Deprived Love - Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Third person's pov
Bella stands in her medical university's grand auditorium, wearing a cap and gown, holding her diploma with pride. Her face radiated joy and relief after all her hard work. The auditorium was filled with graduates, faculty, and family members, all beaming with pride.
Her parents, standing close by, had tears of joy in their eyes. Mrs. Smith was holding a bouquet of flowers, while Mr. Smith, unable to contain his pride, embraced her in a warm hug. The background was alive with the sounds of applause, camera flashes, and the chatter of other families celebrating. The stage was adorned with the university's emblem, banners, and a large “Congratulations Graduates” sign.
“Congratulations, Baby!” Mrs. Smith chirped and Mr. Smith smiled.
“I didn't think you both would come here.” Bella uttered emotionally.
“How can we not, this is such an important day for you.” Mrs. Smith pulled Bella for a hug again.
“I am sorry my child for cursing you for never having been born.” Bella felt her mother's tears.
She withdrew from the hug and wiped her mother's tears.
“It's okay, mom. You have improved a lot.” Bella uttered.
They exchanged a few more hugs.
“Congratulations, Bells.” Bella's smile widened when she saw the younger girl.
“Stella!” Bella cooed at Stella's adorable smile and the girl jumped towards Bella pulling her in a bone crushing hug.
“How did you come here?” Bella asked.
Stella pointed at her back.
“Congratulations!” Liam and Aria said together.
They hugged Bella.
“I have to go somewhere.” Bella announced in between the lunch.
Liam, Aria, Stella, Mr. and Mrs. Smith turned towards her, they nodded, smiling.
Bella got up and took a taxi.
Bella stood in front of the big building. She walked inside, the receptionist smiled sweetly looking at Bella as now most of the people know her due to her frequent visit in the building.
She avoided the lift and took the staircase. She took a deep breath and opened the door.
“Chris..” she whispered.
The room was dimly lit, with only the soft glow of medical monitors casting faint light on the scene. Chris lies motionless on the bed, surrounded by an array of machines that beep steadily, indicating his vital signs.
He’s in a deep coma, his face pale and serene, with a few cuts and bruises still visible. His chest rises and falls rhythmically with the help of a ventilator, and his arm is hooked up to an IV drip.
Bella entered the room quietly, her steps soft as if afraid to disturb the fragile stillness. She approached the bed slowly, her gaze fixed on Chris, taking in the sight of him connected to the life-support machines.
As she reaches his bedside, she gently takes his hand in hers, the warmth of her touch contrasting with his cold, unresponsive fingers. She sits down on a chair next to him, her eyes never leaving his face. Her emotions are a mixture of overwhelming sadness, love, and a desperate hope that he might wake up.
Her voice, when she finally speaks, is barely above a whisper, trembling with emotion.
“Don't you think, your break has gone too long.” Bella whispered, her eyes never leaving Chris's closed one's, hoping for it to open.
“I graduated today, now I'll start working as a trainee after two months.” She paused a bit.
“You missed a special day of mine, but I want you to wake up before I start working. I want you to wish me all the best and send me off, maybe you can even drop me.” She whispered, already imagining it.
She cupped Chris's cheek gently and leaned in to peck his cold forehead.
A tear dropped onto his forehead.
“Chris, Stop punishing me! You are the one to be punished.” She started sniffing.
“You are a jerk, sleeping soundly while I am the one suffering.”
She talks to him as if he can hear her, sharing memories, hopes, and even mundane details of her day. Tears begin to roll down her cheeks as she pours her heart out, telling him how much she needs him to wake up, how much she misses him.
The room was otherwise silent, save for the soft beeping of the monitors and the occasional hiss of the ventilator. Bella leans forward, resting her head on the bed beside his hand, her tears soaking into the sheets as she continues to speak to him, her words filled with both affection and despair.
“But I know you'll wake up soon, you are so strong. Stay strong for me, okay?” Bella uttered after wiping her tears.
“All the makeup I put on for my graduation ceremony washed away, you must stop making me cry, Chris.”
She remembered the way she prayed to all the gods to save Chris, she even muttered many requests in Chris's ear while he was in an unconscious state, when they were in the ambulance.
Chris was at a brink of death, he had ten percent of survival chances after the surgery, still he survived. But ended up in a coma.
It had been six months, but still the scene gave goosebumps to Bella.
But after Chris went into a coma, Bella used to wonder every night why she felt that feeling when Chris's body went limp? Why did she feel like her heart was not beating? Why was she willing to go every length just to get Chris's life back?
But the memories of their childhood moments gave the answer. All the letters from Chris's childhood self that Bella read every night gave the answer, that childhood photo of theirs that was framed on Bella's bedside table gave the answer, their awesome date before Chris was kidnapped gave the answer.
The delight she felt that Chris survived for her, gave the answer, the last words of Chris before fainting kept playing through her head that she remembers every single word that gave the answer.
A smile crept to Bella's face and she took a deep breath.
“I love you, Chris.”
She uttered, failing to notice the swift movement in the ravenette’s toes.