All Chapters of Letter to Laura George: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Laura The cafe was alive with noise—murmured conversations, the hiss of an espresso machine, the clatter of silverware against ceramic plates but despite the bustle, I had chosen a quiet corner, tucked away from the world, my little island of solitude. A cup of milk tea sat in front of me, steam curling into the air, alongside a cinnamon roll drenched in raspberry pudding. Normally, I would have savored the rich, warm flavors, but today, my mind was elsewhere. I stared out the window, watching the blur of pedestrians pass by, my fingers absently toying with the paper straw in my drink. "My life can't be real." The words slipped from my lips, barely above a whisper, but the weight of them pressed heavily on my chest. I hadn't heard from Adlan since last night. The realization gnawed at me, turning my stomach into knots. I told myself I wasn't going to call him either. I told myself I had too much pride for that but deep down, I knew it wasn't pride keeping me from reaching out.

Adlan I stared at her for a long moment, my mind struggling to process the emotions surging through me. Her eyes were swollen, red-rimmed with exhaustion, and though she tried to mask it, I could see the fear lingering there. That was when I realized, I had come here furious. I must have looked intimidating as hell, especially after last night. I took a slow breath, forcing my features into a calm mask, willing my anger to settle beneath the surface. "What are you doing here?" We spoke at the same time, our voices colliding in the thick, sterile air between us. I motioned for her to go first. She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, a passerby jostled her shoulder. The interruption made me realize we were standing in the middle of the hospital entrance, blocking the flow of traffic. I didn't move right away. Instead, I glared at the man, silently daring him to bump into her again. Then, without a word, I placed my hand on her back and guided her to the waiting area.

Laura I stood before the mirror, adjusting my dress, trying to focus on the preparations for tonight but my mind kept slipping back. Back to the car ride, back to what he did to me, back to the way I fell apart beneath his touch. 4 hours earlier The car ride was tense, thick with unspoken words. The weight of what had happened between us, what almost did happen lingered in the air like a storm waiting to break. I didn't regret choosing Adlan. Not for a second. Not even with his anger, his self-loathing, his resistance to believing he was worthy of me. If given the chance, I'd choose him again. Again and again and again but he sat rigid in his seat, gripping the steering wheel too tightly, his jaw clenched, his posture screaming frustration. I reached out, resting my hand on his thigh. "I don't regret picking you." He didn't turn to me and didn't react at first but his lips quirked up slightly to show that he'd heard me. I squeezed his leg before I continued. "But I don't want y

Adlan I watched Laura's side profile, mesmerized by the way the soft glow of the dashboard lights kissed her skin. I thought I knew her but she had a way of constantly surprising me. I expected her to be hesitant behind the wheel, maybe even a little nervous. Instead, she drove like she had been waiting her entire life for this moment, speeding down the empty road with wild exhilaration, gripping the steering wheel like she was born for it. At one point, she even drifted slightly, sending the tires screeching against the pavement, and I had to remind her to slow the hell down. She ignored me and somehow, I didn't mind because she looked happy—so purely, genuinely happy, and for a second, I was worried that the other surprises I had planned wouldn't match this feeling but if this was the only thing that made her happy tonight, I wouldn't change a thing. She jolted me out of my thoughts with a curious glance. "Where are we going?" I smirked, shaking my head. "You'll see. It's a su

Adlan I paced outside the hospital room, my body thrumming with unease. A lady—Stephie as she had introduced herself, came out earlier and attempted to make a conversation, but I had no interest in talking to anyone who wasn’t Laura. Call me obsessive. I didn’t care. I wanted to know what was happening inside that room. Were they fighting? Had Christian said something to upset her? I had been willing to tolerate him for her sake, but if he was going to hurt her again, if he was going to undo all the happiness I had given her tonight then I didn’t give a damn if he was lying in a hospital bed. I took a step forward, torn between respecting Laura’s privacy and barging in to make sure she was okay. Then I heard it, a thud. Followed by the sound of something, someone hitting the floor. I didn’t hesitate. I threw the door open, my heart slamming against my ribs and what I saw made my blood run cold. Laura was on the floor, her body sprawled awkwardly, her face pale, eyes closed.