Chapter 99

After returning from Annecy, France, Drake was diagnosed with severe depression and hospitalized. Many visitors came, but Thalia never appeared. Each time his door opened, Drake's breath caught in his chest, hope flickering in his eyes only to be extinguished. From dawn till dusk, he waited, his heart aching unbearably. He despaired, convinced Thalia would never return. "Thalia, without you," he thought, "what's the point?"

At dinner, Margaret and a care worker arrived. As Margaret opened the door, she screamed, dropping the food container. "Drake!" she cried, seizing his arm. "Drake, what are you doing? Stop! Oh God, no!" She saw him clutching a fruit knife, his wrist slashed. Blood soaked the sheets. Margaret wept uncontrollably. Drake's eyes were vacant; he registered nothing. His mind held only the thought: Thalia didn't want him; she would never come back. The pain was suffocating, his hopelessness absolute. "It hurts so much, Thalia," he thought.

The terrified care worker fled, shouting for help. Doctors and nurses rushed in. Drake was taken to emergency; Margaret collapsed, sobbing. "Oh God, this can't be happening! How could he do this?"

Thalia received Margaret's call as she left the hospital. It was minus five degrees. She'd started her car heater when an unknown number flashed on her phone.

"Hello?"

"Thalia, it's Margaret Ashcroft. You need to come to the hospital. Drake tried to kill himself because of you. The doctors saved him, but he doesn't want to live. I'm so sorry, but please help. He's all I have!"

Thalia froze. "What do you mean, suicide?" She couldn't comprehend it. Suicide? Drake? It was impossible.

Margaret sobbed, barely audible. "Did Drake see you last night?" she managed.

"Yes."

More sobs. "He was found collapsed in the snow. I found him cutting his wrist. What happened? What did you say? Why would he do this?"

Thalia frowned. "I didn't do anything."

Margaret, through her tears, pleaded, "Thalia, I was awful to you. I'm so sorry. Please come. He's stable, but he's given up. Please talk to him."

"This has nothing to do with me," Thalia replied coldly.

Margaret's fury erupted. "How can you be so cold? He tried to kill himself over you, and you won't even come? What kind of person are you?"

Thalia laughed. "I'm cold? Think what you like. I can't help that." She ended the call.

At the hospital, Drake, semi-conscious, thought he heard Thalia's voice. "Thalia... Thalia..." He struggled to open his eyes, the stark white ceiling blurring into his vision. Pain lanced through his wrist; the smells of antiseptic and medication filled the air. He moved his fingers.

"Drake, thank God!" Margaret's eyes were red and swollen. "Why did you do this?"

He spoke with difficulty, "Mom, why are you here? Where's Thalia?" He was sure he'd heard her voice. He scanned the room: his parents, Mason, James, friends, even Sienna. But Thalia was absent.

Chapter 59

Hearing Drake's first words, Sienna's face crumpled. Drake's father, Trump Ashcroft, berated him: "Trying to kill yourself over a woman? What kind of son did I raise?"

"Watch your mouth! He nearly died!" Margaret glared.

Trump, haggard from worry, snapped, "This is what happens when you spoil a kid! Throwing his life away! Pathetic!"

Margaret retorted, "Spoiled him? Isn't he your son too? Were you ever around? If anyone failed him, it's you!"

Mason intervened, "Mr. and Mrs. Ashcroft, please. Drake needs rest." James agreed.

Then, Thalia's voice came from James's phone. Drake's gaze locked on the phone. "Is that Thalia?" Hope flickered in his eyes.

James hesitated. "No. The doctors said you wouldn't wake up. So I thought this might help." He showed Drake a video of Thalia, from when they first dated. It was her birthday. They were deeply in love.

In the video, Thalia smiled. "Drake, thank you for celebrating with me. This is special. It's my first birthday with a boyfriend."

Drake's voice echoed from the past: "Thalia, I'll be there for every birthday. I promise."

"I'd like that," Thalia replied.

The voice he’d heard was from the video. Tears streamed down Drake's face. Three years later, everything had changed. The pain was excruciating.