The first sunbeams sneaked through the curtains on the window and touched Altantis' face. She slowly opened her eyes, not feeling so much discomfort as she did a few hours ago. Although she still felt weak, she couldn't remember when was the last time she slept so soundly and well like she did during the past hours.
A movement on her hand caught her attention, and she looked down to see a thumb making gentle circles on the skin between her thumb and index finger. The sensations that flew through her veins at that simple touch from a man she loved endlessly made her wish that she could always lie here in his arms.
He was obviously oblivious to the fact that she had woken up because he didn't move. Atlantis kept on watching his hand and the words from Colleen's letter flew back into her mind.
«My dear friend, so much things happened over here as well. Yes, I did finish the Medical School like I planned. Everybody here is just fine…well, except my brother Matthew. I know that he thinks that he can hide it from me, but I can see how much he is still hurting.
Atlantis, he lost everything. Ingrid died a few years ago, of rabies. I don't know if you remember Brian's dog Pup, but he got bitten by a raccoon and got rabies. Sully locked him away in the barn, but when Pup accidentally spilled his bucket of water, Ingrid felt sorry for Brian getting upset about him. So, she opened the door and went to give him a new bucket of water. It was then when Pup attacked her, bit her through her sleeve and ran away. Dr. Mike took care of the wound immediatelly, but after two weeks, Ingrid got symptoms and there was nothing we could do. Atlantis, it was horrible; I still can't erase the image of her suffering so much from my mind. I still have nightmares of that and wake up crying in the middle of the night. She was such a darling person, she didn't deserve to die so young, she didn't deserve to suffer so much. Matthew was totally lost, he blamed Brian for what happened. After Ingrid's funeral, Brian disappeared one morning with a rifle! He went to search for Pup in order to shoot him. I was so scared, Atlantis, just from thinking that he might be standing all by himself in front of the wolf who had rabies! Luckily, we found him before Pup attacked him. Brian couldn't pull the trigger because he was crying too much, so Matthew took the rifle from him. He couldn't do it either, so Sully did. I swear to you, Atlantis, ever since my Mum died, nothing ever hurt me that much as seeing my dear brothers crushed like that, crying so much.
Matthew changed a lot since Ingrid died. He dived into work, and except a relationship with one girl, he stayed alone. He never talks about it, but I know that he is scared of loving somebody in his life again. Ingrid died, Emma left town, and he just went back into his shell. I'm so worried for him, Atlantis. He's wonderful with my baby sister Katie, he would be such a great dad, I just know that, but he closed his heart to love. So many of my friends from college who saw a photo of my family went head over heels for him, but he just doesn't dare to love again. And he is in so much pain, all that has taken its toll on him. It breaks my heart over and over again, Atlantis, I don't know what to do…»
«Matthew?,» Atlantis whispered, gently squeezing his palm, and he looked down at her, concern written all over his face.
«Are you okay?» he asked, worried. «How do you feel?»
«Like a herd of circus elephants walked over me.» Now it was Atlantis who tried to light up his mood. She made it; she saw a flicker of smile curving his lips. At least for a second, but it was there.
«Do you need anything?» asked Matthew. «Want some water or tea? Are you hungry?»
Even though her stomach was aching for some warm meal, Atlantis shook her head. There was something much more important now.
«Matthew,» she silently called his name, still holding his hand, «Colleen told me what happened. I'm so sorry.»
Even though she didn't say the name, Matthew knew that she talked about Ingrid. He looked away, biting his lower lip. Atlantis noticed the painfull expression on his face, but knew that he needed to talk about it. «She was a lovely person. I will never forget our conversation.»
That did the trick. Matthew looked back at her face and smiled sadly.
«Yeah, you met her.»
«Yes, I did», nodded Atlantis. «She offered to watch over me, so if I got dizzy that she could take me to the clinic and get Dr. Mike. She was so worried for you when you started to walk on the wire that she asked me several times how I dare to do that and if there was really no danger to you. I told her not to worry, that you sure knew what you were doing. She was so happy and proud when you reached the other side of the wire.»
Atlantis voice drifted off and she stopped talking, seeing Matthew's eyes filling with tears. She wanted to tell him about her talk with Ingrid about him, but embarrassment stopped her from doing that. She still remembered how she'd said to Ingrid how lucky she was and how Ingrid smiled and replied that she was sure that Atlantis would find somebody nice too because she sure deserved it. There was not one bit of jealousy or malice in Ingrid's voice, and Atlantis felt her eyes filling with tears again at just the mere thought of that darling girl dying. «I'll never forget her,» whispered Atlantis.
That took Matthew off the guard. He looked down at her face again, his heart warming at what she just said. He knew all too well that back then Atlantis was in love with him, yet she talked about Ingrid like they'd been best friends. She truly felt sorry for his fianceé being robbed of a chance to live, it wasn't just an act of kindness. That showed him what a huge heart this young woman had.
«Thank you,» he silently said, really meaning it. This was the first time that someone tried to talk about Ingrid to him and that he didn't lash out at that person.
Atlantis tried to give him a comforting smile, but cough stopped her. A new wave of it attacked her, and it felt like her lungs were torn apart. She pressed a palm to her mouth, fighting for air, and as she coughed, a bit of blood showed up on her fingers, setting Matthew into panic.
«DR. MIKE!!!!» he quickly jumped up from the bed and rushed outside calling for his mother, «DR. MIKE, HURRY!!!!!»
Michaela ran out of her room and hurried to check on her patient.
«Easy, easy, darling,» she whispered, holding Atlantis as her cough started to calm down a bit. Gently, Michaela wiped the blood from Atlantis' fingers and helped her to take few sips of tea. «Try to drink some.» Saying that, she touched Atlantis' forehead and smiled, «Your fever broke, that's good. I'll give you something for your cough and if your temperature doesn't come back, you should be up in no time,» she tried to encourage Atlantis. Michaela knew that the girl would still have to stay in the bed for quite some time, but this was a start.
She helped Atlantis to lie back onto the pillow, and as she started to prepare the medicine, her eyes stopped at her son who still stood in the doorway. It was only then that she noticed his facial expression. He was beyond himself with worry.
Before she could say anything, Heart showed up at the door.
«How is my girl?»
Matthew noticed a panic flickering over Atlantis' face the moment Heart spoke up. She looked at him for just a second while her mother reached down to give her a kiss, and Matthew could read fear in her big brown eyes.
«Heart,» he said with a stern voice. The older woman turned and looked at him, somewhat annoyed, but he kept his posture and added, «I wanna talk to you.»
«Certainly, but not now, I'm…,»she tried to protest, but Matthew interrupted her «NOW, HEART.»
Taken aback by the firm tone of his voice, Heart flashed him an icy look before she stormed out of the recovery room. Glancing at Atlantis, Matthew sent her a silent promise that everything would be all right. Then he went to find Heart.
Relieved, Atlantis closed her eyes. Finally, after so many years, she felt safe. Protected.