Rejected: A love story-Chapter 144: I failed you

"Take me to her," he said, his voice rough but resolute.

Anna’s eyes widened in alarm. "Nathan, no, no, no. You’re not strong enough for that. You need to rest—"

"I don’t care!" Nathan cried out, his voice cracking as he struggled to sit up. Pain shot through his chest, sharp and unkind, and he had to stop, his hands going to his side. "I need to see her. I need to go to her grave. Now."

Caleb took a step forward, his hands up in a calming gesture. "Nathan, listen to me. You’re not in any condition to get out of that bed. You just woke up. Your body is not prepared for that—"

"I don’t care what my body is prepared for!" Nathan cried out, his voice cracking again as more tears streamed out of his eyes. "She’s gone, Caleb. She really is gone. And I wasn’t there for her. I didn’t get to say goodbye. The very least I can do is go to her grave. Please."

His words lingered in the air, and the desperation in his voice was palpable to everyone in the room.

Gabriel, who had been standing stiffly at the foot of the bed, finally broke the silence with a low, heavy voice. "Nathan, son... I understand how you feel. But Caleb is right. You are not yet well enough to leave the hospital. You need to concentrate on your recovery."

Nathan’s head turned sharply towards him, his eyes burning with anger and pain. "Recover for what?" Nathan shouted. "She was everything to me! What is the purpose of my recovery if she is not going to be there?"

Anna sniffled softly, her hand going to her mouth as tears streamed down her face. "Nathan, please," she whispered. "We are all hurting, but you need to think about your health. Fiona would not have wanted this for you."

Nathan shook his head, his eyes and voice trembling with emotion. "You do not know what Fiona would’ve wanted," he said. "You do not know what Fiona would’ve wanted! She would’ve wanted me there! She would have wanted me to save her! She trusted me and a I failed her!"

The room was silent, the weight of his grief crushing everyone. They had never seen Nathan this way, not even when Natasha broke up with him in high school, he never even suffered close to this.

It was Hannah who finally had the strength to speak up, her voice breaking through the silence. "Nathan..." she said, her hands grasping the edge of the bed as she began to speak. "We’ll take you. Not now, but... but when you’re stronger. I promise."

Nathan’s eyes met hers, looking for any sign of wavering. "No," he said, his voice resolute, his head shaking back and forth. "I cannot wait. I need to go now. Please, Hannah. Help me."

Hannah’s face trembled, tears falling from her eyes as she looked at her brother’s battered face. "Caleb, maybe we should... maybe we should let him go."

Caleb’s jaw clenched, his eyes flicking between Nathan and the machines that continued to monitor his fragile state of health. "Hannah, he can’t—"

"Please," Nathan whispered, his voice barely audible. "I need this. Don’t take this from me."

Caleb let out a harsh breath, his eyes closing as he ran his hands through his hair, weighing his options. Finally, he turned to the nurse who had just re-entered the room to check Nathan’s vital signs.

"Is it even possible?" Caleb asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Can he leave for a short while? To visit the grave?"

The nurse frowned, looking at the monitors and then at Nathan, who was looking at her with pleading eyes. "Physically, it’s not advisable," she admitted. "But if he’s set on it, we can arrange for a wheelchair and oxygen equipment. He’d need constant supervision, and he can’t be out for long."

Anna’s head swung around to face the nurse, her face pale with shock. "You can’t be serious! He’s just awakened! He’ll die from this!"

Nathan’s voice interrupted Anna’s protests. "If I don’t go, I’ll die anyway."

The nurse hesitated, and then nodded reluctantly. "I’ll speak to the doctor. But you need to understand the risks, Mr. Keith. This isn’t something we recommend."

Nathan didn’t care about the risks. He didn’t care about anything except visiting Fiona’s grave, saying goodbye to the love of his life. He nodded weakly, his voice shaking with emotion as he said, "Thank you."

Anna buried her face in her hands and cried silently. Gabriel’s hand rested reassuringly on her shoulder, but his face looked grim. Caleb looked away, his fists clenched as he struggled with his own emotions.

Hannah stayed by Nathan’s side, her small hand resting gently on his arm. "I’ll go with you," she whispered. "You won’t have to do this alone."

Nathan’s eyes softened slightly as he looked at her, his voice breaking. "Thank you, Hannah."

~~~~~~~~~~~

The wheelchair creaked slightly as Nathan was seated in it. His body weakened, but his will remained strong. Caleb and Hannah stood on either side of him, their faces etched with concern. The nurse worked on the portable oxygen tank attached to the wheelchair, her face set in a thin line.

"This is as far as I can go with the doctor’s approval," she said. "You have thirty minutes, Mr. Keith. No more."

Nathan nodded weakly, his eyes fixed on the exit. The sunlight coming in through the glass doors was like freedom. He had not seen sunlight in weeks.

The car ride was very quiet. Caleb drove, occasionally looking back at Nathan in the rearview mirror. Hannah sat beside Nathan, her hand on his arm reassuringly. Nathan gazed out the window, his eyes passing over the streets as they drove by. Everything seemed distant, as though he were viewing it all through a foggy lens. His heart raced as they approached the cemetery gates, the wrought iron arch looming ahead like a guardian.

We’re here," Caleb whispered, parking the car.

Nathan took a ragged breath as he was rolled along the gravel path, the sound of the gravel beneath the wheels piercing his ears. The air was thick, and the silence was deafening.

Finally, they came to a stop in front of a simple headstone, the name "Fiona Brown" engraved on the smooth stone. Nathan’s chest constricted at the sight, his vision blurring through his tears.

Hannah knelt beside Nathan, speaking softly. "Do you want some alone time?"

Nathan shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "Stay."

Caleb stepped back, giving Nathan and Hannah space, but not so far away that he wasn’t within earshot, his protective instincts on high alert.

Nathan touched the stone, his fingers shaking as they made contact with the cool stone. "I’m so sorry," Nathan whispered, his voice cracking. "I should have been there for you. I should have protected you! I’m a failure cupcake I failed you." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The words spilled out of him, raw and unfiltered. "I didn’t even know our last moment together that day would be our last, Fiona. I woke up, and you were just... gone. How do I live with that? How do I live with knowing I wasn’t there for you when you needed me most?"

Hannah’s hold on his arm tightened, her tears falling silently.

Nathan closed his eyes, and the memories of Fiona came flooding back. Her laughter, her smile, the way she’d brush her hair back when she was frustrated. Her hugs, her playful and shy side.

"I love you," he choked out. "I’ll always love you."

The wind rustled through the trees, his words carried away on it, like a prayer..."

Caleb drew closer, speaking softly. "Nathan, we really need to get you back to the hospital. You’re really pushing yourself too hard."

Nathan nodded weakly, his eyes still fixed on the headstone. "Just one more minute," he whispered.

Caleb backed away, giving Nathan the time he wanted.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Yelena sat gracefully in her favorite armchair, her sharp blue eyes fixed on Nikolai, who stood in the center of the room, his hands clasped behind his back. Ivan leaned forward on the sofa, his elbows resting on his knees, while Dmitri stood stiffly by the doorway, his arms crossed.

Nikolai cleared his throat, trying to state his intentions. "Я пришел сюда сегодня, чтобы поговорить о Виктории. Я хочу попросить её руки в браке." (I’ve come here today to talk about Viktoria. I want to ask for her hand in marriage.)

Yelena tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable, though her lips curved faintly at the edges. Ivan sat back, his brow furrowed in thought, but he said nothing yet. Dmitri, however, scoffed loudly, disapproving already.

"Это смешно," Ditri muttered under his breath, shaking his head. (This is ridiculous.)

Nikolai turned to him, confused. "Что ты сказал?" _(What did you say?)

"You’re rushing her, Nikolai," Dmitri said, switching to Russian as the tension in the room thickened. "Она только начала вспоминать. Ей нужно больше времени, чтобы разобраться в себе и понять, чего она хочет." (She’s only just started remembering. She needs more time to figure herself out and understand what she wants.)

"She knows what she wants," Nikolai shot back, his voice calm but firm. "Она любит меня, несмотря на то, что не помнит прошлого. Что важно, так это настоящее." (She loves me, despite not remembering the past. What matters is the present.)

Dmitri stepped forward, his frustration evident in the way his shoulders squared and his fists clenched at his sides. "Ты говоришь, что важно настоящее, но ты даже не знаешь, что она вспомнит завтра. Что, если она передумает? Что, если она вспомнит что-то, что изменит всё?" (You say the present matters, but you don’t even know what she’ll remember tomorrow. What if she changes her mind? What if she remembers something that changes everything?)

Ivan finally spoke, his deep voice cutting through the heated exchange. "Дмитрий, успокойся. Если Виктория действительно любит Николая и готова выйти за него замуж, то это всё, что имеет значение. Мы должны уважать её выбор." (Dmitri, calm down. If Viktoria truly loves Nikolai and is willing to marry him, then that’s all that matters. We must respect her choice.)