The time had turned capricious again. Time seemed to stretch out, making every second feel like a whole minute, and my anxiety about Erik's unconscious state grew with each passing moment. The doctor had assured me he was out of danger, but why wasn't he waking up?

"If you're just pretending to be interesting, you can stop now," I said, hoping he'd suddenly open his eyes, but he didn't.

I ran my hand over my face, wondering how we'd ended up in this mess and when this bloody nightmare would end. How had I managed to put up with someone like Oliver for 20 years? And how had I not seen how crazy he was? A part of me knew something was off about him, but instead of running, I'd made excuses and hidden his true face from my family and friends.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, feeling the lump in my throat grow.

I felt overwhelmed by my emotional scars, my fears, and the physical harm he'd inflicted. I felt guilty for putting Erik in danger just because my ex was a nutcase. I felt like I should've saved myself from him back in Pierowall, and how hard I was making it for Erik, despite his efforts to make me happy.

How could I fix this whole mess?

Oliver needed to be punished for everything he'd done, and although there might not be much to condemn him for during our relationship since I'd never reported him, he had to pay for nearly drowning me in Pierowall and for throwing Erik onto the road.

My head was flooded with "what ifs"... What if I'd never gone out with Oliver? What if I'd left him the first time he shouted at me? What if I hadn't taken him back after discovering he was cheating on me? What if Erik hadn't turned up in Pierowall at the right moment, or what if it had been a car instead of a motorbike?

I shuddered at the last two questions in my mind and gently squeezed his hand, not wanting to think about it. The anxiety I felt every time I remembered his face, his voice, or even his name left a massive knot in my throat. Why couldn't I have just moved on and forgotten about him?

I slowly stroked Erik's face, gently pushing a stray lock of hair behind his ear. His face, usually lit up with a mischievous grin and sparkling eyes, was dull.

"We should've stayed in Pierowall," I whispered, knowing we'd have been safer there.

It seemed utter madness that, just because I'd broken up with my ex, walking the streets of the city where I grew up was dangerous simply because I might run into him around any corner. What next, a knife? A gun?

"You're the best thing that's happened to me in the last twenty years of my life, Erik... please, wake up," I begged, feeling the anxiety knot grow and grow. "I'll let you call me your girlfriend if you want... we'll travel the world or I'll keep you company while you watch the lighthouse beam spin at night, but you can't leave me alone." I sobbed, resting my forehead on his hand and hiding my face in the sheets.

"Did I really need to get run over for you to give me permission to call you my girlfriend?" he asked weakly, making me lift my face up sharply.

"You're okay!" I exclaimed, practically jumping on him.

"Careful, my soul hurts," he complained, still smiling, and wrapped his arms around me.

"How long have you been faking sleep?" I asked, looking at him, and he automatically put on an innocent face.

"I just woke up, just in time to hear you say I could call you my girlfriend. But I didn't quite catch it. Could you repeat it, please?" he asked, still smiling, despite his tired face.

"If you hadn't passed out, you would've heard me tell the ambulance guy you were my girlfriend," I complained, happy that he really seemed to be okay.

"Did you say that and I missed it?!" he said, looking pained, making me laugh.

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

"Yeah, that's what I said," I said, hugging him more gently so as not to hurt him. "I love you."

I could see Erik's whole body react to my words. He pulled back slightly, looking into my eyes as if he'd just heard the two most wonderful words in the world.

"Say it again," he asked.

"No," I said, dying of embarrassment.

"Please..." he begged.

I rolled my eyes, feeling my cheeks flush again and the knot in my throat almost disappear.

"I love you," I said, quickly and softly.

This time, it was Erik who hugged me, holding me tightly against him without hurting me. I wrapped my arms around his back, returning the hug, and nestled my face against his neck.

"I love you too, Andrea," he said, pulling back slightly, looking into my eyes. "I've been dying to tell you."

"Why didn't you?" I asked, confused.

"Because I didn't want you to run away... because I knew you needed your space and I didn't want to pressure you. Because I didn't need to say it, I just needed to show you, just like you didn't need to say it, but you made me feel it," he said, stroking my cheek with his finger.

"How long have you loved me?" I asked, a bit shyly.

"A long time," he assured me with a confident voice.

"I'm sorry for being so complicated," I apologized, rubbing my nose against his lightly.

"You're not complicated, it's what they made you believe. I assure you, you're very easy to get along with, you just need your space and lots of love," he said, smiling and gently rubbing my back.

"You're the easy one... I just need to let you love me," I smiled, kissing his lips softly.

"I love making you happy, you love it when I make you happy... and that makes me happy, so I'm happy too. Isn't it wonderful?" he asked, and I nodded.

"Wonderful and easy," I affirmed.

The doctor didn't take long to come back and discharge him, but before that, the police wanted to take his statement about what had happened. When we left the room, my parents and Vir were waiting anxiously in the waiting room, and they were much more relieved to see that Erik was okay.

As expected, my parents offered to take us home with them, but all I wanted was to sit on the sofa with Erik, hug him, and forget about everything. So, after assuring them that everything was fine and we just wanted to rest, we managed to get my dad to drive us to the apartment we had rented. Vir came in the car, but said goodbye to us at the door, aware that, after what had happened, we wanted to be alone, and left, asking me to call her if anything happened.

When we arrived at the apartment, I felt a mix of relief and exhaustion. Although I knew Erik was doing his best to stay strong, I could see the fatigue on his face and in his movements. We both went to the sofa by inertia, where we sat, feeling the weight of everything that had happened.

"It's not your fault," he said, as if he could read my thoughts.

"A little bit, it is," I said, unable to shake off the feeling that everything had happened because of me.

Erik took my face in his hands and looked at me with a determination I'd never seen before in his eyes.

"Andrea, that man is crazy. It's not your fault, nor is it your responsibility. You're the victim, not the responsible one."

"But I was the one who wanted to come. If we had stayed in Pierowall..." I felt my emotions overflowing a bit, and Erik hugged me with affection.

"Heaven, if we had stayed in Pierowall, he'd still be free and it's clear he's a danger. I know you're scared, but I'm here with you. There were witnesses, I've reported him, he's violated your restraining order... Andy, he can't escape this time." He kissed my forehead and held me a little tighter.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," I sobbed, resting my head on his shoulder and feeling my heart beating strongly.

"You'd probably finish your book, become a famous writer, and enjoy life," he smiled with affection.

I couldn't help but smile a little at his comment, feeling how his soothing hand in my hair helped me relax a bit.

"Do you mean I can't finish my book, become a famous writer, and enjoy life if I'm with you?" I asked with a mock-horrified expression that was too fake to be realistic.

"If that's what you really want, you'll achieve it with or without me."

"I'd rather achieve it with you. Now that I've accepted being your girlfriend, I don't want to give up that status so quickly." I hugged him tightly.

Erik looked at me with eyes overflowing with joy and covered my face with his hands, kissing me with passion and affection, as if he didn't hurt at all, or hadn't been run over just hours ago. He definitely had Viking blood.

"I don't want you to get rid of me so soon either, let me enjoy you now that I've finally got you to love me a little bit." He smiled, leaning slightly over me.

"You're hurt," I laughed without resisting.

"Not enough to show you the advantages of being my girlfriend, my wee one." He smiled, and my heart was full of love, hoping that the nightmare with Oliver was finally over and Erik and I could finally enjoy the happiness we deserved.