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The paramedic injects something into my arm and I fall into a dark, empty space, where there’s no pain, no fear, just numbness.
CHAPTER 30 – Valentina
Sunday, November 23
The ambulance drives off. I’m left standing in front of the stadium, still in my kit. I don’t remember leaving the field. Raul must have made the substitution while I was running after the stretcher, because nobody stopped me. I feel like I’m in a nightmare I can’t wake up from. I’ve lost everything.
I hear the announcer through the speakers. Ingrid Vasseur scored the first goal for the Predators, bringing the score to 2–1. The crowd is going wild. I don’t care. About any of it.
I just want to be with Lexa. I want to make sure she’s okay. I want to hold her and tell her I love her.
“Valentina!”
I turn around. Isabella and Alycia are walking toward me, Alycia as fast as a woman this close to her due date can manage. They look worried and scared.
“Come on,” Alycia says, taking my arm. “We’re going to the hospital.”
“I’m driving,” Isabella adds. “We’re wasting time.”
We hurry to Isabella’s car. I sit in the back seat with Alycia. I stare out of the window, watching the lights and the buildings blur by.
I can’t believe this is happening. Lexa is hurt. She was in so much pain. What if it’s something that could end her career? I can’t bear the thought.
Alycia puts her hand on my shoulder, gives it a gentle squeeze. I know she’s trying to reassure me, but it doesn’t work. I’m too scared, too angry, too guilty.
“Mr. Delvaux is with her,” I tell them.
“Ewan?” Isabella asks.
“Yeah. He went with her in the ambulance.” My voice breaks. “I had to get out or they wouldn’t take her.”
“It’s okay, Valentina,” Alycia says, still rubbing my shoulder. “You did the right thing. I’m sure Lexa knows you wanted to be there with her.”
“Ewan and his righteous selfishness,” Isabella mutters. “Why am I not surprised?”
“Valentina. Lexa loves you. She knows you love her too. She’ll be fine.”
I want to believe her, but I don’t. I don’t know if anything will ever be fine again. How can it be?
We arrive at the hospital, get out, and run to the entrance. The receptionist tells us where to go. We take the elevator to the third floor and find the waiting room.
Ewan gets up from a chair as we enter, his face pale and somber.
“How is she?” Alycia asks.
“She’s with the doctors. They’re running some tests,” he says, looking at me. “She’s asking for you.”
My heart skips a beat. I don’t wait for anyone. I don’t care about anything else. I just need to see her.
I find the room number and knock on the door.
“Miss, you can’t go in there,” the nurse tells me from behind.
“It’ll be just a second,” I say, and push the door open.
Lexa is lying on a bed with her left leg elevated on a pillow. She’s wearing a hospital gown, her hair wild, her face pale and looking high on painkillers. But she smiles when she sees me, and I almost cry.
“Val,” she says, reaching for my hand.
