As I stood outside Sarah's hospital room, gazing through the window alongside Rachel, my heart sank. Ethan lay beside Sarah, holding her frail hand in his. Sarah's eyes were closed, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Ethan's eyes were shut too, his face etched with a mix of sadness and serenity.
Rachel noticed my reaction and placed a reassuring hand on my arm. "Amanda, it's okay. He's just being kind. He wants to make her last days special."
I nodded, trying to calm my racing thoughts. "I know. It's just hard to see him like this. So vulnerable."
We stood there in silence, observing the tender moment between Ethan and Sarah. The hospital room was dimly lit, with soft beeps and whirs of machines providing a gentle background hum. Ethan's chest rose and fell with slow, deep breaths, as if he was savoring every moment with Sarah.
After a few minutes, Ethan's eyes fluttered open. He gazed at Sarah's peaceful face, his expression filled with love and longing. He stroked her hair, his touch gentle and reverent. Sarah stirred, her eyes opening weakly. She smiled at Ethan, and he smiled back, his eyes shining with unshed tears.
Rachel whispered, "Look, Amanda. They're sharing a moment."
I nodded, my throat constricting. "Yeah. It's beautiful, but hard to watch."
As we continued to observe, Ethan leaned forward, his lips brushing against Sarah's forehead. Sarah's eyes closed, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Ethan's eyes never left hers, his gaze filled with adoration.
Rachel squeezed my arm. "Maybe we should go, Amanda. This is a private moment."
I nodded, reluctantly tearing my gaze away from the poignant scene. "Yeah. Let's give them space."
As we walked away from the hospital room, Rachel asked, "Are you okay, Amanda? You seem a bit shaken."
I took a deep breath, processing my emotions. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little jealous, but I understand what Ethan's doing. He's trying to make her happy, and that's beautiful."
Rachel nodded. "You're strong, Amanda. You'll get through this. Ethan cares about you deeply, but he needs to do this for Sarah."
I smiled, grateful for Rachel's support. "Thanks, Rachel. Means a lot to me. Just being here with you makes me feel better."
We walked in silence, the evening air filled with the sounds of the city. The hospital's bright lights faded into the distance as we strolled through the quiet streets, lost in our thoughts.
As we turned a corner, Rachel broke the silence. "Amanda, you know Ethan loves you, right? He's just trying to closure with Sarah."
I nodded, feeling a sense of reassurance. "Yeah, I know. And I'll wait for him, no matter how long it takes."
Rachel smiled. "That's the spirit, Amanda. You two will get through this together."
An hour had passed since we returned to the hostel, and I was engrossed in my thoughts, replaying the poignant scene at the hospital. The memory of Ethan's tender moments with Sarah lingered, filling my heart with a mix of emotions. Suddenly, a knock on the door broke the silence, shattering my reverie. Rachel got up from her bed, curiosity etched on her face.
"I'll get it," she said, walking towards the door with a sense of purpose.
As she opened it, her expression changed from curiosity to shock. She stood frozen, her eyes fixed on someone outside, her mouth agape. I wondered who could be visiting at this hour, and Rachel's reaction only piqued my curiosity.
"Amanda, come here," she called, her voice barely above a whisper, her tone urgent.
I got up from my bed, my heart racing with anticipation. As I approached the door, I saw Ethan standing in the doorway, his face a mask of emotions. His eyes were red, his skin pale, and his expression was a mix of sadness, numbness, and heartbreak. He looked like he had been drained of all energy, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
Rachel stepped aside, allowing Ethan to enter. "I'll give you guys some space," she said, disappearing into her room, leaving us alone.
Ethan walked in, his movements mechanical, as if he was going through the motions. He stood in the middle of the room, his eyes fixed on me, his gaze piercing. I felt like he was searching for something, maybe comfort, maybe solace.
"Amanda," he said, his voice cracking, barely above a whisper.
I took a step closer, my heart racing, my senses heightened. "Ethan, what's wrong?" I asked, my voice filled with concern.
He took a deep breath, his shoulders sagging, as if the weight of the world was crushing him. "Sarah's gone," he whispered, his voice trembling.
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, the wind knocked out of me. "Oh, Ethan," I said, my voice barely audible, my heart aching for him.
Ethan's expression crumbled, his eyes welling up with tears. He looked like he was about to shatter into a million pieces. "She passed away an hour ago," he said, his voice shaking, his body trembling.
I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close, trying to offer some comfort. He buried his face in my shoulder, his body shaking with sobs. I held him tight, letting him release his emotions, feeling his pain and grief.
After a few moments, Ethan pulled back, his eyes red and puffy, his face streaked with tears. "I'm sorry, Amanda," he said, his voice cracking. "I didn't mean to break down like this."
I took his hand, my heart aching for him. "You don't have to apologize, Ethan," I said, my voice soft. "You're going through a tough time. You need to grieve."
Ethan nodded, his eyes welling up again. "I just feel so lost, Amanda," he said, his voice shaking. "I don't know how to process this. I keep thinking she'll walk through the door, smiling, and everything will be okay."
I squeezed his hand. "You don't have to do it alone, Ethan. I'm here for you. We'll get through this together."
We stood there in silence, holding hands, as the weight of Sarah's passing hung in the air, a palpable grief that surrounded us.
"Now you're going to have all of me Amanda, no more sharing me with anyone, you've sacrificed a lot to kick this off with me, I might have been so hard on you, but now I promise you to be here, all of me."
With tears running down my cheeks, I stood on my toes and reached for a kiss, as we shared a passionate kiss, lost in our own world, now I've gotten the man of my dream.