talking loudly. I must have misheard him.

“I love you, Hazel Jones. I’m sorry it took me so many years to realize that. I was an idiot for not seeing it sooner. Of course, I love you. To be honest, I think I’ve always loved you. I just didn’t know. You know what they say about love and hate being a thin line.”

He paused and pulled in a deep breath. I could tell it was taking a lot for him to speak. “You don’t have to say it back right now. Even though it would be great to hear it before I die.”

“You’re not going to die, Ian. Don’t talk like that.”

“It’s okay. I’ve made peace with it. At least I got to tell you that I love you. I love you.”

His eyes shut after that last statement and panic flooded my bloodstream.

“Ian! Ian, wake up! Ian! Please!”

***

I sat on the cold chairs in the waiting room with a heavy heart and bloody hands. Ian’s blood was everywhere. I stared at my hands and tried to hold back tears. I thought I’d cried all the tears I possibly could but thinking about Ian made my eyes sting.

He’d told me he loved me, but I didn’t get a chance to say it back. New tears flowed, and I wiped my cheeks.

“How is he?” Jade asked as she and her mother rushed into the waiting room. They both looked like they’d dropped everything they were doing to get here. Jade’s hair was half done and her mother was wearing mismatched slippers.

“He’s going to be fine,” I said, and I saw them visibly relax. I called them immediately after I got to the hospital. “The doctor said the cut was deep but thankfully he was brought to the hospital in time.”

Mrs. Carter sighed. “Thank God. And thank you, my dear.”

“There’s no need to thank me, ma’am.”

She smiled and pulled me in for a hug. I settled into her embrace and accepted the warmth she was offering me. We remained like that for a while and when we pulled apart, I hugged Jade. The three of us sat in the waiting room, quietly staring at the white walls.

“You should go home, dear. Take a shower and change. We’ll be here,” Mrs. Carter said.

I wanted to protest but then looked down at my bloody hands and clothes. She was right. I needed to shower and change. I didn’t want to see Ian while I was still covered in his blood. “I’ll be right back.”

I left the hospital and took a taxi home. I peeled myself out of the bloody clothes and climbed into the shower. Tears fell from my eyes as the water washed the blood off my body. I’d almost lost Ian today. If the ambulance had arrived any later then he would have been dead.

I wouldn’t even know what to do if that happened. I loved him too much to lose him.

I loved him.