Once She Came Like a Flash novel Chapter 14

**Faith Didn’t Survive Time – by Aadi Sharma**
**Chapter 14**

Charlie could no longer suppress the overwhelming urge that had been gnawing at him for days. The need to understand how Lola was faring in her life without him consumed his thoughts like a relentless tide. Finally, he found himself sitting up straight in his hospital bed, the sterile smell of antiseptic surrounding him. With a deep breath, he opened his messaging app and began to type, each word a struggle against the weight of his emotions.

[Are you doing well? I’m truly sorry for what I did before in the heat of the moment. If possible, I’d really appreciate a chance to see you and talk face-to-face. There are things I want to say to you. Maybe… maybe we can clear up some of the misunderstandings between us.]

Once the message was sent, Charlie leaned back against the stiff hospital pillow, his heart racing as he stared at his phone. He felt like a child waiting for a response from a distant parent, checking the screen every few moments, as if it might magically light up with her reply.

Minutes dragged on, stretching into what felt like an eternity. The chat window remained devoid of life, a stark reminder of his solitude. He couldn’t shake the feeling of dread settling in his stomach. Lola had always been quick to respond, her words like a lifeline in their tumultuous relationship. Even during their darkest moments, she would acknowledge his messages, offering explanations or reassurances. But now, the roles had shifted dramatically. He was the one left in suspense, experiencing for the first time the agony of uncertainty.

After refreshing the screen for what felt like the hundredth time, frustration bubbled within him. He shoved the chat into a hidden folder, trying to convince himself that this small act would somehow lessen the ache in his chest. Yet, his focus remained elusive, slipping through his fingers like sand. The corporate documents sprawled before him blurred into meaningless shapes, their words dancing mockingly in his mind.

Then, finally, his phone chimed—a sound that sent a bolt of adrenaline coursing through him. He snatched it up, casting aside his papers, heart racing with hope. But the message wasn’t from Lola. It was a bank alert informing him that Rose had maxed out his credit card while abroad.

Once, such news would have rolled off his back like water off a duck. But now, confined to a hospital bed and grappling with the pain in his abdomen, the absurdity of Rose squandering his money in another country struck him as cruelly ironic. He recalled the lavish gifts he had lavished upon her upon her return—expensive cars, sparkling jewelry—while he had forced Lola into a brutal divorce agreement, leaving her with nothing but heartbreak.

Bitterness surged within him, sharp and acrid. He wondered, if the roles were reversed, would Lola have ever been so forgiving? Would she have allowed him to walk away so easily?

Taking a deep breath, Charlie released the last remnants of his false hope and typed another message: [Edwin misses you too. If you don’t want to see me, maybe at least see him.]

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