by K. L. Jessop
“She loves it rough. Even better when she’s immobile.” He lunges towards me with an unsteady swing. I dive and hammer him hard in the ribs followed by another.
“You sick fucker!” Making contact with his face I hit him hard. Pound after pound I let my rage burn through my tight fists as he becomes a blooded mess of dark red that’s struggling to fight back.
“Enough, Marcus, she needs you.” Andrew drags me off him and I gloat when Daniel’s body slides down the wall defeated. A whimper caught my attention to a lifeless body on the floor. Blood oozed from her belly, soaking her clothes as she lay motionless. Her breathing, fragile and painfully raspy. The sight of her killed me.
“Amelia?” I whispered, kneeling down beside her. I wanted to pick her up and hold her but was to scared of touching her, she looked so broken and bruised as blood covered various parts of her body. Removing my shirt I cradle her limp frame, sweeping her sticky blood stained hair from her swollen face. The painful cry that left her sore throat crushed me as I pressed my shirt down on the wound to try and stop the bleeding.
“I’m sorry baby. I’m so sorry.”
Lifting her head I rest my arm under her neck, the pain in my gut of seeing her like this is ripping me in two. Her hooded eyes were looking right at me, but they weren’t hers, they weren’t my Amelia’s. Everything around me become a blur, I was numb with regret, fear and loss. She was my everything and it took a fucked up situation like this to make me realise what a prick I’d become these last few days. Now I’ve only put her in danger.
“You just hang in there ok? We’ll get you out.” My throat was thick with grief and time never seemed to tick fast enough, causing me to bellow to the ceiling for someone to fucking help us.
“Marcus?” I froze at the sound of her choked fragile whisper, unshed tears bubbled in the wells as she swallowed trying her best to speak. “You. You c-came for me.”
Her raspy breathing deteriorated, chest contracting with short sharp breaths that left her whimpering in pain. Her eyes closed and panic hit me. “No, no, no, don’t close your eyes! Stay with me, Amelia, open your eyes!” shaking her, desperate to see her blues as tears trickled my cheeks. “Wake up, Amelia. Please don’t leave me. I love you.” But there was nothing as she drifted further away from me. I can’t lose her, she is my world. I’m nothing without her.
My lifeline I couldn’t lose.
***
My feet hardly touch the ground as I stormed through the hospital, pushing my way through the crowd of sick people and emergency staff. People roaming their eyes over my wet blood stained shirt and hands as I reach the desk-pushing my way forward not giving a fuck who’s in front of me. Demanding answers from the uptight woman who’s scowling down her glasses and refusing my questions.
“Where is she?!” I bellowed, Andrew drags me back with all the strength he can muster.
“Keep your shit together for fuck sake, this isn’t helping anyone.”
I growl in frustration, lacing my fingers through my hair and tugging hard so my scalp prickled. I felt sick with worry and wanting the nightmare I was being swallowed into to end quickly. I want to hold my beautiful girl and never let her go.
A clatter of doors and the sound of raised voices awakens my attention as a portable bed swings into view and heads down the corridor. A glimmer of red locks was all I needed to know who lay amongst tubes and wires. I bolted in seconds. “Amelia.”
A tall man dressed in blue scrubs pushed me back as the rest continued down the corridor. “Please sir, let us do our job.”
“She my girlfriend. What’s happening?” I step to move passed, franticly trying to get near but he grabs my shoulders forcing me to stay put as Andrew takes my arm.
“Amelia has suffered a rupture to the abdomen which you know but it needs to be assessed on the extent of the damage and any further internal injuries. I’m sorry sir, that’s all I can give right now. I’ll keep you updated as soon as I know more.”
“Please don’t let her die.” I beg, feeling completely hopeless before he heads out of view.
Leaning against the wall for support I focus through blurred vision on the chequered black and white flooring beneath me. “She can’t die, Andrew. She can’t die.”
He cups my shoulder with a squeeze, looking just as terrified as I felt. Clearing his throat he indicates his head with a nod to the side. Stood small in the oversized corridor is a different broken girl altogether. Focusing on the deep red that coats my shirt and fighting back her tears from my words she’s clearly overheard, her frame trembles.
“Megan.” I rush to her as she crumbles in my arms, holding me close with a tight grip as I comfort her the best I could.
All we can do now is wait.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Marcus
“I’ll call her father; I think it’s best he knows.” Mum said leaving the room. I pace the hard floor a thousand times over, looking for answers that aren’t there as my gut ached with dread of words I do not wish to hear. The confined space of the family room is a mixture of heavy breathing and the snuffles of a red-eyed Megan who’s curled up against a silent Andrew.
One hour turned to two and two turned to a fucking eternity as we sat waiting for news. News that had the potential to change everything. Mum has been a godsend in keeping everyone calm; her love for Amelia was strong, just like mine. She had no doubt Amelia would do anything to hurt me and warned me countless times that Lenton would come back to bite me on the ass, yet I fell right into her trap and pushed the woman I love into danger with my stupidity.
The police arrived a short time ago with questions we did our best to answer as the doctors treated the piece of shit that caused this. Along with his charges today, being on the run and other crimes from his past he’s now facing a lifetime behind bars. But for me even that wasn’t enough. I wanted to stamp every inch of him into the dirt along with his head that screamed for mercy under my boot. I wanted him to suffer like he made Amelia suffer from the inside out. Prison would be too cushy for putrid trash like him, a slow agonising death seemed more beneficial.
“She begged me not to leave her,” I sigh, overlooking the busy car park from the waiting room window. “I should have listened and not let my own history cloud my fucking judgment.”
“It’s not your fault. Amelia should have told you. But at the same time I understand why she didn’t. She thought she was doing the right thing in protecting you.”
“From him?”
“From him hurting you. He use to threaten those she cared of if she spoke out. That’s why she was with him so long because she was protecting those she loved. I knew there was more to it when she asked me to come home early. Then I ran right into the asshole. She must have been so scared on her own.” Megan’s voice cracked as another round of her tears fell. Wiping her blotchy face with the cuff of her sleeve she collects her phone from her bag. “I’m going to go ring Lucas again, see if he’s managed to get a flight.”
I push off from the wall and go to her, wrapping my arms around her petite frame and kissing the top of her head. Even with her sassy mouth and attitude there’s a side to Megan that not many people saw. “You’re being so brave, Megan.” I whisper before she quickly rushes out the door releasing her sobs once on the other side.
“We need to watch her,” I inform Andrew who’s staring at the floor. “She needs Lucas and until he gets here, we need to keep an eye on her.”
He nods looking in direction of where she’d just left with a long exhale. “It taste like shit but do u want a coffee? The machine’s just down the hall.”
I shake my head as he leaves me isolated in the silence of the room. I’m not one for believing in god or prayers but right now I silently pray to the angels above that I get to keep my Amelia. She’s the only light that fills my emptiness. The one I need until my last breath and I would give everything have her back in my arms again. I miss her so much. I need her with me.
***
&
nbsp; The door to the waiting room opened and the overworked bobbing of my knee stopped instantly as I shot to my feet. The doctor I saw earlier entered with a straight smile, his dark hair had flecks of grey forming at the sides, his glasses sat on the tip of his nose as patient files sat snugly under his arm.
“Please tell me it’s good news.” I ask as my insides clenched with fear. My mouth dry and heart pounding in my throat.
“I’m Dr Chase, Amelia’s doctor. Please sit.” He gestures for us all to sit as he takes a seat himself. Mum takes my hand and pulls me down to sit as my airways begin to close, my palms sweaty while a raging anxiety ran my body.
“She’s responding well. Amelia has suffered numerous fractures to her ribs and one to her collarbone along with her head injury and various bruising. Our main concern was her breathing. Due to the nature of the blows to her torso, Amelia’s suffered what we call a Pneumothorax.”
“What’s that?” Megan questions.
“It’s when air escapes the lungs preventing normal function which caused her lung to collapse on her way in here. The pressure was relieved and will take a while for her to fully recover. The incision to her stomach caused some tissue damage to be affected but wasn’t deep enough to cause any long term damage. She’s still in recovery but is doing well.”
Sighs of relief hit my ears, the words from Dr Chase repeated over and over in my mind as I focused on his white surgical shoes.
A soft touch on my cheek turned my head to the eyes of my mother, a tear escaping her and her smile reassured the words I’d heard. “She’s going to be ok son.”
“Can I see her?” I asked, wiping my cheek with my shoulder and coming to a stand.
“Once the nurses have finished with her that will be fine. Although one visitor at a time, she’s incredibly weak.”
“Thank you, she’s definitely going to be ok?”
Dr Chase shakes my hand, squeezing it with confidence and looking right at me. “She’s going to be fine. She’s a very lucky girl.”
Even though the news of Amelia would make a full recovery, Megan still cried. It was as if she’d bottled every last ounce of emotion up and as soon as the words left Dr Chase’s lips the floodgates opened and all her fears and relief came rushing out and she could do nothing to stop them. After seeing Amelia once she was back on the ward Andrew took Megan home for rest and the waiting of Lucas’s arrival. He managed to get a last minute flight from L.A but wouldn’t be here for a few more hours.
“You haven’t gone in and seen her yet, Marcus.” Mum said softly, handing me a coffee and swimming her arm around my lower back. All I’ve done is let the others go to her while I stood back reluctant to go through the doors.
“I can’t. I can’t see her laid there knowing I’m responsible for all of this.”
“What are you talking about? You never caused this.” Her voice was low and filled with concern and disbelief.
“Didn’t I? I walked away from her mum; I led her into the hands of a dangerous man that she was desperately trying to rebuild her life from. All this pain and devastation she’s been through could have been prevented if I hadn’t of acted like a total asshole. And it’s not just Amelia I’ve hurt its Megan too because her best friend is in that room.”
She takes the cup from my hand, placing it on the table of the family room and turning me to look at her. Her eyes have the same look in them where as a kid you knew a firm talking to was about to take place.
“Do not let me hear you say that again, Marcus Matthews. You are not responsible for the actions of a violent man. Regardless as to whether you were with Amelia or not he wouldn’t have stopped until he done what he intended on doing, no matter who stood in his way. Yes it’s unbearable to think of what the outcome could’ve turned out like but it hasn’t. Amelia’s still here fighting. Now get your ass in that room and be with the woman you love. She may be sleeping but she needs to know you’re here when she wakes.”
“What if she can’t forgive me?” I whispered.
“She will. She loves you, Marcus. Just give her time; she’s more afraid than she lets on.”
I wrap my arms around her and dip my head into the crook of her neck. No matter how old I get I will always show my mother the love in which we share and will think nothing of holding her close. After dad left and my sister fucked off abroad, mum and I ruled the world and didn’t let anyone stand in our way. She is forever my rock and I hers.
She kisses my cheek and smiles, her eyes glistening with tears. “I love you, Marcus. But right now you smell and look like shit. I’m going home to get you some clean clothes and a wash bag.”
“What would I do without you?” I chuckle.
“I dread to think. Now go be with Amelia.”
I grip the handle to the room of which Amelia lays and slowly prise the door open. The instant beep of the monitor attached to her caught my attention and my eyes travel all around the screen as numbers flashed in different colours. She looked so broken.
“It’s ok to come in. I’m just checking her Obs,” the dark haired nurse spoke with a voice just above a whisper.
“Has she woken?”
“She did earlier and we had to sedate her due to her extreme anxiety, she will be sleepy for a while yet. Are you staying?”
“Yes, I’ve left her once already I’m not going again.”
The young nurse looked at me with sympathetic eyes before they focus on my blooded shirt I’d yet to change. Finishing her notes and placing her pen in her top pocket she walks around the bed. “When was the last time you ate?”
Good question, food hasn’t on my list of priorities of late and by the sound of my grumbling stomach it was desperate to be heard. I shrugged my shoulders and tucked my hands into my pockets.
“I’ll bring you some toast.” Before she left the room she rested her hand on my arm. “Situations like this are hard on everyone. Physically, Amelia will get stronger. But emotionally she needs to know your close. These are just monitors that update us with her status. Don’t be afraid of everything that’s going on around her.”
Seeing Amelia lay out like this, lines and wires attached to her body rips me in two. I did this. I may not have hurt her physically but I’m responsible for her being here and mentally that’s a hard task to deal with. I knew she’d never cheat-she doesn’t have it in her. And yet I still pushed her away. All those feelings and emotions from back home burned its way to the surface clouding my vision with its poison and making me loses sight of the one person that mattered, the one person that needed me most. I put her in danger with my stupidity and now she’s here cut, bruised and broken, having to rebuild what she’s fought against for years. All because of me. I love her and I’ve done this. That animal may have marked her again but it’s me that’s hurt her heart this time.
I’m not afraid to show emotion when it comes to those I love, I’m not afraid to hide how I feel. My mother always told me to speak from the heart and listen to your gut no matter how hard it maybe or how difficult it is. No words I say are any good right now though. I’d give anything to have her in my arms again but all I can do is let her know I’m here in other ways.
I kiss her cut lip as gentle as I could not wanting to hurt her, the air left my lungs from her touch. I’ve missed her so much. Her swollen bruised face was coated in colours as traces of blood still linger on her skin from her cut brow.
“I’m so sorry, Amelia.” I whisper as tears glass my eyes. “I never meant for this. You need to wake up, I need my angel back. I need to see those eyes. I can’t breathe when I can’t see them.”
Taking her hand in mind I sit at her bedside, hanging my head low from the rest of the world and cry like a baby into the blanket that covers her. I did this. It’s all my fault and I hope to fucking god she forgives me.
***
My eyes sprung open as a shiver cascaded down my back, the room becoming darker around me the more I tried to focus on the evening light and the hand that smoothed o
ver my hair caused my body to become immobile as it continued. I was too afraid to move, I wasn’t sure if I were dreaming and too afraid to turn my head in case I was dreaming. I just lie here and fall into the feeling that’s taking over my body.
“Marcus?” Her whisper sounded painful through the dryness of her throat. Please god let this be real. I felt my heartbeat in my chest like it had restarted at the sound of my name, the blood in my body rushed with relief as my emotions were once again thick in my throat.
“Marcus?”
I slowly turn my head hoping this wasn’t some twisted illusion from lack of fluids when everything fell into place the seconded I saw her blues. I was home. The sigh of liberation left me as I stand to move closer. “Hey, beautiful, how you feeling?” I murmur.
She just looks at me, searching my face without a word. An uneasy feeling churned my stomach. I run my hand over her hair, silently praying she would forgive me for everything I’ve done. “I thought I’d lost you, Amelia. I’ve never been so scared.”
Slowly moving her hand from mine she places it on my jaw, wiping the tears with her thumb before her chest convulses with her silent sobs that leave her fragile body.
“Shh, it’s ok. You’re going to be ok, you’re safe now.” Carefully I climbed up on the bed beside her and held her close. Reassurance left my lips as she cried hard against me, soaking my shirt as she let out all of the fear and pain she’s suffered these last few days. Never again will I leave her. Not now that I’ve found her.
“I’m not going anywhere, baby. I’m right here with you.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Amelia
My body felt foreign to me and it hurt like hell. Tubes and wires trailed from my body to machines behind my head but that wasn’t the reasoning of my discomfort. It was the knowledge that somewhere in this hospital lies the man that put me here. It felt as though his eyes were on me even though he wasn’t in the room and now he was exposed, I feared for those around me more.