Diary of Fragile Heart (Spin of Loving You Too Long)

Gladwin widened his eyes when he saw Antony in a power struggle with Flavia, who was now lying on the floor, in a rebellious position, writhing to release her father’s grip. The girl convulsed in pain, and simultaneously, Gladwin saw blood coming from Flavia’s nose.

“Flavia..” Gladwin’s voice sounded like a whisper in his ears. He was frozen, and Flavia seemed to open her eyes for a split second, looking straight at him before then slumping weakly into her father’s arms. “Flavia?!” Gladwin shouted loudly, rushing over and grabbing Flavia from her father’s lap. Checking her pulse.

Gone! Her breath was also absent. “Flavia, my love. Wake up.” He ordered while gently patting Flavia’s cheek. There was no response, so reluctantly, Gladwin started performing CPR on her.

Abigail, who had just arrived, looked shocked at the panic unfolding in her aunt’s house. She stood still, watching Gladwin trying to administer first aid to the limp and pale Flavia on the cold floor.

“What happened?” Abigail approached Flavia’s feet. “Flavia, what happened to you?” she asked softly.

Gladwin continued to pump Flavia’s chest, paying no attention to the people now gathered in the area, watching with a mix of concern and fear. Gladwin provided artificial breaths, checked Flavia’s pulse, and continued chest compressions. After what felt like a long time to Abigail, her uncle finally stopped his actions. He lifted Flavia’s body and ran out of the house. Abigail silently followed.

“Open the door!” Gladwin ordered Abigail. She opened the back door. “Get in!” Gladwin commanded, and Abigail complied. He then laid Flavia in the car with her head on Abigail’s lap. Ignoring Claire and Antony, Gladwin got behind the wheel and left Antony’s residence at high speed.

Gladwin stopped his car right in front of the emergency room entrance, paying no heed to the security guard shouting at him for improper parking. With swift steps, he carried Flavia inside and laid her on the nearest stretcher by the door.

“Where’s the attending doctor?!” His voice echoed in the room. A young female doctor approached.

“Doctor Hampton, what’s the matter?” The doctor looked at Flavia.

“She hit her head. Fainted. Went into shock, and CPR was performed,” he explained. Gladwin was a doctor himself, but he couldn’t provide treatment for Flavia at the hospital due to medical procedures and ethical considerations.

“Call Doctor Dominic,” Antony’s command came from behind Gladwin. “Doctor Dominic is her physician. Call him.”

“Doctor Dominic has already left,” one of the nurses said.

Antony reached into his pocket and grumbled for not bringing his phone. Fortunately, Abigail was there. “Abby. Contact Eijaz.” Antony’s command was cold. With trembling hands, Abigail searched for Eijaz’s number and made the call before handing the phone to Antony.

“Eijaz. Can you come to the hospital immediately?”

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“Flavia fell. Her head hit something.”

“….”

“Yes, I’ll wait.”

Flavia received treatment from the ER doctor while Antony and Abigail were expelled by the security guard on duty. Gladwin remained the only person inside the ER, closely monitoring Flavia. He overheard Eijaz instructing the ER doctor to perform a CT scan on Flavia, revealing to Gladwin that Flavia’s condition was serious.

An hour later, Eijaz came out and observed Gladwin, Antony, and Abigail. “Who can accompany me?” he asked formally. Antony stood up, as did Gladwin.

“Stay here, Doc. After all, we’re all family,” Abigail intervened.

Eijaz nodded and began to speak. “The impact wasn’t too severe, but considering Flavia’s pre-existing condition, this can be deemed as serious. She experienced shock to her head. The CT scan results show bleeding in her head. We need to perform surgery on her head immediately. Do you know the procedures?” Eijaz looked at Antony, who nodded in response. “I’ll prepare the operating room.” Eijaz then left the three of them.

Antony, assisted by Abigail, left Gladwin to go to the administrative area. Meanwhile, Gladwin remained motionless, confused by the simultaneous departure of Flavia from the room, unconscious and pale, pushed by a male nurse toward the operating room.

“How is she?” Claire asked, breathing heavily. Antony, Abigail, and Gladwin looked up simultaneously. They were now sitting in the waiting area outside the operating room.

“It’s happening again,” Antony replied before Claire’s body collapsed to the floor, immersed in her tears.

“Oh God, Via,” she whispered in her husband’s embrace.

Gladwin looked at Abigail, who was only staring at the operating room door with vacant eyes. “Abby… we need to talk.”

5 years ago.

Flavia stared at her phone, reviewing the message Abigail had sent ten minutes ago. Abigail said they would leave for the airport to see Gladwin off.

Ten minutes ago? Have they already left by now?

Flavia resides at her uncle Altezza’s residence, while Abigail and the rest of the family, who will accompany Gladwin, live at Antony’s house.

“What’s going on? Why do you look so restless?” her aunt, Adaline, asked. Flavia looked at Adaline, smiled, and shook her head. “Why didn’t you go with them to the airport?” she asked again, curious.

“No, Aunt. I’m scared,” she replied softly.

“Scared? What are you afraid of?”

“I’m afraid of crying at the airport. Isn’t that embarrassing?” she answered innocently. Adaline understood her teenage niece’s concern. Everyone knew that Flavia had a strong liking for her step-uncle, and Adaline could sense that Gladwin felt the same way about his step-niece. However, Gladwin was too proud to admit it. At least, that’s what Adaline thought.

“It’s okay to cry at the airport; it’s a common thing during farewells. It’s better than holding back and suffocating yourself with longing later on,” commented her uncle, Altezza, who apparently had been quietly listening to the conversation between aunt and niece.

Flavia looked at her uncle with a puzzled expression.

“You know, I’ve been foolish and almost driven to madness because I was once abandoned by her just because I neglected her?” Altezza nodded toward Adaline, making Flavia nod too, as she was the witness to the heartbreaking farewell between the married couple. “When she left me and disappeared from my sight, it was very painful. Here.” Altezza pointed to his chest. “I don’t want you to experience that. If you like someone, love them. Whether you’re rejected or accepted, think about it later. At least for now, let him know your feelings, and find out how he feels about you. So, whatever his answer is, you can move on with your life.”

“If you’re rejected, you can choose to persist with your current feelings or let go and find someone new.

In my opinion, it’s better to endure heartbreak, cry, but then forget rather than just speculate. Because what you speculate may not be true either,” wisely answered her uncle. Adaline nodded in agreement with her husband’s words.

“So, what should I do, Uncle?” she asked, feeling the need for reassurance.