Hello there.. This is the third chapter in the series “Forgotten Love”. I have been working on this love series for a very long time now.. To know what happened earlier here, please click these links Chapter-1 and  Chapter-2 . Hope you enjoy the ifs and buts of Sarah and Edward.
Some people love to Live, but some live to Love… Are you one of those?
Noises coming from the lobby broke her concentration. She was indulged in the old yellow pages of her all time favorite Gone with the wind when she heard the paramedics. It took her only a second to get up from the chair and briskly walk outside. Sarah was standing in between the stretchers being dragged around the hallway, shrieking cries of people, families and friends nervous and asking questions in anxious voices. She stood there still, holding her book tightly towards her chest. It is not the first time when there had been a situation like this here but today was different for Sarah. Her life was taking bit of a serious turn today. Philip had asked her out and her mind was too busy since last night thinking about all the ifs and buts about him, if it is a good idea, is he the right guy for her. Tide of related and unrelated questions had swamped her world today. He is taking her out tonight on their first official date. They have now known each other for five years now and technically they were together but nothing was ever made official from either ends. After a lot of thought, she had finally decided to move on from her past and go on with her life. But she was restless and had been feeling jittery since morning and she knew it isn’t about Philip.
She kept her calm as she always do and checked about the situation. There had been a car collision that involved a women in her late 30’s and a family of four, a mother, a father and two boys. Nobody in the family were seriously injured, but the women was hurt severely and was in a critical condition. They were taking her to the emergency room for further treatment.
After checking again if she is required there, Sarah walked towards the changing room. She was off duty now and was about to leave but something inside her told that she is needed here. She started feeling uncomfortable and somehow her steps started moving towards the direction of operation theater where the women from the car clash was being operated. She stood near the big glass window and wondered if her family was informed, if she would be fine. Lost in her own thoughts, she was looking at the surgeons and her phone rang. It was Philip’s call. She answered. He was waiting outside for her. Keeping the phone back into her pocket, she took one last look at that patient and walked away.
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They were sitting in the Patio facing the sea and breeze was playing with Sarah’s hair throwing them all over her face. She was trying to tuck them behind her ears. Philip took her hand in his and started speaking. “I love you Sarah. I have liked you since the day I drove you into this city. The life in your eyes brightens my day and I would want to wake up everyday looking into these eyes.” he poured his heart out. Sarah didn’t react, she was frozen with the explosion of emotions and surprise. She just smiled at him, looked deeply into his eyes. Her eyes started flooding with tears, she looked away at the vast horizon.
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Her shift starts at seven in the morning, but she reached around half an hour early. She couldn’t sleep properly last night due to the unfolding of Philip’s emotions. She entered the hospital but her footsteps slowed down after seeing a familiar face in the lobby. Her feet kept on dragging. Edward was right in front of her, blocking her away. He looked very tired and a little smile flashed in his lips seeing her. “Hi Sarah, How are you?” he asked in a very tired voice. An entire night of turmoil was echoing in his voice. “I am good. You look so worn out. What happened? Is everything alright?” And then Edward told him about the accident. His wife was driving to San Francisco to meet her cousin and she lost control of her car which collided with another vehicle coming from the other direction. She was bought here last night and has undergone a surgery. She is under observation now. As he was explaining Sarah about the accident, she felt a knot in her stomach. “So it was Jane. That was her, the last night patient. Oh my God.”, she thought. Suzie, Edward’s daughter was sitting in the corner with her Grandma. She was tightly holding her Grandma who was assuring her that Mom will be alright. Sarah went through so many emotions in less than ten minutes, from being in confusion with Philips’ proposal, to getting shocked to see Edward there and feeling so heart broken for him and Suzie. It took her a while to take in all this information. She pulled herself together knowing that her friend needs her the most right now. They had not spoken to each other for past five years but they were no strangers to each other. They were childhood friends. She bought him some coffee and then went on to check about Jane’s condition.
After all the treatment and constant care from her family, Jane still didn’t show any sign of improvement and her health degraded. Sarah took care of Jane like her own. She was there by her bed all the time. She took care of Suzie and Edward. But after a week of struggle and pain, Jane succumbed to her injuries leaving everyone devastated.
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Suzie became very close to Sarah. She was with her most of the time. Having a friend near him at this time helped Edward to cope up with his situation. They started spending a lot of time together. Days went by and it was soon time for them to go back. Sarah was trembling from within. She didn’t wanted this phase to end. She felt bad for thinking this way. It was the time of grief for her friend and she should be there just for supporting him without any of her past feelings crawling in.
They were all in her living room for the final goodbyes. Suzie was sitting close to Sarah holding her tightly, not ready to let go. Edward was talking to her mother outside in the Patio and he looked very serious as if he is trying to convince her for something. Philip was making coffee for everyone and he could hear Sarah trying to talk to Suzie that she will come and visit her all the time. In the meantime, there seem to be an argument raging outside and Edward stormed inside the living room leaving his mother behind. He came and sat opposite to Sarah and looked deep into her eyes. She felt uncomfortable. Edward started speaking, unaware or either forgetting about Philip’s presence in the next room. He started, “Sarah Dear,  I know what I am about to ask might seem very unreasonable, but I want you to hear me out completely, think about it and take you time. I don’t know if it is the right time because I think there had never been a right time. I will just go ahead and tell you what’s there in my heart. Dear, would you please come with us to LA and be with us?” Suzie’s eyes twinkled, unaware of the fact what’s coming next. Her Grandma walked in, took her hand and walked her to the next room. Edward continued, “Please don’t think wrong of me. This is not an outrageous thought just came into my head. I had always liked you, from the time I cannot even remember.” Sarah froze and kept staring at him. “It is all my fault. I could never tell you about my feelings thinking that you would just reject me. And then that one night with Jane, everything changed. She got pregnant and I could not leave her. I could not leave my baby alone. I had to be with her for Suzie. When I met you in Lake Tahoe years ago, those feelings came rushing by. I just wanted to spend time with you and never leave you there. I also tried to reach you but couldn’t. I had left you a voice mail thinking you would contact me, but you never did.” His eyes were watery and his throat choked. He went down on his knees in front of her, holding her hands in his, he rested his head on her lap and let go off the dwelling tears, “Please forgive me Sarah. Please.”
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It was getting dark. They left in a hurry. Goodbye hugs and kisses were quick and Sarah came back upstairs where Philip was waiting for her. She came in and went running into his arms. She was holding him tight and uncontrollable stream of tears were rolling onto her cheeks. She was grateful to him for being so understanding, as right now she just wanted to keep her mind away from all that happened in her life in past few weeks. She closed her eyes, pushed herself on the couch, still holding him, she dozed off like a baby. She will worry about everything tomorrow, not today.
——xxx——
Who will be Sarah’s choice? Philip or Edward? To find out don’t forget to read the next and the final chapter…
Coming soon (hopefully 😀 ) in the blog you have subscribed to 😉 he he
Author : S
S 