You’re bleeding
It happened in an instant. A sudden rush of wind swept through, tangling her hair and tugging at her clothes, but Dora remained rooted to the spot. Her eyes were locked on the car speeding toward her, its headlights blinding, its engine roaring like a beast. She was close enough to see the driver’s panicked expression, close enough to feel the heat of the engine, close enough to know that in a matter of seconds, her life could be over.
Her mind screamed at her to move, to run, to do anything, but her body refused to obey. It was as if time had slowed, stretching those few seconds into an eternity. She could hear Sienna’s voice, sharp and desperate, cutting through the chaos. “Dora! Move! Move!” But the words felt distant, like they were coming from another world. The crowd around her gasped, their faces frozen in horror, but Dora couldn’t tear her gaze away from the car. It was coming. It was coming, and there was nothing she could do.
She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the impact. Her thoughts raced, a whirlwind of regrets and wishes. She thought of her child, the life growing inside her, and the future she might never see. She thought of Austin, of the love they’d lost and the chances they’d wasted. If only she could turn back time, if only she could make things right. She whispered a prayer, not for a miracle, but for forgiveness. For peace. For a second chance she knew she didn’t deserve it.
Then it happened. The sound of screeching tires, the crunch of metal, the rush of air as something or someone, collided with her. But it wasn’t the car. It wasn’t the brutal, bone-crushing impact she’d expected. Instead, she felt warmth. Strong arms wrapped around her, shielding her, pulling her away from danger. She hit the ground, the breath knocked out of her, but the pain she’d anticipated never came. Instead, she heard a groan, low and pained, and realized she wasn’t alone.
Her eyes flew open, and there he was. Austin. His face was twisted in agony, but his eyes were fixed on her, searching, pleading. “Dora,” he gasped, his voice shaky. “Are you okay? Please, tell me you’re okay.”
She stared at him, stunned. His arms were still around her, his body curled protectively over hers. She could feel the rapid rise and fall of his chest, the way his heart pounded against her. He was hurt, she could see the blood on his arm, the way he winced when he moved, but he didn’t seem to care. All he cared about was her.
“Austin,” she whispered, her voice so low. “You’re bleeding.”
He ignored her, his hands moving over her, checking for injuries. “Are you hurt? The baby, is the baby okay?” His voice broke, and for the first time, she saw the fear in his eyes. Not just fear for her, but fear of losing her. Of losing everything.
“I’m fine,” she said, her voice trembling. “We’re fine. But you…you’re hurt. You need help.”
He shook his head, pulling her closer. “I don’t care about me. I thought I was too late. I thought…” His voice cracked, and he buried his face in her hair, holding her like she might disappear if he let go. “I can’t lose you, Dora. Not again.”
Her heart ached at the raw emotion in his voice. She could feel the weight of his words, the depth of his fear. And for the first time in what felt like forever, she let herself really look at him. Really see him. The man who had risked everything to save her. The man who had always been there, even when she pushed him away.
“Austin,” she said softly, her hand reaching up to touch his face. “I’m here. I’m okay. You saved me.”
He pulled back slightly, his eyes searching hers. “I love you,” he said, his voice fierce. “I’ve always loved you. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Both of you.”
Her breath caught at his words. She’d spent so long building walls, so long pushing him away, that she’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be loved by him. To be cherished. To be his. And in that moment, something inside her shifted. The walls began to crumble, and she felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time: hope.
“I love you too,” she whispered, the words slipping out before she could stop them. And then, before she could second-guess herself, she kissed him. It wasn’t gentle or hesitant, it was desperate, passionate, like she was pouring all her fear and regret and love into that one moment. His arms tightened around her, pulling her closer, and for a moment, the world disappeared. There was no car, no crowd, no pain. Just the two of them, holding on to each other like it was the only thing that mattered.
When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathless. Austin’s forehead rested against hers, his eyes closed, a small smile playing on his lips. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited for that,” he murmured.
Dora couldn’t help but laugh, a soft, shaky sound. “I think I do,” she said. “Because I’ve been waiting too.”
The sound of Sienna’s voice broke through the moment. “Okay, lovebirds, as much as I’m enjoying this reunion, you both need medical attention. Like, now.”
Dora looked down at Austin’s arm, the blood staining his sleeve, and felt a pang of guilt. “She’s right,” she said, her voice firm. “You need to get that looked at.”
Austin shrugged, wincing slightly. “It’s just a scratch. I’ll be fine.”
“It’s not just a scratch,” she argued, her worry bubbling to the surface. “You could have been seriously hurt. What were you thinking, jumping in front of a car like that?”
He looked at her, his expression serious. “I was thinking that I couldn’t lose you. Not again. Not ever.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she punched him lightly on the shoulder. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again,” she said, her voice breaking. “I can’t lose you either.”
He pulled her into another hug, his arms warm and solid around her. “You won’t,” he promised. “Not as long as I’m breathing.”
As they sat there, holding each other, the chaos of the accident faded into the background. For the first time in a long time, Dora felt like everything was going to be okay. She didn’t know what the future held, but she knew one thing for certain: she wasn’t going to waste this second chance. Not with Austin. Not with their child. Not with the life they were building together.
And as the paramedics arrived and the crowd began to disperse, Dora held on to Austin’s hand, her heart full. They’d been through hell, but they’d come out the other side. And this time, she wasn’t letting go.
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