Loving You - Chapter 31 (Patreon)

Nevaeh.

Eventually my vitals were normal enough for me to begin therapy. I was still in the hospital for weeks, learning how to walk and even how to work my mouth once more. Due to the tears and stitching, the muscles in my cheeks were damaged, making it harder for me to speak and smile. But the scarring wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Nothing remained of the incident except a faint indentation on my cheeks which weren't very noticeable.

I had seen my brother almost everyday. I had no idea he was even here until he showed up the next morning. Apparently Damien had called him and flew him in so he could see me. And that was another thing. Damien was with me every step of the way through my recovery, never leaving my side. He would always be there to encourage me when I wanted to give up and when my body felt like it could take no more. And through it all even though he never left my side he seemed distant.

He would never say anything, but I would always catch him staring at my scars. I know he blamed himself. I tried everyday to reassure him that it wasn't his fault but he would never listen. We sat together in the room listening to the doctors diagnosis.

"She seems to be recovering quite well. We'll keep her one more night to monitor her vitals and make sure nothings changed and she'll be able to head home in the morning." The doctor was smiling at me while Damien had an arm wrapped around my shoulder rubbing a pattern on my arm subconsciously. He seemed to be distracted once again.

"I'll prescribe her some antibiotics for the pain and she'll be able to keep the crutches. Once she's walking on her own she should be put in rehab so she can walk on her own again." Damien still said nothing. He just nodded at the doctor and with a smile the doctor left the room leaving us alone.

I look at Damien with a smile and he's staring at the window, a blank expression on his face.

"Damien?" He looks at me as if he forgot I was even there and pulls a smile on his face. There's something off about his smile.

"Yes, Angel?" I look at him a moment longer and look away.

"It's nothing." His face drops and he looks at his watch.

"Your brother should be here in a few minutes." He leans in and kisses me on the cheek. He walks to the door with his back to me, pausing at the door. He turns around and smiles at me. A big, beautiful smile.

"I love you Nevaeh." He then walks out the room.

~

Damien.

It was hard leaving her there. It's been hard everyday for the past few weeks to leave her. But I know her brother is uneasy around me. And it would probably stress her out if he tried to attack me again. I walk down the corridor in silence.

Nevaeh would be free to go home tomorrow. Problem was, where would she go. Or rather, where should she go? She wasn't safe with me. If I couldn't protect her once, how would I do it again? Frustration and hatred welled up inside me once more. I wanted her. She was fucking mine. I had every right to take her home with me... But I couldn't. It would be against her will. It wouldn't be what she wanted.

I was listening to something that I had shut out of my life ever since the day my mother was taken away from me. My conscience. It was coursing through my gut, making me want to do the right thing by Nevaeh. Before all of this I would have just taken her right back and not cared about the consequences, but somehow through all of this, I fell in love. And it was making me do things I hadn't done before. I sigh out loud as a decision comes to my mind. Fuck.

~

I stood by Nevaeh's bed that night. She was sound asleep. her chest rising and falling slowly. I sat in the chair next to her bedside. Then decided to crawl into the hospital bed with her. She groaned in her sleep and snuggled in closer to me. This made me smile. She always welcomed my body subconsciously. I hold her close to me. She smells like vanilla. Her curls tickling my face. I kiss the top of her head and close my eyes, just enjoying the feeling of having her lie with me one last time. I feel sleep begin to overtake me and gladly succumb to it, with the love of my life in my arms.