My Brain Fades, His Hate Never Ends Chapter 10

My Brain Fades, His Hate Never Ends Chapter 10

I stared at the ring in his hand, then at his hopeful eyes.

My heart raced.

Like a little rabbit trapped inside my chest.

Marry him.

The words felt foreign to me.

But I knew it would be something happy.

Something good.

I held out my hand.

He lit up and slid the ring carefully onto my ring finger.

It fit perfectly.

“Elara.”

He stood and pulled me into a tight hug.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you for still wanting me.”

I pressed my ear to his chest and listened to his strong heartbeat.

I felt safer than I ever had.

On surgery day, Jude Cole stopped me outside the operating room.

“Elara, you wait right here.”

“Don’t go in – you’ll distract the doctors.”

I nodded and sat quietly on the bench outside.

The surgery took forever.

I waited from daylight until dark.

Jude brought me dinner, but I couldn’t eat a bite.

I just stared at the red light above the OR doors, motionless.

Finally, at midnight.

The red light turned off.

The doors swung open.

The lead surgeon stepped out and pulled off his mask.

He looked tired, but thrilled.

“The surgery was a complete success!”

“Mr. Voss is out of danger!”

A cheer went up from everyone nearby.

Jude hugged me tightly, overcome with emotion.

“It’s okay, Elara! He’s gonna be fine!”

My heart finally relaxed.

Elias was wheeled out and into the ICU.

He was still unconscious, but his color was much better.

I watched him through the glass for a long, long time.

A nurse finally urged me to leave, so I went with Jude.

On the way home, I stared at the ring on my finger and smiled stupidly.

Jude looked at me.

“That happy?”

I nodded hard.

“Yes.”

“When he’s better, we’re gonna get married.”

Jude ruffled my hair gently.

“Okay. When he’s well, I’ll give you to him myself.”

Three days after the surgery, I went to visit him.

The room still smelled like familiar medicine.

Elias leaned against the headboard, looking much stronger, with color in his cheeks and clear eyes.

He smiled the second he saw me.

“Elara.”

He held out his hand to me.

I walked over, sat beside his bed, and placed my hand in his.

He held on tight, like he was scared I’d run away.

“Why didn’t you come yesterday?” he asked, sounding hurt.

“I waited for you all afternoon.”

I pulled my digital voice recorder from my pocket and pressed play.

“Brother took me for a checkup yesterday.”

My voice came out, slightly nasal.

I’d recorded it the night before so I wouldn’t forget to explain today.

Elias stared at the small recorder, his expression complicated.

He didn’t say anything, just squeezed my hand even tighter.

Jude stood in the doorway, not entering, just peeking in sideways.

Then he turned around and pretended to study the hallway wall.

“How was the checkup?” Elias asked, keeping his voice steady.

I shook my head and pulled the report from my pocket, handing it to him.

He took it, read one line, and his face darkened.

“The condition progressed?”

“Dr. Hale said there’s a new medicine,” I told him slowly, careful not to forget my words.

“It’s still in clinical trials, but the data’s great.”

“He said I can join the trial.”

Elias stared at the report for a long, long time.

I took the paper back from him, folded it, and put it in my pocket.

Then I slid the ring off my finger and placed it in his palm.

His head shot up, panic flashing in his eyes.

“What are you

I flipped it over and wrote on the back:

Elias Voss.

I thought for a second, then added one more line:

He says he’ll stay with me until I finish all my medicine.

Jude finally couldn’t stand it and poked his head halfway through the door.

“Alright, quit being so sappy.”

“Elara, time for your medicine.”

Elias immediately pulled me closer and called to Jude.

“Five more minutes.”

“Why?” Jude snapped. “Who do you think you are?”

“I’m her future husband,” Elias said firmly.

Jude went silent for three seconds.

“…Five minutes. Not a second more.”

I held back a laugh, tucked the photo safely in my pocket, and leaned against Elias’s bed, listening to the faint

footsteps in the hallway.

Outside the window, the sunset spilled golden-orange light across the floor, quiet and soft.

I didn’t know how much of today I’d remember tomorrow.

But in this moment, I remembered.

I remembered the warmth of his hand around my wrist.

I remembered his lowered lashes when he put on my ring.

I remembered him saying he’d stay with me until I finished my medicine.

That was enough.

Even if I forgot later.

I could still love him fiercely, right now.