I felt like the world was spinning around me. It was as if I was walking along a narrow bridge at a great height. There was death below me and a difficult path on both sides. I was hanging between life and death. The bliss of death was beckoning me and I longed to give up, to stop fighting, and to surrender to death.

But on the other side there was life. A life which offered no promises but pain, a life which was just suffering, but it was a life which would bring me again to my guardian angel. His face floated before my eyes every time I thought about death.

Gradually I could feel the pain searing through every limb of my body. An incapacitating pain, a pain beyond description. For the first time I was afraid that I was dying. I was afraid I would have to leave this world. But I still held on. I couldn’t give in, not when I had that someone to look forward to. That someone who had brought happiness again to me.

Then again came the pain. It smothered me and choked me. It wrapped around me like a snake, strangling me and yet I fought, I struggled, I held on to life. Why did I feel that awful, throbbing pain? What had happened?

I tried to fight against that thing, the unknown force holding me down. I had to see him. I tried to open my eyes but they were heavy as lead. I struggled until I saw a ray of light. And then I was wide awake. The face of my mother flashed before my eyes. Was she a dream too?

“Ro, are you okay? Ro, can you hear me? Answer me, my darling,” I heard pure panic in her voice.

But I couldn’t find my voice to respond, so I nodded my head instead. My head hurt like hell. I tried to get up but found myself bound by IV tubing and a whole range of monitors and gadgets all beeping and tapping. In a hospital again? Excellent! Damn my life!

“What happened? The car…” I was remembering the monstrous headlights and then the darkness.

“You had an accident…Y…You were hit by…by a car,” my mother’s voice cracked, “We thought you were d…dead.”

She raised her hands to heaven offering a prayer.

I was dying. I knew that. I felt it. But something, some inhuman strength inside of me had pulled me through this. Something had fueled me to fight with death and I had won over death. I realized for the first time that there was something stronger than death, and that was love.

“Where is he? Where is Dmitriy? Is he here,” I whispered.

I was afraid that I had lost him again. The events of the night came flashing back to me. The meeting, the revelations, the truth, the feelings, my dilemma and then the horror of the paparazzi, ending with my being hit by the car.

“He is here,” my mother said, admiration in his tone, “he is the one who found you on the road and informed us. He was surprised to see you after so many days.”

My mother and admiration for Dmitriy? Impossible! How is it that my mother’s attitude changed so suddenly? What had Dmitriy told her?

I realized he had kept the meeting a secret and had lied to my parents about finding me as a coincidence. I realized that it was for the best that he lied. He had tried to protect me and save the situation.

“You seem to like him now,” I couldn’t keep the sarcasm from my voice. I winced in pain again as the medication through the IV line stung me. My limbs hurt too. My entire body seemed to be lying on a bed of nails. I was even afraid to ask if I would be in the same condition again.

“He seems to really like you a lot,” my mother said slowly in response,” I was wrong. He wants you and loves you truly. You will not find another person like him. He spent sleepless nights here by your side. He stayed twenty four hours, vigilant and never leaving your side in spite of all our insistence. Today we could persuade him to go once and have some sleep. He left grudgingly. I bet he will be back any moment.”

I tried to smile, but it was slow and painful.

“That sounds like my Dmitriy,” I remarked and was amazed myself at the possessiveness in my voice.

“How long have I been out,” I enquired.

“Three days, you had multiple fractures on your arms and legs. We were afraid…” tears shone in my mother’s eyes again, “You should have seen him. He had turned to a stone beside you. But he was always there to support us when we needed it.
We don’t know honestly how we had spent these days, the doctors had given us ten percent chance. You were unresponsive. Every minute seemed like hours to us. We were just clinging on to one ray of hope. Every breath of you was anticipated with great fear.”

Tears streamed down my cheek as I realized how much they cared for me.

“I am so sorry,” I said, “I never should have run away. I never should have left you…”

“No,” she interrupted me, “We are sorry. We should have let you decide your life in your way. We should never have restrained you from trying to meet him. We as parents should have realized where your heart is. We won’t make this mistake again, I promise.”

I didn’t know for how long we both cried. I had almost given up on my parents. I didn’t expect to be with them again.

We were interrupted by a voice, a voice of relief, “Roza?”

There he was, in all his glory, my guardian angel, Dmitriy. The relief and happiness in his eyes made me elated. My life was for him, he was everything for me. I realized that so well.

The cardiac monitor on my bedside beeped loudly as my heart raced.

He came slowly near me, studying me, loving me with that gaze. His eyes were moist and I longed to reach out and wipe those tears. He didn’t deserve to cry.

He bent down beside me and gently planted a kiss on my forehead.

“I thought…” he began but I placed a finger on his lips.

“Shhh, I am here, I am here for you. I won’t leave you again. My promise.” I comforted him as his tears fell on my dress.

He buried his face in my chest as I tried to utter some soothing words.

There was no other thought on my mind except that we had to live, and love.

A/N Thanks to all for reading. Don't know when the results will be published but I take this opportunity to thank mystery for giving me a chance to fulfill my dream of a novella. I really learnt a lot and this journey goes on. I don't know whether I will reach the next level but I feel so honoured to have this book of my own. So I am really grateful to mystery.

Thanks MaryFahey for being a guide and Pipigrin mampty morema_m morema_m teamhathaway joharateregeyo nana_gn my friends for reading this book and supporting me. Your constructive criticism is welcome.