Chapter 10 - THE PRICE OF SURVIVAL
Z
Gabriel's recovery took months.
The toxicology investigation established that he had been exposed to a dangerous substance during the warehouse attack.
The circumstances surrounding the false declaration of death remained under formal review.
Several medical professionals were questioned.
One physician admitted that Carmine had pressured staff to avoid further examinations.
The investigation examined whether that pressure had contributed to the premature declaration.
Gabriel struggled with the aftermath.
Nightmares.
Pain.
Periods of exhaustion.
And a fear he refused to name.
One evening, I found him sitting alone in the garden.
The sun had nearly disappeared.
He was staring at the fountain.
"Can't sleep?" I asked.
He shook his head.
I sat beside him.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then he said, "I remember the table."
My chest tightened.
"What?"
"The cold."
I looked at him.
He continued.
"I remember hearing voices. Not clearly. Like they were coming through water."
I swallowed.
"Do you remember me?"
Gabriel turned toward me.
"Yes."
My eyes filled.
"What do you remember?"
His voice softened.
"You were crying."
I looked down.
"And you kept telling me I wasn't alone."
Tears slipped down my cheeks.
Gabriel reached toward my face, then stopped.
"May I?"
I nodded.
He brushed a tear away.
"I thought I was dreaming."
I laughed through tears.
"I thought I was losing my mind."
He smiled faintly.
"Perhaps we both were."
Then his expression became serious.
"Matilda, there's something I need to tell you."
I waited.
"I've spent my life making people afraid."
I nodded.
"And I told myself that was strength."
He looked toward the darkening garden.
"But when I couldn't move, when I couldn't speak, when everyone believed I was dead, none of that power mattered."
My throat tightened.
"What mattered?"
Gabriel looked at me.
"You stayed."
I wanted to answer.
But no words came.
May you like
So I reached for his hand.
And held it.
