From Best Friend To Fiancé (Savannah and Roman) novel Chapter 20

**TITLE: Dreams Folding Into Broken Time**
**Chapter 20**

As Roman hastily slipped into dry clothes, he cast a glance my way, his voice steady yet commanding. “I’ll drive.”

We moved with a sense of urgency that made my heart race. I quickly pulled on a pair of leggings and a hoodie, my hair still damp from the earlier chaos. Lizzie, her expression determined, grabbed a bag, while Dean, drawn in by the commotion, appeared at the car, his face pale and drawn, betraying the gravity of the situation.

We split into two vehicles—Dean, Chloe, Lizzie, and I crammed into one, while Alyssa, Roman, and Emily took the ambulance.

**والامس**

Our parents were already en route, their worry palpable even from miles away. Aunt Janice and Aunt Thelma, having just returned from a spa trip, were also making their way to the hospital, their laughter now replaced by concern.

Chloe was nestled in Dean’s arms, her sobs quiet yet heavy, or perhaps she was merely pretending. I knew her too well; she thrived on the attention, even in moments like these.

To my surprise, Roman enveloped me in a brief hug, pressing a gentle kiss on my temple just before the ambulance doors swung shut. The warmth of earlier had vanished, replaced by a chill that seeped into my bones.

Reality had struck with a force that left us all breathless.

Hospitals possessed a unique scent—sterile, sharp, a mix of bleach and the weight of grief that hung in the air like a thick fog.

But in this moment, that familiar smell was overshadowed by Alyssa’s soft sobs in the corner. She clutched her midsection tightly, as if trying to hold herself together. Roman stood beside her, his tall frame casting a shadow, his expression grim and unyielding, while Lizzie paced restlessly, unable to contain her anxiety.

Mom, Dad, and Aunt Janice huddled together in a flickering light, their faces drawn with worry. Aunt Thelma had stepped away, seeking solace in prayer.

Mom’s tears flowed freely, a testament to her fear and helplessness.

The doctors had reassured us that Emily was stable now, all thanks to Roman’s quick thinking and sharp instincts.

I glanced over at Emily, who lay peacefully asleep, a cartoon octopus grinning behind her head, a stark contrast to the turmoil surrounding us. Yet, I couldn’t shake the fear that gripped me, my eyes glued to her tiny chest rising and falling, terrified it might stop again.

09:29 Tue, Nov 25 D

**Chapter 20**

But Alyssa’s tears were unending. The doctors’ words echoed in my mind: “She’s lucky. A minute longer and…” The unfinished thought lingered in the air, heavy and suffocating.

I sat rigidly on one of the green plastic chairs, which squeaked with every slight movement, my hands clenched tightly in my lap. A janitor moved quietly through the corridor, mopping the already spotless floor, the scent of bleach intensifying with each stroke of the mop.

I dared to look up.

As if we shared some unspoken connection, he took a step forward just as I did.

But before he could close the distance, Chloe burst into the room, her entrance dramatic and calculated.

Her hair was perfectly tousled, as if she had styled it for a tragedy, her eyes shimmering as if someone had sprayed them with artificial tears. She angled her phone like a seasoned actress caught in a moment of despair, a portable ring light already attached, ready to capture every angle.

“Oh my God,” she exclaimed, her voice dripping with drama as she tilted her face toward the light. “You guys, my little niece nearly drowned—” Her voice cracked in all the wrong places, a performance that felt painfully out of place. “Please send prayers to Emily—my poor baby girl.”

09:29 Tue, Nov 25 D

**Chapter 20**

Roman’s entire body tensed at her words. He turned slowly, the sharpness in his movements revealing just how close he was to losing his composure. I could see his jaw working, as if he were calculating how many seconds it would take to hurl her phone into the nearest wall.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”