Chapter 8

"I just found out yesterday..." Camille sobbed. "I haven't had a chance to tell Daniel yet." Valentina's heart felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand. She bit down hard on her lip until she tasted blood, finally snapping back to reality. "Stop crying! Let me find a way out." She felt along the wall and finally discovered a window through the thick smoke. The moment she pushed it open, fresh air rushed in, but the three-story drop was terrifying to look at. Just as she was trying to figure out what to do, Daniel arrived after getting word of the fire. Seeing her leaning out the window, he quickly positioned himself below with his arms outstretched, his face full of panic. "Val! Camille! Jump down! I'll catch you! "Val, you go first!" Valentina felt a wave of relief and lifted her leg to jump. But just then, Camille suddenly screamed and lunged forward. "Don't leave me alone in here! I'm scared!" Both women fell from the window at the same time. In that split second, Daniel didn't hesitate as he rushed toward Camille, catching her securely in his arms. Valentina hit the concrete hard. Excruciating pain exploded through her entire body as warm blood spread beneath her. She watched Daniel carefully set Camille down in a safe spot and gently check her for injuries. From beginning to end, he never once looked in her direction. "Val!" Only then did Daniel notice her. He ran over in a panic, his voice trembling as he called out. Valentina wanted to laugh, but instead coughed up blood. How ironic. She was hurt this badly, and only now did he see her. As consciousness began to fade, she could hear Daniel's anguished cries. But she didn't want to listen anymore. She didn't want to hear anything. … The sharp smell of disinfectant stung her nostrils. When Valentina opened her eyes, Daniel was keeping watch beside her hospital bed. "Val!" He shot to his feet, his eyes bloodshot. "You're finally awake!" He grabbed her hand urgently. "I'm so sorry. There was so much smoke, and I couldn't see clearly..." Valentina calmly pulled her hand away, her fingers trembling slightly. She knew him too well. She knew that he blinked rapidly when he lied, and she knew that he unconsciously rubbed his knuckles when he felt guilty. He hadn't mistaken her for someone else. In that moment, his instinct had been to save Camille. "Oh!" Daniel suddenly broke into a smile, joy practically overflowing from his eyes. "I have wonderful news to tell you. Camille's pregnant!" His voice couldn't hide his excitement. "Though the doctor says the pregnancy is unstable and she needs me to take care of her for a while. "Val, just bear with this a little longer. Once Camille is discharged, everything will be over and we can go back to how things were before..." Valentina looked at him quietly. This was the first time she'd ever seen the joy of impending fatherhood on Daniel's face. His eyes and expression were suffused with tenderness; even his voice had softened, as if afraid to disturb something precious. But this happiness had nothing to do with her. "Okay." She responded softly, her voice completely emotionless. Daniel seemed relieved and gave her a few more instructions about taking care of herself before hurrying off to Camille's room. After he left, Valentina struggled out of bed despite the pain. Walking past Camille's room, she saw Daniel spoon-feeding her soup, his free hand resting protectively on her belly, looking at her with such tenderness. She remembered when he used to look at her that way. Now it all belonged to someone else. She smiled through her tears. Since they were so blissfully happy, she would step aside completely. "Goodbye, Daniel," she whispered. "We'll never see each other again." That afternoon, Valentina discharged herself from the hospital. She went first to the courthouse to collect the finalized divorce papers, then placed them on the dining table they had once picked out together. Then, carrying the suitcase she'd already packed, she left their home without looking back. The train station's PA system was broadcasting information about the Montanias wilderness area. "It's a remote region where temperatures can drop to -40 degrees in winter..." Valentina bought a one-way ticket and boarded the northbound train. The scenery outside the window flew backward, just like all her memories with Daniel. The military coat he'd offered her when they first met. The nervous way he'd knelt on one knee when he proposed. His trembling fingertips the first time he kissed her… All those sweet memories were crushed beneath the train's wheels along with its thundering rhythm, destined to fade away at the end of time.