Not Today

They were cuddled up in each other's arms, their thoughts refusing the unquestionable pressure of time. As their hands merged into caresses on each other's bodies, their minds refused to leave the few minutes that had gone before: the ones where they had been able to give substance to what they felt, despite all the obstacles, and no matter how bad it was. The air was getting thinner and thinner, and there was only the deliverance of death to wait for. But here, against each other, it didn't seem as scary as it had been just a few hours ago.

She wanted to be able to take full advantage of every extra minute they were given. Gabi broke their embrace slightly and plunged her glance in Antonio's one, just to read there all that he had put so much energy to deny during these last weeks. It did not need her more to destroy in a few seconds the distance which separated their lips, offering him a kiss as soft as passionate. Death could wait a few more minutes. When he broke their kiss, she did not manage to leave her eyes off him.

"I don't know how much longer we have here," he murmured, "but one thing that will never die, ever, is the way I feel about you: I love you Gabi, and I always will, no matter what."

His words came crashing against Gabi's heart, and she had a hard time keeping the tears from sinking down her face.

"Oh, Antonio... If only you knew…" she answered as she once again let her heart and body take control of her.

Gabi approached Antonio and, unable to find her words, she kissed him tenderly at first, before the burning passion that animated them both took over. While hot tears began to flow along her cheeks, she clung still a little more to him, refusing to put an end to this kiss. Without knowing it, they both formulated the same prayer inside: that God would forgive them, and that he would leave them a few more minutes on this Earth to be able to love each other a little more.

Unfortunately, it was not heard:

"Gabi, Antonio?! Do you hear me?"

Ricardo's voice acted like a cold shower, bringing Gabi and Antonio by force in a reality that they didn't think possible anymore. The mutual tenderness which was read a few seconds ago in their eyes was suddenly transformed into a total daze. The young priest finally managed to leave Gabi's eyes to answer his brother's call.

Both completely stunned, the lovers left the cocoon in which they were and tried to regain the other reality: that of the living, of betrayal and guilt. They grabbed their clothes scattered among the rubble, and began to get dressed as quickly as possible. Their bodies and minds were still soaked with the love they had just made. While she answered Ricardo's instructions, Gabi tenderly passed a hand on Antonio's cheek. He could not help smiling at the idea that the woman he loved in spite of all the prohibitions was going to be able to live. Determined to get her out of there, he obeyed instantaneously his brother's indications, grabbed the rope and wound it sufficiently solidly around the young woman.

"I don't want to leave you... You'll be right behind me, right?"

"Don't worry about me," he replied with a reassuring smile.

Once more, she tenderly passed her hands on her lover's face, and, without thinking, deposited a kiss on his lips. A short kiss, but in which she tried to translate one last time all the intensity of her love for him.

"I love you too, and I always will", she murmured by putting her forehead against his.

And that's how the rescue began. Antonio didn't let Gabi out of his sight for a second, seeing her slowly and courageously make her way to the other side and into her brother's arms. After that, nothing mattered to him anymore. Life could go on without him.

Gabi finally managed to make her way to the exit, eager to leave this place, but heartbroken to leave Antonio behind. She quickly joined Ricardo's arms, whose relief to have her back exceeded the understanding. He hugged her for a long time before Casey urged her to go outside, where she would be safe.

"No, I'm not leaving this place until he's here too," she said firmly.

"Gabi... You have to get to safety... You're in shock", Ricardo begged her.

"Ricardo, I can't. I promise I'll get out of here as soon as he's here too…"

They exchanged a long look, before Casey interrupted with, "I'll get you a blanket, Gabi". He returned a few minutes later, finally allowing the young woman to warm up a bit as the rescue continued. Antonio's voice was barely audible. Gabi's heart sank at the thought that he might not make it…

"Ricardo... Get out of here before it's too late…"

"Do you really think I'm going to let you die here, Antonio?! Grab that rope and join us."

"It's no use... I'll never get through", he said.

"Antonio, damn it! Stop being so stubborn. I will never leave you, do you hear me? Never! Then grab that fucking rope".

"I don't deserve…"

No one could hear the rest of his sentence, because another cave-in had just occurred inside. Casey, Hank, Ricardo and Gabi instinctively moved closer together, while Gabi screamed in terror. When the cave-in was over, they waited a few seconds for the dust to settle and then were shocked to see that the exit they had managed to create had shrunk considerably.

Completely deprived, Ricardo collapsed on the ground calling desperately for his brother, but the only answer he kept getting was his own voice echoing back to him. Gabi's legs also ceased to carry her and tears exploded on her face, while she began to call Antonio without slackening.

"Gabi…"

The voice was barely perceptible.

"Oh my God, Antonio!"

"Gabi, Gabi…" Ricardo sobbed as he hugged Gabi. "We have to go…"

"No, no! I heard him."

"Gabi, I beg you…" Ricardo begged. The pain was so sharp for him that he thought he could never get up again. "He doesn't answer anymore…"

"Ricardo is right, Gabi…" Casey added, as sadness transpired on his face.

Taken of a mad rage, and of an adrenalin coming from nowhere, Gabi stood up and exploded:

"I told you I heard him! Why doesn't anyone believe me?"

"Gabi, the passage is tiny and Antonio doesn't answer anymore. "We have to get out of here…" Casey murmured by putting his hands on Gabi's shoulders...

As for Ricardo, he was still collapsed on the ground, unable to contain his sorrow.

"Gabi... Go away…"

The faces of Hank, Casey, Ricardo and Gabi instantly turned in the same direction before freezing.

"And now, did you hear him?!" Gabi finally shouted at them. "Somebody has to go get him!"

"I don't think we can get through, Gabi, and it's going to fall apart again any minute."

"I can get through," she shouted. "I'm small enough. I won't let him die there".

Ricardo stood up and put his hands around Gabi's face.

"Gabi, I want to have my brother back, but I can not let you do such a thing".

The young woman quickly broke the contact by grabbing the rope herself. She said:

"I'm not asking for your permission, Ricardo. I'm going to get him out of here, whether you like it or not".

Gabi was busy tying the rope herself around her waist, under the look as dazed as helpless of her companions.

"Gabi…"

"I'm not going to let him die here. I can't. He risked his life for me, and I... I…"

The next words were stuck somewhere between her heart and the barrier of her lips. She corrected herself:

"I'm going back there, whether you help me or not. I'm the only one who can get through, so unless you can find another way…"

They all exchanged a look, unable to know how to respond. Ricardo had never seen Gabi so determined, and the thought of losing them both made him sick. But, deep down, he could understand. He encircled Gabi's face in his hands and looked at her for a long time, before saying, "Promise me you'll come back". The only answer she gave him was grabbing his wrist, kissing his hand, her eyes misted with tears, and preparing to go back under the rubble.

"OK guys, help me make some room for her."

Ricardo, Casey, and Hank worked together to try to enlarge and secure the passage for Gabi and to plan for their return together, as she slowly slid inside. The space was so small that the walls crushed Gabi's back. But that wasn't going to stop her. She moved as slowly as possible, covering her body with scratches as she went, while listening to the recommendations of her companions. She had to deal with some falling rubble, but finally managed to get her whole body to the other side.

There she saw him, lying face down under a pile of debris large enough to have caused his unconsciousness. She rushed to him and began to clear his body, murmuring his name over and over. She finally managed to put him on his back and to take him in her arms. The adrenaline that burned in her veins gave her an unsuspected strength.

"Antonio, Antonio I'm begging you…" she begged him by caressing his cheek.

Slowly, he opened his eyes and his face lit up.

"Gabi... You came back…"

Tears cascaded down the young woman's cheeks, concealing the smile caused by her intense relief at seeing him come back to himself.

"Oh, Antonio... I could never have left you."

"You should have..." he murmured with pain.

"Don't you dare say that. Antonio, I need you. No matter what happens after all this, I need you in my life. I'm begging you…"

With difficulty, he managed to raise an arm to come and wipe a tear on Gabi's cheek.

"OK, as it's you…", he finally said.

She laughed between two tears, and kissed feverishly Antonio's forehead and cheeks before tying him as well as possible to the rope.

"Do you feel ready to go?"

"I will do my best…"

Antonio drew on his remaining strength to follow Gabi. On the other side, the men had managed to expand the space a bit without causing too much collateral damage. Gabi slowly crawled towards the exit, continually glancing behind her to see if Antonio was following. Unfortunately, she did not see her right arm hit a corner of the passage. Suddenly, a mass of debris crashing on her member already sore by the impact came to slow down her in her advance. The young woman felt a "crack" which one could hardly misinterpret, and howled of pain: her arm had just broken.

"Gabi, Gabi are you okay?!" Ricardo, Casey and Hank asked in one voice.

"Gabi…" Antonio whispered. "Let me help you…"

The young priest used his adrenaline and drew on all his remaining energy to come to Gabi's aid. He reached about her height, as far as the narrowness of the passage allowed him. He embraced her, and helped her to move forward until she reached the exit. Once on the other side, Gabi didn't waste a single second and turned around to give Antonio her valid arm, while Ricardo grabbed the other one to pull his brother out of the passage. The second when Antonio reached the other side, all collapsed again inside, with a force so sharp that they remained dumbfounded. Coming to his senses, Ricardo urged everyone:

"We have to get out of here as soon as possible!"

Casey, Hank, Ricardo, but also Antonio and Gabi, managed to reach the exit in time. All together, safe and sound.

She shyly pushed open the door to the hospital room, and the mere sight of Antonio alive was enough to light up her face. She felt an inexplicable warmth radiate from her heart. He turned to her and smiled as well.

"How are you?" he asked.

She lifted her casted arm to show him.

"Will you sign it for me?" she asked mischievously.

"Okay," he laughed, before his aching limbs brought him back to reality. "Only if you stop making me laugh for now," he added, coughing.

"I'll try," she replied, smiling, though with a hint of concern in her eyes. "How do you feel?"

"In great shape", he answered.

At her suspicious look, he added:

"They want to keep me under observation for a while. I have a few broken ribs. And I also feel like I ate a huge bowl of dust for breakfast."

This time, it was her turn to laugh.

"Antonio... I'm so glad you're alive," she said as she sat down on her bed. Even if I don't know how we're going to get out of this situation…"

"I'm sure we'll find a way out of this. We'll have to…"

Neither of them wanted to talk about Antonio's departure for Guatemala. Not now. After a silence, he added:

"I can't believe you risked your life to come back for me," he said, staring at her seriously.

She put her hand on his, and simply replied with a smile:

"And I would do it again. Without hesitation."