Julian quickly stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. "I need to go," he said, his voice urgent. "I need to see her."
Sophia's eyes widened in surprise. "You're going to the bar? Now?"
Julian nodded, already heading towards the door. "Yes, I need to talk to Lily. This changes everything."
Sophia's face twisted in anger and hurt. "Fine, go. See if I care."
Julian didn't look back, rushing out of the house to head to the Red Diamond bar. What was going on with Lily, and why was she at the bar with Sarah? He had to know.
Julian rushed to the Red Diamond bar, his heart racing with worry. When he arrived, he approached the bartender and asked if he'd seen Lily. The bartender's expression turned serious as he replied, "They left early, man. Lily fainted and was taken to the hospital."
Julian's face went pale, and he felt a surge of panic. "Which hospital?" he asked urgently.
The bartender provided the hospital's name, and Julian quickly turned around, rushing out of the bar to head to the hospital. He was overcome with concern for Lily's well-being, wondering what could have caused her to faint ¹.
As he hurried to the hospital, Julian couldn't shake off the feeling that he needed to be there for Lily. He hoped she was okay and that the hospital could provide her with the necessary care. Given the situation, it's possible that Lily might have experienced a health issue like low blood pressure or an underlying medical condition that led to her fainting .
Julian rushed to the hospital, his anxiety growing with each passing moment. When he arrived, he asked about Lily's condition and was told that she had been discharged. Feeling a mix of relief and concern, Julian quickly pulled out his phone and dialed Lily's number. However, her phone rang and rang, but she didn't pick up.
Julian's worry deepened as he tried calling her again, but still, there was no answer. He left a message, his voice laced with concern. "Lily, it's Julian. I just went to the hospital and they said you were discharged. Please call me back and let me know you're okay."
With no response from Lily, Julian decided to try contacting Sarah, hoping she might know more about Lily's condition and whereabouts. He dialed Sarah's number, waiting anxiously for her to answer.
Sarah's phone rang, and she glanced at the screen, seeing Julian's name flashing. She hesitated for a moment before deciding not to answer. Lily had specifically asked her not to pick up any calls from Julian, and Sarah was determined to respect her friend's wishes.
Sarah silenced her phone and continued to focus on taking care of Lily, who was resting on the couch. She made sure Lily was comfortable and had everything she needed, all while keeping a watchful eye on her friend's well-being.
As the phone stopped ringing, Sarah let out a quiet sigh, knowing that she'd have to face Julian's calls or messages eventually. But for now, her priority was Lily's health and happiness.
Julian arrived at Lily's apartment, hoping to find her there and talk to her in person. He knocked on the door, but there was no answer. He tried calling her again, but her phone still didn't ring. Julian's concern grew as he realized she wasn't at her apartment.
He decided to ask her neighbors if they had seen her, but no one seemed to know where she was or when she would return. Julian's mind was racing with possibilities, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong.
As he stood outside Lily's apartment, feeling frustrated and worried, Julian noticed that the door to the apartment next to Lily's opened slightly. An elderly woman peeked out, eyeing Julian with curiosity.
"Can I help you, young man?" she asked.
The elderly woman beckoned Julian to come into her apartment. "Please, come in, young man. I'll tell you what I know about Lily."
Julian hesitated for a moment but decided to follow the woman into her apartment. She introduced herself as Mrs. Jenkins, Lily's neighbor.
As they sat down in her cozy living room, Mrs. Jenkins began to speak in a gentle tone. "Lily's a sweet girl. She's been through a lot lately. I saw her leave with Sarah earlier today, and they seemed to be in a hurry."
Julian's eyes widened with interest. "Do you know where they went?"
Mrs. Jenkins nodded. "Sarah mentioned something about taking Lily to a quiet place to rest. I think they might have gone to Sarah's family's summer home on the outskirts of town."
Julian's mind was racing. He didn't know about any summer home, but he was determined to find Lily and talk to her.
Julian called Lily again, hoping she would finally answer. Meanwhile, Lily was sitting in Sarah's car, watching Julian's name flash on her phone screen. She felt a mix of emotions: concern, frustration, and uncertainty. Deciding she wasn't ready to talk to him yet, Lily turned off her phone, silencing the ringing.
As the phone went dark, Lily let out a sigh of relief. She needed some time to process everything that had happened and figure out what she wanted to say to Julian.
Sarah, sensing Lily's unease, placed a reassuring hand on her friend's shoulder. "We'll get through this, Lil. You're not alone."
Lily took a deep breath and reconsidered. Maybe talking to Julian would help clear things up. She turned her phone back on, hesitating for a moment before deciding to call him.
Sarah nodded in encouragement. "Go ahead, Lil. Talk to him. See what he has to say."
Lily dialed Julian's number, her heart racing with anticipation. As the phone rang, she prepared herself for a potentially difficult conversation.
When Julian answered, Lily's voice was barely above a whisper. "Hey."
Julian's voice was filled with concern. "Lily, I've been trying to reach you all day. Are you okay? What happened at the bar?"