Unseen Love

The night was erily quiet, the city lights flickering in the distance as Mav gripped the steering wheel, his mind clouded with thoughts. His jaw tightened, his knuckles turning white against the leather. It had been a long, exhausting day, filled with tension and frustration. His life had always been a series of battles—fighting to prove himself, to build his empire, to be the man no one could break. But in that moment, fate had other plans. The blinding headlights came out of nowhere. A sharp screech of tires. The deafening sound of metal crushing into metal. His body jolted forward, pain slicing through him like a thousand knives. His head slammed against the wheel, the impact sending shockwaves through his skull. And then… darkness. Silence. The world had disappeared. Mav struggled to open his eyes, but the moment he did, he was met with nothing. No light. No shapes. Just an endless void of black. Panic set in, his breathing ragged and shallow. He tried to move, but pain chained him to the ground, his body refusing to cooperate. His pulse thundered in his ears. Where was he? What had happened? A faint sound—a voice—broke through the haze. Soft, urgent, desperate. "Sir! Can you hear me? Please stay with me!" The voice belonged to a woman. Gentle, warm, laced with worry. He felt delicate hands touch his face, brushing away the blood trickling down his forehead. "You’re hurt," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Hold on, help is coming." Mav wanted to respond, to ask who she was, but his throat felt like sandpaper. His body gave up, surrendering to the pain as consciousness slipped away. --- The beeping of machines pulled him back into reality. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled his nostrils. His entire body ached, as if he had been shattered and pieced back together. He groaned, trying to move, but a sharp pain shot through his ribs, forcing him still. And then, the realization hit him. Everything was still black. His breathing hitched. He blinked rapidly, his fingers clenching around the bedsheets. Why couldn’t he see? His heart pounded wildly, panic clawing at his throat. Was this a nightmare? Was he still unconscious? A soft voice cut through the terror. "You're awake." It was her. Mav turned his head toward the sound, his blind gaze searching the void. "Who… Who are you?" His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. A moment of silence. Then, a gentle response. "My name is Isa." Isa. The name was unfamiliar, yet something about it felt… safe. "You were in a terrible accident," she continued. "I found you on the road and called for help. You've been unconscious for two days." Two days. His mind reeled. His hands trembled as he reached for his face, feeling the bandages wrapped around his forehead. "Why… why can’t I see?" Isa hesitated. "The doctors said… your eyes suffered severe trauma. But they believe it might not be permanent." Might not. The words echoed in his head like a cruel joke. He clenched his jaw, frustration boiling within him. His entire life had been built on control, on power. And now? He was trapped in a darkness he couldn’t escape. "Where is my family?" he asked, expecting to hear his mother’s voice, or at least his father’s stern words. Isa’s silence stretched longer this time. "No one has come," she admitted softly. "I asked the doctors, but…" Mav felt something inside him crack. His family… they had abandoned him? A bitter laugh escaped his lips. Of course. He had spent years trying to earn their approval, their love. But when he needed them the most, they weren’t there. But Isa was. A stranger. A woman who owed him nothing. Yet, she had stayed. Mav swallowed, his throat thick with unspoken emotions. "Why?" Isa tilted her head. "Why what?" "Why are you still here?" A small, sad smile touched her lips. "Because you needed someone." Something shifted in Mav’s chest. He didn’t know why, but those words affected him in a way he couldn’t explain. For the first time since waking up, he felt a sliver of warmth in the darkness. And her name was Isa...