Chapter 14

As was typical of a day such as this one, Joslyn woke up with a sense of anticipation tinged with dread. It was the day she visited her twin brother, Josh, at the hospital—a ritual she and her father, Timothy, maintained weekly. But as she rolled over to check the time on her phone, she was greeted by a message notification from her father. Her heart sank to her stomach as she read the words.

Dad: I'm sorry, sweetheart, can't make it today. Something really urgent came up at work. Will make it up to you next time.

Pure anger and disappointment surged through Joslyn in equal measure at her father's text. She knew him well enough to tell that he was lying to her, especially because work had never been a hindrance to him visiting Josh before. In fact, his coworkers were already really familiar with his routine on this particular day and lastly, his workplace was close enough such that he could spare at least an hour’s visit before returning.

Therefore, her father had absolutely no excuses for his absence this time. How could he cancel on her once again, especially after promising to be more present?

Joslyn tossed her phone aside, feeling a knot of frustration tightening in her chest. It wasn't just about needing her father's company, it was also about feeling abandoned yet again, left alone to go through the difficulties of her twin brother's condition all by herself.

Joslyn clenched her phone tightly in her hands, her frustration boiling over as she attempted to call her father. It rang once. Twice. Thrice. And then, predictably, it went to voicemail. He was avoiding her calls again, just like he always did when he knew she was upset. With a frustrated sigh, she ended the call and opened up a new text message.

‘Seriously, Dad? Are we doing this again? You being a complete coward and cancelling out on me last minute?’

She fired off another.

‘You promised that you'd try to be here for me more, Dad. Well, this doesn't look like trying to me. I'm sick of being let down by you. If this is you trying, then try harder!’

Joslyn hit send with more force than necessary, her fingers shaking from the pent-up anger and disappointment. Maybe he would actually read the text this time and feel slightly remorseful at least, although Joslyn doubted if it would make that much of a difference anyway. In times like these, it felt like she was talking to a brick wall due to her father's stubbornness and avoidance tactics driving a wedge between them.

Joslyn stormed out of her room, leaving her phone lying on the bedside table. As she made her way to the kitchen, her mind churned with even more frustration. She needed to focus on something else, anything else, to keep her from dwelling on his absence and failed promises.

With yet another sigh escaping her lips, Joslyn began preparing her breakfast, hoping that the routine task would help to distract her from her swirling emotions. She set a pan on the cooker, the sizzle of oil and the aroma of cooking soon permeating the air as she tried to put together a quick and simple dish. Satisfied that her meal was underway, she retreated back to her room to get ready for the day.

As Joslyn stood under the spray of the shower, her thoughts spiraled into that familiar pattern of endless frustration and disappointment. She couldn't help but replay the countless times her father had promised to be there for her, only to come up with flimsy excuses at the last minute. Each time, she’d allowed herself to believe that this time would be different from the last, that he would finally make an effort to be present. But it seemed that it was always the same story — work came first, and she was left to pick up the pieces of her shattered expectations.

It was exhausting, this cycle of hope followed soon by dismay. Joslyn was tired of constantly feeling let down by the same person who was supposed to be her rock and support. She knew very well that her father had his own struggles to contend with, but did he not realize that she was struggling too? Couldn't he see how much she needed him by her side, especially during moments such as this when her world felt like it was falling apart? After all, he'd lost his wife just like she'd lost her mother.

The sting of betrayal cut deeply into Joslyn as she reached for the shampoo bottle, her fingers trembling from the pent-up negative emotions. She wanted to scream her heart out, to lash out at her father for his perpetual absence, but she knew it would only fall on deaf ears. He would never really understand the depth of her pain, the weight of her loneliness.

Joslyn was jolted suddenly out of her reverie as the shrill sound of the smoke detector abruptly pierced through the steam-filled bathroom and her entire apartment as a whole. Panic surged through Joslyn as she realized that having been completely engrossed in her thoughts, she had forgotten she put breakfast on the fire and now, it was most definitely burning.

“Shit!” She cursed loudly as without a second thought, she quickly turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around herself, rushing out of the bathroom towards the kitchen.

However, in her haste to get out, Joslyn failed to notice the edge of the bathtub looming in her path and consequently, she stubbed her big toe against the unforgiving ceramic, sending waves of agony shooting up her leg and eliciting a cry of pain from her mouth. Clutching her injured foot, Joslyn winced, goosebumps pebbling her skin from the suddenness of it as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. It seemed as though nothing was going right at all today, and Joslyn couldn't help but feel like she was teetering on the edge of a breakdown.

With a few shaky but deep breaths, Joslyn was able to stifle the urge to bawl her eyes out and pushed aside her emotions which were starting to overwhelm her, chalking it up to her having woken up on the wrong side of the bed earlier.

She limped her way to the kitchen, careful not to jostle her toe which hurts as though it could be broken or dislocated, and quickly turned off the cooker. Examining the cooking section, she breathed a sigh of relief as she confirmed that the only damage done was to the frying pan. It could've been much worse, Joslyn thanked her stars and then decided that there was no use dwelling on her father's absence or her own misfortunes—she had a responsibility to fulfill, a promise to keep to her brother.

Determined to push through the rough start to her day, Joslyn dressed quickly and headed out, making a mental note to check out her hurting toe while she was at the hospital. She decided to also grab breakfast at the café not far from the hospital after her visit to Josh, hoping that a hot cup of coffee would help lift her spirits.

❀ ❀ ❀

Walking into the hospital, Joslyn navigated the familiar corridors and exchanging pleasantries with the just as familiar medical personnels on her way until she finally reached Josh's room. She took a deep breath as usual before pushing the door open, steeling herself for the sight of her brother still lying motionless in the hospital bed.

As Joslyn stood beside her twin brother's bed, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as she apologized to him for their father's absence once again, expressing her disappointment and resignation in hushed tones. She made herself a bit more comfortable by settling into the chair beside the bed, leaning closer to tenderly grasp Joshua's hand as she began her typical ritual of talking and updating him on the happenings in their lives despite his comatose state.

It made Joslyn feel much less empty talking to him and imagining what his response would’ve been to certain subjects, especially one such as the topic of the persistent man in her life.

“Remember the guy I told you about all those months ago, Joshua? The one I had a one-night stand with three years back, who later became Sig’s boyfriend? Well, guess what, lil bro? He's back once again but this time, as my landlord! My freaking landlord! Can you believe it, bro? He purchased the whole darn building and then moved into the apartment opposite mine. And I forgot to mention, he's a fucking billionaire! A damn real-estate mogul.”

Joslyn shook her head, laughing softly. “Crazy, isn't it? He's relentless, Josh, and I'd thought he might’ve given up by now,” she whispered, her voice laced with a hint of disbelief.

“I haven't even had the chance to fill Sig in on the Gabriel situation yet. How'd you think she's gonna react when she finds out about it all tho? Especially the part where her ex-boyfriend now wants me? It's just one more thing to deal with, honestly." Joslyn sighed, her voice tinged with exhaustion as she looked closely at her brother, caressing his hand gently.

"I miss you so much, Joshua. I miss having you around, no matter how overbearing you tended to be," she chuckled softly, raising her hand to sift her fingers through his dark hair which was now curling by his ears and had already grown out of the military-required crew cut he used to have; a wistful smile tugging on the corners of her lips.

Joslyn remembered how elated her brother had been to find out that he had been enlisted in the Marines, so elated that when it was time to cut off his hair, Joshua Patel had done so without so much as batting an eyelid—an action that’d really surprised Joslyn, who was well aware of how much he had obsessed over his previously curly, jaw-length ebony hair. It had proven just how dedicated he was to his chosen path and it made Joslyn admire her twin so much.

However, just as she proceeded down memory lane, Joshua suddenly began jerking violently, startling Joslyn hurriedly to her feet. The heart rate monitor attached to Joshua beeped loudly and rapidly, its shrill sound cutting through the quiet atmosphere of the hospital room. Panic surged through Joslyn as she watched her twin brother's unexpected movements for a second, her heart racing with fear and confusion.

Joshua's body continued to convulse with more violent jerks, causing Joslyn to jump right into action, her initial shock morphing into a sense of urgency. “Doctor!” She yelled, bursting into the hallway and looking around frantically for help. “Somebody, please help me!”

Within moments, the medical team rushed into the room. Two nurses accompanied the doctor in charge of taking care of Joshua and together, they promptly began the medical procedures to stabilize him.

"We need a crash cart over here!" The doctor called out, his voice urgent as they worked to save Joshua's life.

Amidst the chaos, one of the nurses glanced at the monitor, her expression tense with concern. "He's in V-fib, Doc!" She exclaimed, her voice barely audible over the din of the medical equipment.

The doctor wasted no time, barking orders to the team. "Charge to 200!" He commanded, his voice cutting through the tension in the room.

As the defibrillator whirred to life, Joslyn watched in absolute horror, her heart pounding in her chest. The doctor's commands filled the air, "Clear!" The room seemed to hold its breath as the doctor delivered the shock.

"Charge to 300!" The doctor yelled, his voice urgent as they fought to save Joshua's life.

Joslyn's eyes remained fixed on the scene unfolding before her, her hands trembling with fear and anxiety. Despite the doctor's orders for her to leave the room, she couldn't tear herself away. She stood there, rooted to the spot, unable to look away as her brother's life hung in the balance.

Her breath caught in her throat as she watched the monitor, the beeping growing slower and slower until it finally stopped altogether.

The flatline on the screen of the monitor blared out in a continuous, piercing ‘Beep’, signalling the end, and Joslyn felt her own heart shatter into a million pieces.

The doctor's voice sounded very distant as he instructed one of the nurses to take her out of the room, but Joslyn refused. She remained there, her gaze locked on her brother's still form, as the reality of his loss washed over her. In that moment, she felt as though a part of her had died along with him.

❀ ❀ ❀

As the elevator carried Joslyn to her floor, she felt a profound hollowness in her chest, a weight that seemed to drag her down into the depths of despair. She barely registered the greeting from the receptionist, Eunice, her mind consumed by the overwhelming sense of emptiness.

Even though Joshua had been resuscitated after three long minutes that'd seemed to stretch for an eternity, there was still no relief, no sense of gratitude that her twin brother was still alive and hadn't left her. Instead, Joslyn was trapped in a state of shock, her mind unable to process the traumatic events that had unfolded before her a few hours ago.

The doctor's words after they had saved Joshua echoed in her mind, a constant reminder of the fragility of life. "Joshua experienced a serious cardiac event called ventricular fibrillation, which caused his heart to stop. We performed immediate CPR and used a defibrillator to restore his heart rhythm. Thankfully, we were able to resuscitate him after approximately three minutes. He's currently stable, but we'll continue to monitor his condition closely. It's crucial to understand that this indeed was a life-threatening situation, but we acted swiftly to provide the best possible care."

Despite the reassurance from the doctor, Joslyn couldn't shake the feeling of dread that lingered within her. She was still too shaken up by the whole incident to feel anything—not sadness, or relief, not even thankfulness that her brother was still with her.

She'd been so worried that she spent the whole day at the hospital, neither remembering to get some food for herself nor remembering to do a check-up on her hurting toe. Joslyn had stayed for so long, not paying attention to the time as she sat like a statue beside Josh, watching over him like a hawk until a nurse, an older woman she was very familiar with had approached her, informing her that visiting hours had long since been over and it was already really late so she'd arranged for an Uber to take her home.

And although Joslyn had protested, wanting to spend the night with her brother for fear of that attack happening again, the nurse was insistent that Joshua was safe and in good hands. She’d also pacified Joslyn by saying she could return to the hospital as early as she wanted tomorrow and she would be allowed to see him. Without further argument, Joslyn had complied.

As the elevator doors parted when they reached her floor, Joslyn stepped out, her movements listless and devoid of purpose. Her eyes stared ahead, however, they saw nothing as she made her way slowly to her apartment. The weight of the day's unexpected series of incidents pressed down on Joslyn’s shoulders, almost suffocating her with their heaviness.

Rummaging through her purse, Joslyn's heart sank as she realized her keys were nowhere to be found. It was the final straw, the tipping point that sent her cascading into despair. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision as the reality of Josh's near-death experience crashed over her like a tidal wave.

Anger simmered beneath the surface, directed at her absent father for failing to be there when she needed him most. Pain radiated from her throbbing foot, a constant reminder of her own physical and emotional wounds. And now, the frustration of being locked out of her own home added fuel to the fire, pushing Joslyn to the brink of breakdown.

With a cry of frustration, Joslyn kicked at the front door, the impact jolting through her injured foot and sending waves of agony shooting up her leg. She immediately regretted her impulsive action, the pain intensifying her sobs as she collapsed to the ground.

Resting her back against the front door, Joslyn finally allowed the tears she had been holding back to flow freely, the weight of her emotions pressing down on her like a stifling blanket.

Joslyn was totally lost in her own world of pain and despair, uncaring of the judgmental gazes of any passer-by that may have fallen upon her as she sat on the floor, there in the corridor, the scattered contents of her bag surrounding her. The sound of a door opening barely registered in her consciousness, nor did the sharp intake of air or the approaching footsteps.

Suddenly, she felt a warm embrace enveloping her, pulling her into its comforting embrace. The scent of musk and sandalwood filled her senses, a familiar and soothing aroma that she couldn't place at first. But as she burrowed deeper into the embrace, seeking solace from the storm raging inside her, Joslyn realized who it was.

It was Gabriel, the one person she didn't expect to see. His strong arms held her close, offering a sense of security and comfort that she desperately needed in that moment. Despite her initial surprise, Joslyn didn't pull away. Instead, she allowed herself to be held, to be comforted by the warmth of his embrace.

Gabriel's voice was a soothing murmur in Joslyn's ear, a gentle reassurance that she wasn't alone in her pain. "It's okay, I'm here," he whispered, his words a balm to her wounded soul. He continued to hold her close, offering his silent support as she cried, her tears soaking his shirt as they fell freely from her eyes.

Without hesitation, Gabriel lowered himself to the ground beside her, making himself further comfortable. All that really mattered to him in this very moment was being there for Joslyn, and offering her the comfort and solace she so desperately needed.

As she cried her heart out, the weight of her emotions pouring out like a flood, Joslyn found a sense of solace in Gabriel's presence. In that moment of vulnerability, she felt a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness, a reminder that she wasn't so alone in her pain as she had thought.