Chapter 16

James POV:

I was called in the morning that Alice had woken up. I immediately left all my work and went to hospital to see how she was. I knew I sounded like a crazy lover who was so much in love with that girl: Alice.

Rather I was a man who was filled with guilt and repent. What I did to Alice, moreover to myself was crazy. In the blindness of revenge, I was going to kill, Alice. I had become selfish and crazy blinded by my own rage.

I was raised to empathised with human beings but I became the person who made her life so miserable that dying for her was better than living.

This was enough for me to hung my head low with shame. What Eliza must be thinking about me? She used to say that she loved me because of my kindness and helping nature and now I have become the heartless beast!

I exit Alice's room as she said that she had forgiven me. How could this be possible? I completely destroyed that girl and here she in a instant of seconds forgave me? Her forgiveness was choking my air. It was very hard for me to breathe. Her forgiveness was worst than her punishment.

My eyes brimmed with tears when I remember what happened two weeks ago. How she was hit by my car and her blood was all over my body. I was numb. I wanted to rescue her and tell her that it was all my fault. Eliza's accident was meant to happen if not from Alice then from someone else.

I took her to hospital and her pulse rate was low. She was immediately taken into ICU and there were few chances for her to survive.

I remember the words of doctor, "She has lost a lot of blood. If we are successful in saving her then it would be a miracle."

I cried a lot. That scene was totally alike with that of Eliza's. Then I was sitting and crying for her well being and now I was praying for Alice's life and health.

I was dreading for any bad news to pop up. That night I lost Eliza and now I can't afford to lose Alice at all. Because of me she was here.

Now I understood that how Alice must be dreading after the accident and accident are meant to happen and no one wants to do them willingly. How heartless I had become to understand her pain.

She was already in pain because of her personal life problems that I increased more. I punished her many times for the mistake she did in past. I destroyed her career and fame. I showed her wrath of life. Because of me, her mother gave her so much pain and hurt by telling her that she was a rapist's daughter.

She was almost raped!

She was subjected to abuse!

She was hurt by the truth of her father'a reality!

She was accused of being a murderer!

She was alleged of having drugs when she was clearly not into it!

She was rejected by her own mother. Her mother never loved her!

She was betrayed by her friends!

She was emotionally, mentally, physically and psychologically disturbed!

She was tortured by me!

Her career was destroyed because of me and my crazy obsession of taking revenge!

My heart constricted in pain thinking about all her sufferings. Why we all think that only we are suffering in our lives? Everyone is fighting a different kind of battle in different battlefield and yet we judge them on the basis of their lifestyle, standard and status?

She was a successful top ranked and high paid model. All I thought that she was living a lavish life and she had no regard of human beings. She pleaded so many times in front of me. She tried to make me understand that she was broken already.

But what I did! I didn't pay heed to her worlds and anguish!? Was this how Human beings are supposed to be? Why we are supreme creatures If we can't understand the pain of others!? How many times she cried in front of me to understand her situation but I turned into stone hearted man. A beast!

All her pleas were falling into deaf ears. She was in so much pain and thinking about it was making my heart swell with guilt and shame.

We all think that having a luxurious life is all a person needs in life. But having joy, happiness and mental peace is the real wealth.

But she was a miracle. Alice was a miracle. Her life was a miracle and she was saved by the doctors. Her operation was successful and she had a couple of injuries. Doctor said that it'll take time for her to gain consciousness. Particularly Her head injury was severe and she needed to take rest. They ensured me that they'll take good care of her.

The days were blur to me. I used to come daily to see her and her improvement.

She laid unconscious and I had urge to caress her all pain away. I promised to seek forgiveness from her as soon as she gain consciousness. I could not bear to look at her and her injuries.

I wanted to be alone with all my miseries, to try to cope with the pain that was tearing me apart. My world had collapsed around me. I had had my chance to forgive her and move on, and I had had failed.

I felt sick to stomach when I was seeing her conscious lying on hospital bed looking like a dead person.

There was no dreamland. It was a state of mind, a dream that lured thousands of normal people into insanity of trying to lead a fantasised life. It was a trap that seduced thousands of people with wonderful promises, siren songs of dreams fulfilled and then destroyed them.

I left the hospital after meeting, Alice. I walked yeh streets all night long, I was wondering what I was going to do with my life? My faith within myself had been shattered and I felt rootless and adrift. I had never imagined in my life that I would do anything but make anyone's life miserable.

I not only made Alice's life Terrible but also mine's. I wanted to unload the heaviness that I was carrying inside me these two weeks. I had destroyed Alice and then gained her forgiveness, but that was not enough.

Sorries don't work all the times. I needed to compensate my sins. I devastated and shattered her life. Now, I would do something to make it better for her.

Taking this firm decision, I called my friend, Aaron. He after few rings lifted my call.

"Hey!" He said in a cheerful manner.

"Hello there, Aaron. Can you help me in something?" I asked him.

"Uh- dude! We must ask others first that how they are." He said. I knew that he must be rolling his eyes.

"Arron, we keep this for some other time. Right now, I need your help." I said while running my forehead.

"Sure! What you want me to do because I'm always there for you." He said cheerfully and he must be smiling all the way.

"I want you to call a press conference for me now." I said with a firm voice.

"What? James, are you serious!? What are you up to now?" He asked in a worried tone.

"You'll get to know, Aaron. I can't tell you that." I replied.

"But—" I interrupted him.

"Aaron, can you do it for me?" I asked in a final and serious tone.

"Okay bro. I'll do that, but I'm worried for you." He said this and I smiled. He was one of good friends.

"I'm alright. You don't need to worry about me and thank you." I said with a assuring smile.

"Okay If you say. Bye." He said and cut the call.

I knew what I was going to do.