Here they stood.

What a turn of fate.

Sakura was alone in the corner of the room she was transferred to, and she stood there for no one knew how many minutes. It was her break, and she had decided to spend it staring at the man who left her.

Taking a few steps ahead, she took place by his side and looked at him, really looked at him. Sasuke had bandages around his stomach, chest, head and left leg. He looked like he had been hit by a truck or endured unthinkable torture. She analyzed him in detail, and everything seemed fine.

What had he gone through in these five years? All alone? With no one by his side? She knew what it felt like, and it was horrible.

During surgery and while taking blood samples, she had noticed how bad his levels were and how many tiny scars there were on his body. What was he going through? Was he not taking care of himself?

One of the strongest men she has known. Her husband...ex-husband...was never this weak. His one arm had more strength than many captains combined.

What happened?

As her hand went to him, she hesitated in between multiple times. Should she touch him or not?

She did.

The spark she felt through her veins was unimaginable. After all these years, all that hatred...did her body still want him? She knew her heart didn't, but why did she still feel the spark?

Sakura yanked her hand back as the feelings became unbearable, but she betrayed her heart and bent, reaching over his head and touching his hair...those magnificent raven locks. They were the same, unclean, but still the same.

The texture of the hair was no different than it had been when he'd left. The last time she held him in their bed, the last time she touched him, the last time she listened to his heartbeat...the last time he was hers.

Those five years felt like five centuries to her.

And now he was back.

This wasn't fair.

She couldn't take it anymore...she couldn't, so she held his hand firmly. Finally, after five years, she held his hand.

She hated him with all of her heart, but she held his hand.

She wanted to make him endure the same pain she had experienced, so she held his hand.

He was given high sedatives, so he slept and breathed independently, but he still felt her presence. He thought she was around him and could smell her. He felt her hand in his.

Was this a dream?

Was he dreaming?

Was she dreaming?

Was this even a dream or a nightmare?

Sakura pulled a chair and sat by him, holding his hand and not letting go of it. "Did you not love me?" He could hear her somehow; even on sedatives, he could listen to her. His Sakura.

I loved you so much.

A tear fell on his hand, and he felt it. Never had a tear felt so heavy. "Was my love not enough?"

It was more than enough.

"How could you do this to me? Left me all alone to feel so used and broken!" She gripped his hand harder.

I wish I could turn back time and undo my mistakes.

Sakura placed her forehead on the bed, her forehead on their joined hands. "I hate you, Sasuke. I wish I had never fallen in love with you."

I'd hate myself too. I wish you hadn't too.

She moved her chin and placed a delicate kiss on his hand. "Why did you come back?" He was answering her, but she couldn't hear them.

I wanted to explain myself.

"Please leave and never return. I have suffered enough. I cannot bear knowing you're here and wanting you every day. Please leave, Sasuke."

When you say my name, it sounds like heaven. I'll leave and never come back. You, your husband and your daughter will be alone. I won't bother you.

He heard ragged sobs. "What will I tell Sarada?"

You don't have to. I am not related to her.

Then she said what she never imagined saying, "Her father had returned? The father who abandoned her mother? The father her mother loved so much, but he didn't love her enough?"

Daughter? Sarada is Sakura and my daughter? So after I left...She...Pregnant...Daughter...Sakura. I'm the Uchiha Sarada was talking about.

The monitor began beeping loudly and rapidly, and Sakura lifted her head, panicking. Why was his heartbeat accelerating? Was he having a heart attack? Or was it a panic attack? What was happening?

She was paralyzed to do anything, and luckily the nurses came in and handled the situation. Sakura silently, with a tornado going on inside herself, walked out of the room and into her office.

Sometimes it's easier when your loved ones die because then, you won't be standing by the window, waiting for them to return so they can hold you, kiss you, love you, and protect you.

The phone rang, and Sakura picked it up with trembling hands. "Sakura, how is Sasuke?"

Hearing his name made her heart beat faster with worry again. "The surgery went fine; his heartbeat just sped up. He's fine now."

Naruto sighed in relief, but after a few seconds of silence, he started babbling. "I mean, no, he should've died! He's a horrible person; he should be murdered!" He let out all this to make her feel better.

"Don't. It's fine. I'm glad he's okay too." She could hear the discomfort in his voice.

Speechless, she was overcome by complete silence. Sakura thought the call had ended. "Oh, okay," Until he stammered. "Well, I...I wanted to...tell you-"

"Spill it out, Naruto."

And so he did so fast that it was hard to catch his words. "It was a murder attempt. He wasn't hit by a car, as you guessed."

This time, Sakura was the one dumbfounded. "Why? How did you figure it out? And who would want to hurt him?"

"We don't know yet; Kakashi is the lead investigator."

"Kakashi?" Wasn't he retired?

Naruto concluded. "We pulled out the camera footage, and three guys charged at Sasuke. We haven't found them yet, but we will soon. So we don't know why they wanted to hurt him." There were many unanswered questions.

Sakura's voice broke as she spoke. "Sasuke is so strong... Did he... Did he not put up any kind of fight?"

A quiet, dead silence. A whisper from the other side, "No. He didn't fight back at all. It looked like he wanted to die."

Just like that, the dam broke, and Sakura cried openly in the privacy of her office. "Why? Why would he do this?"

"I don't know, Sakura. Please stay strong for Sarada," Naruto cheered her as he let out a few tears of his own.

Sakura snorted sarcastically. "Now, haven't I heard this a billion times in my life?" She swallowed, unable to take it anymore. "I need to go. Thank you, Naruto. Give Sarada a hug from me and tell her I love her."

Anyone could tell Naruto was smiling even if she couldn't see him. "No problem," he said. "And I know you told me already, but don't worry, I'll remind her again."

The news she had heard shattered her into a million pieces. Why would he give up on life? Didn't he leave because he felt overwhelmed and trapped by their relationship? So, after leaving, why would he want to die? Why?

Today had been tough, so she decided to take an extended break. Sakura ran towards Sasuke's room, and as soon as she entered, she checked his updated chart and found everything to be fine.

"What will I do with you?" And again, he heard her voice but couldn't respond.

Let me die.

Her words struggled to come out. "Why...Why would you...Why did...you not fight back?"

Because I want to die.

"There are people who love you and need you."

The one person I returned for was married and had a child with someone else. But that's not the case now.

Sakura blinked and clenched her jaw. "I'll never forget the pain you put me through," she said. "But I will give you a chance to explain yourself. I want answers, Sasuke."

Just hold my hand.

By some miracle, she snaked her hand into his. "I've missed you, Anata," she whispered—the word she had said once to him on their wedding night and only then.

Am I in heaven? Anata?

"Come back to me and explain yourself. I want you to meet...to meet our daughter. She has your eyes and hair. The day she was born, I was dying to see you hold her. But you weren't there; you have missed out on so much, Sasuke."

I am sorry, Sakura.

Sakura shut her eyes tightly, trying to stop the tears from dripping onto the bed. "It's so hard to hate you and love her simultaneously because you live inside her, Sasuke. You're a part of Sarada. It's so hard to love the little girl who looks exactly like the man that betrayed me."

I am so so sorry, Sakura. I deserve to die.

"I'll never forget what you did, Sasuke, but please don't die. Come back; some people still need you." She finally opened her eyes, and the waterfall fell on the sheet and his hand.

The one I want doesn't need me.

"Come back."

No.

"I don't even know what I'm saying."

I don't deserve it.

"So come back."

No, I can't. I don't deserve you both.

"Come back, Sasuke."