2. A DREAM TURNED NIGHTMARE

SOPHIA

Three years. That’s how long it had been since my life had been upended, stripped of any semblance of freedom or dignity. I sat in the dimly lit bedroom, the beeping of Victor’s machines a steady reminder of the life that still lingered within him. My husband.....my comatose husband had been my only source of hope in a life that felt more like a prison sentence.

I brushed a strand of hair from his face, my heart aching as I stared at him. Over time, I’d memorized every line, every angle of his face. He was inexplicably handsome, even in this state. Somewhere along the way, I had fallen in love with him. Perhaps it was because he was the only person who truly felt like mine, even if he couldn’t speak or reciprocate my feelings. He was my everything.

Suddenly, his eyelashes fluttered. My breath hitched.

“Victor?” I whispered, leaning closer. His fingers twitched, and his eyes opened for a brief moment. I gasped, tears filling my eyes.

For years, I had dreamed of this moment, prayed for it, begged for it. Now that it was here, I didn’t know how to contain the emotions that surged through me. Excitement. Relief. Overwhelming love. I bolted out of the room, calling for the bodyguards who had been my silent shadows for three long years.

“He’s waking up!” I cried. “Get help....now!”

The house exploded into motion. An ambulance was called, and within minutes, Victor’s mother stormed in, her face a mixture of disbelief and urgency. Despite the bitterness that had grown between us over the years, I didn’t care. All that mattered was Victor.

As the paramedics wheeled him out, I followed closely. It was the first time I’d left the house in three years. The sunlight stung my eyes, the air unfamiliar, almost foreign. But none of it mattered. Victor was awake. My husband was awake.

At the hospital, we were ushered into a waiting area outside his room. Victor’s mother paced anxiously, her heels clicking against the floor. I sat quietly, my hands trembling with anticipation. Then they arrived....my father, stepmother, and sister, Isabella.

For a moment, my heart leapt. Finally, after years of silence, they had come. I stood, a tentative smile forming on my lips. “Dad… Olivia… Isabella…”

They walked right past me as if I were invisible.

I swallowed hard, the familiar sting of rejection washing over me. I didn’t understand what I had done to deserve their hatred. Three years of silence, three years of being ignored, and now they acted like I was invisible. I turned my focus back to Victor, praying silently for his full recovery.

After speaking to them, Victor’s mother’s phone rang. She answered, her voice low and curt. After a hurried exchange, she grabbed her purse and left without a word. I didn’t care to ask where she was going. My attention remained on the door to Victor’s room.

Minutes stretched into an eternity before the doctor finally emerged. His expression was calm but firm.

"He’s awake now," he announced. "Visitors can see him, but only one at a time."

My heart soared. I could hardly believe it. This was the moment I had been waiting for. I stepped forward, eager to see him, but before I could take another step, Isabella shoved past me with a force that sent me sprawling to the floor.

I gasped, the pain from the fall sharp and immediate. “What are you doing?” I asked, but she didn’t even look back. She rushed into the room, leaving me on the cold, sterile floor.

Anger and confusion bubbled within me as I got to my feet, brushing myself off. Just as I was about to follow her, Olivia grabbed my arm. Her grip was iron, her sneer colder than ice.

“Where do you think you’re going?” she hissed. “Didn’t you hear the doctor? One person at a time.”

I yanked my arm free, glaring at her. “I’m his wife. I have every right to be there.”

Without waiting for a response, I stormed into the room, my steps faltering at the sight before me.

Isabella was draped over Victor, her face buried in his chest as she sobbed theatrically. "I’ve missed you so much, my love,” she cried. “These three years have been hell without you.”

Victor reached up, his movements sluggish but deliberate. He placed a hand on her arm, his voice soft yet clear. “I can’t imagine what you’ve been through. Thank you for taking care of me.”

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. My heart shattered as I stood there, frozen in place. My love? Thank you for taking care of me? Was this some sort of cruel joke?

Why was Isabella acting like she was his wife? And why was Victor agreeing with her?

Before I could stop myself, I marched toward the bed and grabbed Isabella by the arm, yanking her back with more force than I realized. She stumbled, her forehead colliding with the wall with a sickening thud. For a brief moment, I felt satisfaction. It was the least she deserved.

I sat on the bed, taking Victor’s hands in mine. Tears streamed down my face as I looked at him, my voice trembling. “Victor, my greatest wish has finally come true. You have no idea how much I....”

“How dare you?” he yelled, his voice cutting through me like a knife. He snatched his hands away as though my touch burned him. "I don’t care who you are. Get out of my room right this instant."

My heart shattered into a million pieces. “Victor, I’m your....”

“Shut up!” Isabella screeched, stepping between us. Her face twisted with fury. “Didn’t you hear him? Get out!”

Before I could respond, the doctor rushed in, his expression stern. “I said one person at a time. What’s going on here?”

I turned to him, my voice trembling. “I have the right to be here. I’m Mrs......”

“Get this lunatic out of my room!” Victor’s shout was so loud it echoed in the small space. His eyes blazed with anger, and it was clear he wanted nothing to do with me.

The doctor didn't hesitate. He grabbed my arm, his grip firm as he began to pull me out. "Ma'am, please....."

“No!” I cried, struggling against his grip. “Victor....." I turned back, desperate to see Victor, to make him understand, but Isabella stepped in front of him, blocking my view."

Her lips curved into a smug, triumphant smile, and she mouthed, “Bye-bye,” before the door slammed shut behind me.