Unexpected News
**Sarah**
Hillary entered the room alone, and I thanked her for her consideration because I felt the need to talk to her alone in this first moment.
"I'll leave you two to talk alone," Enrico realizes my intention with just a glance. "I'll be back tomorrow, alright?"
"Okay," I respond.
Enrico winks at me, a sly smile on his face, and leaves the room.
"I don't understand how people don't see that you two are just good friends," Hillary comments, trying to smile. "To me, it's so obvious that you have a brotherly relationship."
She was right. Even the typical sibling teasing existed between Enrico and me. I smile, although I'm sure my smile must have looked more like a forced grin in response.
"I know it might sound like a silly question, but I'll ask anyway," she says. "How are you?"
Hillary settles into the chair next to the bed, which Maira had placed practically next to the furniture and where Enrico had also been until a few minutes ago. Her proximity is comforting.
"Trying not to freak out, lying here in this bed, unable to get up," I complain, feeling frustrated.
"Understandably, you're upset," Hillary replies, with a sad expression. "You'll be out of the hospital and back home soon."
"I hope so."
The idea of going back home makes me reflect on how alone I am in this world and the fact that my twin sister hasn't shown any concern for me so far. Despite declining visitors, no one mentioned that Rachel tried to contact me or, even less, came to the hospital.
We talk for a while, and my friend updates me on what's happening with the team until I sense a certain discomfort in her expression, and I can even anticipate the topic that has put her in this state.
"You have something to tell me, don't you?"
Even before she could confirm with words, her gaze answered that yes, there was something she was keeping from me.
"Lorenzo and I slept together last night."
I tried to contain my expression of total astonishment, but I believe I wasn't successful in my attempt.
"I know it sounds crazy, but I can't deny that it's something I've been dreaming of for years," Hillary continued, leaving me even more perplexed. "I've had feelings for Lorenzo for a while, ever since I started working with him on the same team."
Hillary seemed quite embarrassed to admit this fact, even covering her face with her hands.
"He never realized you liked him?" I asked, feeling guilty.
"No," she replied. "Lorenzo always treated me like a friend, and I never thought he could like me. I had accepted that, I swear."
"I guess you must have been pretty upset when he started dating Rachel," I said, feeling sorry for her.
"Yeah," she agreed, with a sad expression. "After that night when he came to my apartment and confessed to you..."
"Yeah, I remember," I interrupted, also feeling embarrassed about my part in that story. "I didn't expect it."
"So, that night we went out together, as you know," she continued to recount, "but nothing happened. Our friendship was the same as before. I think it's important to make that clear."
I noticed that at this point she looked at me in a strange way, and I figured she wanted to ask something, which also seemed to affect her, making me feel even more guilty.
"I'm sorry, Hillary," even though I wasn't in control, I still felt responsible for her going through such a situation. "I had no idea about your feelings."
"Don't worry about it," she tried to downplay the situation.
"And how did you end up together yesterday?" I asked with a smile, trying to lighten the mood. "What changed?"
"These days while you've been here, and after everything that's happened, I've been feeling really sad and alone. And Lorenzo has been trying to cheer me up. According to him, that's what 'best friends' do," Hillary rolled her eyes when she said "best friends," and I realized how hard it must be for her, considering what she felt. "I got tired of hearing him talk about our friendship, and we ended up arguing. And before I knew it, we were kissing."
I couldn't help but burst into laughter at the situation, and Hillary even turned red, clearly embarrassed to share this.
"I guess you can imagine the rest," I said with a smile.
"Definitely," she replied with a smile. "And now? Have you talked about it today?"
"No," she said. "He left the apartment like he was fleeing from a pack of lions."
Her comparison made me laugh again.
"Sorry, Hillary!" I said, covering my mouth. "But fleeing from a pack of lions is a serious matter."
She laughed with me, and this moment of camaraderie brought me some peace of mind.
"Men can be really stupid, Hillary," I said. "I can say that from my own experience."
I was referring to Kael, of course. But I also remembered Lorenzo and how he declared his feelings for me one day, then the next day he was back with Rachel, and now he ended up in bed with Hillary.
"I didn't want to like Lorenzo, but I do, and..."
We heard a soft knock on the door.
"Hello, ladies," Lorenzo greeted, sticking his head in the doorway. "Can I come in?"
I greeted him with a slightly brighter smile, thanks to the boost of confidence Hillary had given me.
"You scared us, Sarah!" Lorenzo commented, approaching the bed.
Hillary and I exchanged a knowing look, as the topic was now closed. They didn't stay in the room much longer, as the nurse soon informed us that visiting hours were over.
"I'm glad you received us," Hillary said, almost ready to leave. "We have to leave for the next race on the circuit tomorrow, and it would have been a shame if we couldn't see you."
"I needed some time," I explained.
"We understand, Sarah," Lorenzo said, with a genuinely sorrowful expression. "I still can't come to terms with the idea that you might not be able to walk again."
I saw Hillary's alarmed look at Lorenzo, and I realized she was also shocked by what he had said as if he had let slip something he shouldn't have, and his words had a profound impact on me.
"What did you say?" I asked, alarmed, feeling my heart race frantically.
"He was referring to the recovery from the surgery on your foot, where you need at least thirty days of bed rest," Hillary tried to remedy the situation.
"That's right," Lorenzo followed his girlfriend's reasoning. "I'm sorry you're going through this."
I made it clear that I wasn't buying my friends' pathetic attempt to keep deceiving me.
"I know exactly what you said, Lorenzo! Don't try to fool me," I shouted, feeling completely out of control.
"What's going on here?" The nurse quickly entered the room.
"What's going on is that I need to know the truth about my condition," I continued shouting, determined to make my voice heard. "I have the right to know what my real diagnosis is."
"Please, Sarah," Hillary said, back by my side. "Try to calm down. Getting this stressed won't help with your recovery."
"If you're not going to tell me the truth, get out of here!" I expelled them from the room. "I'm tired of being treated like a fool by everyone around me!"
"We're just trying to spare you," Lorenzo tried to restrain me as well. "Avoid this distress."
"Visiting hours are over, please leave," the nurse requested, with a tone of voice that was both gentle and firm.
"Sorry, Sarah," Lorenzo apologized before leaving, accompanied by a visibly shaken Hillary.
"I'll be back as soon as possible. Please forgive me," she whispered, peering through the crack in the door before closing it for good.
I could never have imagined that after a pleasant conversation and such a relaxing visit, it would end like that, I thought, feeling terrible in every way—for the news, for my explosive behavior, and for the lie they were telling me.
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