HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 295

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 295**

“So… am I really destined to spend the rest of my life confined to a wheelchair?”

Lydia’s voice was barely a whisper, hoarse and trembling with emotion, but it pierced through the stillness of the room like a shard of glass, shattering Althea’s heart into a million pieces. She sat beside the hospital bed, paralyzed, grappling with her own emotions, unsure if she could manage to speak without her voice betraying her.

The atmosphere was heavy with silence, broken only by the soft, rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor, a constant reminder of life and fragility. The air conditioner hummed softly, making the white curtains flutter gently, as if they were exhaling a breath that had been held for far too long. The sharp, sterile scent of antiseptic clung to the air, and on the small table beside the bed, a vase of wilted flowers leaned forlornly to one side—flowers Althea had meant to replace but hadn’t found the heart to do so yet.

In her overwhelming joy at hearing Lydia had woken up, she had neglected the little things.

With a forced smile that felt more like a grimace, Althea reached for her friend’s hand, her fingers trembling slightly as they made contact. “The doctor mentioned there’s still hope, Lydia. You just need time… and strength. They’re going to start intensive physical therapy soon,” she said, her voice a soothing balm, even if it felt shaky.

She swallowed hard, trying to steady her racing heart. “Tomorrow, they’ll conduct a full scan of your head to ensure there’s no nerve pressure affecting your legs.”

Lydia inhaled deeply, her gaze fixated on her legs, which were shrouded beneath the blanket. She willed her toes to move, to respond, but they remained stubbornly still. The silence that enveloped them felt suffocating, pressing down on her chest like an invisible weight.

“I… I can’t feel anything,” she murmured, her voice quivering with despair. “I used to complain about working overtime, about how sore my legs felt after standing for too long… and now, I find myself longing for that sensation.”

“Please, don’t say that,” Althea urged, her grip on Lydia’s hand tightening instinctively, as if she could transfer some of her strength to her friend.

“But it’s the truth, Althea.” Lydia managed a small, broken smile, one that didn’t reach her eyes. “I can’t keep pretending to be strong all the time.”

Tears brimmed in her eyes once more, and this time they spilled over, cascading down her cheeks like a river breaking free from a dam. “I know I’m fortunate to be alive, I truly do. But what if this is it? What if I can never walk again? I won’t be able to go out, to move freely like I used to, to—” her voice faltered, cracking under the weight of her emotions—”pick up Josh from school when you’re too busy.”

“Lydia…”

This time, it was Althea’s voice that trembled, breaking under the strain of their shared grief. She leaned forward, enveloping her friend in a tight embrace, their shoulders shaking as they wept together—two women bound by pain, yet finding solace in each other’s presence.

“It’s okay to cry,” Althea whispered softly against Lydia’s hair, her own tears mingling with those of her friend. “You’ve fought so hard already. I’m just… I’m so thankful that you’re still here. I can’t even begin to imagine what life would have been like if you hadn’t woken up. The thought of losing you is unbearable.”

Time seemed to stretch in that moment, the silence between them filled only by their uneven breaths, a stillness that spoke volumes—a silence that followed the storm of tears, where words failed to convey the depth of their emotions.

Althea pouted playfully, but a laugh escaped her lips, lightening the mood. “We’ve decided to get married in two months.” She reached out and squeezed Lydia’s hand once more, her voice warm with emotion. “I’m so glad you woke up, Lydia. I couldn’t imagine having this wedding without you by my side.”

“Then I suppose I shouldn’t linger in sadness for too long. Even if, by the time you get married, I’m still in this wheelchair—it’s okay. As long as I get to witness the day you finally find your happiness, that’s all that truly matters to me,” Lydia replied, her voice steadying, infused with genuine warmth.

“Thank you, Lydia.” Althea clasped her best friend’s hand tightly, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude. “You’re the best friend I could ever wish for.”

Lydia arched an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “While I was unconscious, what exactly happened, Althea? I’m pretty sure it wasn’t just Chase’s proposal you accepted, was it?” She squeezed Althea’s hand, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as Althea hesitated, caught off guard.

“You’re right,” Althea sighed deeply, the weight of unspoken truths resting heavily on her shoulders. “A lot happened while you were asleep.”

“Then tell me,” Lydia urged softly, her voice a gentle nudge. “You’re not planning to keep it all to yourself, are you?”

“Who said I was?” Althea replied, a smile creeping onto her face, ready to share the whirlwind of events that had unfolded in Lydia’s absence.