The Best Gift Ever

CARLOTA

We had been in the hospital for a month, and we had practically not left here, it's always me or Marcos because we're the only ones who knew Gabriela is pregnant, and the stubborn woman didn't want to go home.

In that month she lost a little wight, hardly ate, although we insisted that she do so, for the sake of her and the child she's expecting but refused saying she's not hungry. She also insisted that we not bring Ana, she didn't want the little girl to see her like that, but we still took her because at least she cheered her up a little bit.

Luckily for us, today she would come again, because we noticed Gabriela is getting worse, and we wanted to avoid what happened a month ago when we were at home, and she collapsed. We ended up in the emergency room with her and she was under observation under sedation, but when she woke up that was practically useless because she started screaming like a crazy woman that she wanted to be with Alex and to be left alone, that she was fine, and nothing was wrong with her. I must admit at this moment I hate Gabriela's stubborn side; it wasn't doing her any good to be that stubborn, but no one could convince her to go home to rest for a while.

"Aunt Carlota," said the girl with a sad smile "Hello princess, how are you?" I asked, Ana sitting next to me "I miss mommy reading me stories at night." she replied, and I nodded, because although I tried to do it too, it's obvious I couldn't replace Gabriela "Well, don't worry about that, Marcos will read to you tonight."

"Carlota, tonight I'm staying here, you've been here for two days and I'm not going to let you stay another day." said my boyfriend "But..." I started, but Marcos denied "But nothing, go home with my sister, I'll stay with Gabriela. Now let's pick something for your mother, I'm sure she'll be glad to see you" Ana half smiled, and we went to the machine on this floor, I hope at least this time she ate in front of Ana, because last time she refused even that.

MARCOS

My sister and Carlota went to get something to eat for Gabriela, I think the latter hopes she would eat in front of my sister, but I'm sure she wouldn't, I knew Gabriela better than anyone besides Alex, and I know full well she won't eat anything.

I hate to see her like that, and today Carlos would arrive for a few days to accompany her as well. I had to insist a lot for him to come, and I must say that I'm angry with him, because he had left me and my sister, the excuse that he was leaving for work I didn't quite believe, rather I think he's leaving so as not to be near Gabriela and thus try to forget her, but at this moment Gabriela needed her older brother as they said, he didn't fucking hear me when I said it to her. It was the last option I had left, that my brother would get what none of us did, Gabriela would eat and go home at least to rest.

When they left, I went into the room and saw Gabriela crying, it's something she hadn't stopped doing since Alex's thing happened, who had been induced into a coma so he could recover, which is happening according to the doctors, but Gabriela didn't believe it.

I walked over to her and put an arm over her shoulders to try to comfort her in some way, but I doubt that would do.

"Marcos, I want to be alone," she murmured, and I shook my head even though she couldn't see me. "But we're not going to leave you alone and you know it. Did you eat today?" I asked, knowing the answer "I'm not hungry." my best friend replied, "That's what you've been saying for a month, but you must eat, for the sake of your child." I said, "I don't care about anything in my life, I just want Alex to come back." she whispered again on the verge of tears "I know, and he will. You have to believe the doctors when they tell you he'll wake up soon."

"That's what they've been telling me for weeks and I don't see that happening, Marcos!!! And I really tell you, I want to be alone, get out of here." At that moment Carlota and my sister enter, which makes Gabriela turn to look at the door, and start looking at me angrily. "That's not fair Marcos," she said, and even though it hadn't been my idea, I won't let her and Carlota argue again. "She's worried about you, don't make her worry anymore."

"Hello princess," Gabriela said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes "Mamiii, when are you going back home?" my sister asked, "I don't know, I have to stay here." she replied simply, "And Alex, how is he?" Gabriela stopped by to look at Alex and I could see she's about to cry, so Carlota approached her, and I put myself at my sister's level. "Alex is getting better, he'll wake up soon," I said even though at this moment it wasn't Alex who I'm worried more.

"Yes honey, don't worry. I go to the bathroom to freshen up." We move away so as not to disturb her and as soon as she got up, she almost fell, but I hold her before that happens, I put her back in the chair. I don't know if it's a reflection or what, but I can tell my best friend leaves her hand on Alex's, which would be funny if I were in another situation. "Carlota, why don't you take Ana for a juice?" I asked even though she had just arrived.

"Please don't start arguing, I don't want to have any more headaches over your arguments," Gabriela murmured, with obvious tiredness in her voice, "Does your head hurt, and you don't say anything? Aren't you realizing your body is asking you to rest for the sake of both of you?" my girlfriend asked in an angry tone, "Carlota..." I warned, since the last thing we need is for Gabriela to stress out more than she already is on her own. "No Marcos, she's not taking care of herself as she should to be pregnant."

"Don't start, I'm not in the mood," my best friend replied, "I know and understand you're not well, but do you think Alex would like to see you like this, especially knowing you're pregnant? I wouldn't allow it and you know it, if you don't do it for yourself, do it for him and the child you're expecting at least, that's the only thing we all ask of you."

"Carlota, Ana's juice please." I begged and she rolled her eyes "I'm leaving, you don't need to kick me out of the room, at least I hope you reconsider, Gabriela and start taking care of yourself as you should, or I swear I'll force you to do everything you have to do." Gabriela was thinking, I don't know what, and Carlota left the room leaving me and Gabriela alone and she already had tears running down her face.

"Gabriela, Carlota is right, you must..." I said, "Alex doesn't know," she said simply, leaving me confused, not knowing what she meant by that, "What are you talking about? What doesn't he know?" I asked curiously, "About the pregnancy," she whispered, and I frowned, "Didn't you tell him?" I questioned, not believing she didn't told him, "I didn't have time, Paula appeared, and all this happened. It's all my fault."

"Don't start with it being your fault, because it's not," I said, because it's something we all knew. "Marcos, Alex can die without knowing he's going to have a child." she said in an angry tone, but if there's one thing, I'm clear about, it's she's not angry with me "Alex isn't going to die Gabriela, he's recovering, he already breathes on its own. That's a good thing, your cousin told you the same thing when we told her."

"But it's been like this for weeks and I don't see anything happening," she pointed out and nodded because I knew what she thought of her fiancé's situation. "He was shot in the chest that almost killed him, it's normal he's taking a long time to wake up, but you'll see as soon as he wakes up everything will go back to normal." I assured "Nothing will go back to normal if Paula is still loose." she replied and I nodded again, because that was another of the things that tormented my best friend "Santi already told you they're doing everything necessary to find her and lock her up."

"I know, and I trust them, but she's a bitch who knows how to hide very well. The only thing she wants to do is end my life, Marcos." she said completely confident and I nodded because that's something I knew "I know, but you will see how soon they catch her and you will have a quiet life again" Just then Gabriela turns in Alex's direction and begins to cry more intensely, which I don't understand why if she had at least relaxed a little, but what I found weird is that there's something like a smile, something that hadn't been seen since Alex's.

"Marcos, call a doctor, quickly," my best friend asked, and it didn't take me long to worry "What's wrong? Are you feeling bad?" I asked, putting a hand on her shoulder and trying to get him to turn in my direction. "Alex moved his hand." Gabriela muttered with a small smile on her face, "What?" I didn't wait for her reply, I go out to call a doctor, but before I find any doctor, I meet Carlota and my sister, the first one comes to me half upset.

"What's the matter, Marcos? Why are you leaving the room?" asked Carlota, getting up from the chair in front of Alex's room, "I'm going to find a doctor, you go in, please." I said, looking around to find a doctor "Explain to me, at least" my girlfriend asked, "Alex moved his hand." I replied simply "That's great."

"Yes, but now we need a doctor to tell us what that means." I said, "Yes, go, we'll go in with her." With that I went to the counter where luckily for me was the doctor who's treating Alex, I told him what happened, and he called a couple of nurses. I hope it's good news at last, that would at least calm Gabriela down and make her take better care of herself, or at least that's what I hope.