My smart girl 3. Rewriting our stars

When my beloved doctor left half an hour later, ordering me to rest and not worry about anything, I practically passed out immediately. Apparently, there was a strong tranquilizer in my IV drip, because my eyelids became impossibly heavy, and I fell into a deep, medicated sleep. *** When I came to next, it was already dark outside the window. I was woken by a quiet purring right next to my ear and the ticklish sensation of soft, silky fur rubbing against my cheek. I smiled and opened my eyes slightly, seeing that little Jedi had comfortably settled on my shoulder, purring like a tractor, while the full-sized Jedi was sprawled out on the bed next to me with equal comfort. He was propping his head up with one hand and smiling like the smug cat he truly was. “Hi, sunshine,” he purred affectionately, stroking my cheek. “How are you feeling?” “Good…” Hearing that, Jay smiled even brighter and asked: “I hope you don’t mind having guests?” I shook my head and smiled sleepily, running my fingers through the kitten’s dark fur. “So that’s what you were up to? You went to get Jedi?” Jay shrugged and smiled carelessly, stretching out on the bed beside me and moving closer. “You wanted to see him so badly that I just couldn’t ignore it, even though animals aren’t allowed in the clinic. But maybe some cat therapy will make you feel even better?” He raised an eyebrow and smiled teasingly. I rolled my eyes and grumbled: “You didn’t have to go to such extremes. The last thing I need is for you to get scolded for acting on your own, you idiot.” “It’s nothing, Bambi. Besides, our little guy is also very happy to see you.” He reached out to pet the kitten, and our fingers met on its scruff, instantly intertwining and clinging to each other like magnets. “Thank you, sweetheart…” I whispered quietly. “You do so much for me…” His gaze became impossibly tender. Jay leaned toward me and gently touched his lips to mine. “I already told you, baby… I would do anything for you.” “Jay…” “What?” “Please… tell me the whole truth. What’s my diagnosis?” He sighed heavily and closed his eyes, as if gathering strength. For a moment I thought he wouldn’t answer, but after some time he exhaled hoarsely: “You have a valvular heart defect, Bambi, and unfortunately, it’s very serious. Your heart isn’t working properly and can no longer handle the load. That’s where your constant fatigue, chest pain, breathing problems, and now the fainting spells come from.” I frowned, turning toward him, and asked quietly: “But… I was completely healthy before… Where did it come from?” Jay smiled sadly and stroked my cheek, pressing his forehead to mine with a sigh. “These things happen, darling… and unfortunately, quite often. Acquired defects are dangerous because they don’t show symptoms for a long time and are often discovered… too late.” I took a ragged breath, feeling that very heart we were talking about freeze in fear and skip a beat. Still, I whispered almost inaudibly: “You said… you’d find a donor… Does that mean I need… a full heart transplant?” Just the thought of such a serious operation made me feel ill, but Jay only held me tighter and buried his face in my neck, leaving a soft kiss there as he exhaled: “Yes, Bambi. But please, don’t worry about anything… I’ve already sent requests to the best clinics, I’m checking all the donor databases and…” I gently pressed my fingers to his lips, stopping him mid-sentence, and whispered quietly while looking into his beloved, tender eyes: “I’m only worried about one thing… Will this new heart… feel the same way about you as mine does?” “Bambi…” Pain flashed in his gaze, but he quickly hid it behind his long lashes. Then he pulled me closer and kissed my neck, smiling sadly as he whispered: “I’ve never heard of amnesia occurring after a heart transplant, but… Even if that happens, I’ll make you fall in love with me all over again, you hear? I’ll pursue and pester you until you give in and agree to be mine. And I’m very persistent, you know that.” “It sounds like a threat,” I smiled weakly, using all my willpower to push back the tears threatening to fall. Jay’s answering smile was warm and just a little bit mischievous. He leaned down, gently cupping my chin with his warm fingers, and breathed against my lips: “It *is* a threat, Bambi. So don’t even think about me letting you go. I’m going to save you, and then you won’t be able to get away from me, my love… And also… I’m going to tie you to me in every way possible in this world. And I’ll start, perhaps… with an engagement.” The moment those words left his lips, my eyes widened in shock. Meanwhile, my Romeo, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, pulled an elegant silver ring with topazes and amethysts out of his pocket. Taking my hand, he slipped it onto my ring finger without even asking for my permission. As usual. He had simply decided that I would be his, and from the very beginning, I never really had any other options. “There we go, baby. I should have done this a long time ago. It looks absolutely stunning. Look for yourself,” he smiled tenderly and brought my hand to his velvety lips, gently kissing each finger. I bit my lip, feeling that this time I wouldn’t be able to hold back the tears with willpower alone. Two salty streams immediately rolled down my cheeks. “Jay, you… do you really want this?” I whispered barely audibly, finally understanding what his “errands” had actually been about. Seeing my tears, he frowned and carefully wiped them away with his fingertips. “Shh… Don’t cry, my love… Of course I do. After all the time we’ve spent together, do you still doubt me?” I shook my head. He finally stopped frowning, leaned in, and gently pressed his warm lips to my cheek. “Now you’re officially my fiancée, Bambi. And I really hope these are tears of joy, not horror,” he smiled tenderly, not even trying to hide the adoration in his eyes, once again shattering my heart into crystal shards. “I… I just have no words…” I took a shaky breath and smiled through my tears. He lay down beside me, wrapped an arm around my waist, pulled me close, and softly kissed my temple. “It’s okay, darling. It’s enough for me that you’re not objecting or arguing.” “Are you… doing this only because I… might die?” Even though I knew that wasn’t the case, I still had to ask. Everything was happening too fast and not at all the way it was supposed to. Unbidden, lines from *Romeo and Juliet* flashed through my mind: *“I fear too early, for my mind misgives, Some consequence yet hanging in the stars… Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be Ere one can say ‘It lightens.’…”* I didn’t want our love to become that very lightning — beautiful, but fleeting. Jay let out a ragged sigh and pulled me even closer, whispering hoarsely: “Silly girl… How could you even think that? I’m doing this because I love you, not for any other ridiculous reason.” I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, letting his words sink deep into my soul, where they would stay forever, warming and comforting me. Then I smiled weakly and buried my face in his neck. “Ten is going to have a heart attack,” I voiced the obvious fact. My Romeo just chuckled cheerfully and rubbed his nose against my cheek. “We won’t tell him yet, okay, kitten?” “Deal,” I smiled, realizing that the cheeky brunette had once again left me no choice. As always, he had decided everything for me and lured me into his clever trap, from which there was no escape. At that moment, the real little kitten meowed softly, squeezed between us. Jay picked him up, carefully moved him to the armchair beside the bed, and whispered conspiratorially to his miniature version: “Sorry, buddy, but I urgently need to kiss your owner, and you’re in the way a little.” I chuckled, about to protest such discrimination against cats, but Jay leaned over me and covered my smiling lips with his own, softly but insistently silencing me.