Traumatized Love

Episode 6

Finally the day of our intended rescue arrived. Somehow, I felt nervous and couldn’t sleep the night before. We got up early and ran over our plan again. We would travel light as there was no need to bring much essential items. The morning was somewhat gloomy like as though it was complementing the impending danger ahead. I didn’t have a good feeling about the day. However, I refuse to allow it to get my hopes down. We have come this far and I’m not about to give up now.

Steven walked up to me, “Come on, we should get going,” he said.

I nodded my head.

We set out on foot and after walking for about fifteen minutes, Steven stopped to look around. I could hear leaves rustling and I felt like we were being watched.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“The enemy is close. We have to hurry.”

We started walking faster and jogging up the hill. And then, I heard a gunshot. Steven pulled me behind a tree.

“s**t, we’ve been spotted,” he said.

We had no choice but to continue running hoping that the enemy wouldn’t get a clear shot. We tried running in between trees to get as much cover as possible.

The next moment, I heard a gunshot and a sharp pain on my shoulder. I shouted in pain and dropped down. Steven who was ahead of me turned back and ran to my side.

“I’m fine,” I said. “It’s just a flesh wound.”

The bullet seem to have penetrated through my shoulders. Steven helped me up and pulled me along as we continued running. We were going downhill when there was another gunshot. We ducked down and crawled towards a boulder. Steven got up to try to look around. I couldn’t ignore another sharp burning pain on my side this time. I put pressure on the wound but the bleeding wouldn’t stop. I was breathing hard and close to tears. It didn’t take long before Steven noticed I was wounded.

“Beth,” he looked at me worriedly.

“It’s alright,” I answered. “We can keep going.”

He took a look at the bullet wound on my side and furrowed his brow.

“Oh no, that looks bad.”

“I’m okay. Help me up please,” I told him.

He helped me up, put my arms over his shoulder and together we walked downhill. It wasn’t long before the pain was unbearable and I collapsed onto the ground holding my side and holding back tears. Steven helped me up to a rock so that I could lean my back on it.

I felt guilty. I didn’t want to hold him back.

“Steven, you have to go without me,” I said.

“No, I’m not leaving without you. We got this far, I’m not leaving you behind,” he said.

“I’ll only slow you down,” I said. I was hyperventilating, in pain and losing blood.

“Even if I could make it to the clearing, I won’t be able to run across the field to the helicopter,” I further explained.

Steven looked away thinking for a moment.

“Please,” I begged him. “Just go.” I knew I couldn’t make it but I hoped at least he could.

“No, I’m not leaving without you,” he said determined. He picked me up and carried me as we ran towards the clearing. I could hear multiple gunshots. I nestled my head on his neck as he ran in between trees hoping to give us some cover.

Finally, we reached the clearing. I could hear the sound of the helicopter blades. Steven put me down as he tried to catch his breath. I was feeling dizzy knowing that I’m losing too much blood and could pass out any moment. I gather my strength to plead with him one last time.

“Steven, please, you have to go without me. I can’t walk what else run.”

“I’ll carry you,” Steven said.

“That’s an open field, it’ll make us easier targets. And I’ll slow you down if you carry me,” I told him.

“Beth, we got this far. I’m not leaving without you. Trust me, okay.”

I reached out for him. He took my hand to reassure me. “Everything is going to be alright. We’ll get out of here,” he said.

He lifted me as I clung to him tightly. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself down before he lunged out into the open. Steven ran in a zigzag pattern to avoid the gunshots as best as he can while carrying me. I could hear multiple gunshots as bullets landed and missed us. I was praying hard that we would make it.

Suddenly, the next thing that happed felt like what would happen only in movies. I felt myself being thrown onto the ground. Steven was also on the ground holding his leg. I saw that he was shot in his right leg. I had no strength to get up. I lay there, an open target to any stray bullet. I was struggling to keep myself awake. I glanced at Steven as he tried to get up. I thought that I was going to die here. I knew Steven have a chance to make it without me. I closed my eyes then.

Everything happened so fast and in a blur to me. It felt like a dream but it felt too real. I was passing in and out of consciousness. I could hear shouts and even more gunshots nearby. Two men ran towards us. One carried me and as I looked behind him, the other man helped Steven up as he limped towards the helicopter. More gunshots could be heard as both sides were shooting at each other. It was a miracle that none of it hit us. And then we were in the helicopter. Someone shouted to the pilot and I felt the helicopter take off. My last sight was of Steven’s worried face as he was saying something to me. I couldn’t make out what he was saying. And then I passed out.