A Rose and A Kiss in the Rain

Lilibeth

I'm in my room with Charity. Her mom dropped her off here. She was pretty angry at Charity but she was lucky that her mom needed to work tonight.

Charity and I don't say a word. It's kind of our thing when one of us gets in trouble. We let it sink in until we're ready to feel better. The only thing I feel as I sit on the edge of my bed is my little girl finally coming out of her awkward silence and dancing in there as if nothing ever happened.

Charity sighs as she sits at a small seat in front of me and opens her mouth to finally say something. But the sound of my mother's frantic voice downstairs brings us both to stand up. We exchange surprised looks when we hear my mother frantically call for my Dad and my brother.

Curiosity brings us both to slowly peek over the stairs and my heart drops to my feet when I see my father and my brother carrying Luke to a couch.

"Luke!" I run downstairs with Charity. Tears stream down my cheeks as I get closer to him. As I sit by him, I hear a gasp from Charity behind me and my heart repeats the same.

I gently caress his cut up face. A sob escapes my lips as I see bruises forming on his jaw and I can't do anything but lay soft kisses all over his face. My mother gently rubs my back as I quietly talk to him but all he does is grunt in pain. My father's eyes carry worry and my brother looks back at Charity. She stands there in shock. Her eyes quietly watering just like the time her mother broke down in front of us.

"Baby..."

His red eyes slowly open at my voice and his lips take up all the strength within him to smile at me. "Hey honey. I'm okay. I'm oka--" He winces when my mother lightly touches his side. She looks at my father and says, "You have to take him to the hospital."

"No." Luke tries to sit up but I quickly lay him back down. His whole face wrenching in pain as he quietly says, "I'm going to be....okay..."

"Luke." My father kneels by his side and my heart melts at the gentle way he puts a hand on his shoulder. "You need to get checked. Where did he hit you? Where does it hurt?"

Luke just grunts and my eyes catch a glimpse of his hands. Brown glass shines in his skin and I quickly look at my mother. She sees this and she runs to the bathroom to bring tweezers. She sits on his other side and softly says, "Luke. This is going to hurt. Try not to move."

He winces and groans with pain as my mother carefully takes out each piece of glass she can find. I grab a towel and gently wipe the sweat off his hurt brow. "Oh my love..." I softly quiver. "What has he done to you?"

"Luke. You can have something fractured. Let me take you to the emergency room." Dad keeps insisting and he keeps shaking his head in pain.

"No. I...." His red eyes hesitate as he looks at my father and a shine of embarrassment runs through his expression as he whispers, "I don't have enough money. I'm saving everything for--"

"You're a good man, Luke," my dad says to him with firmness. Determination shines at him and my heart shrinks at Luke's words as I realize that I am his number one concern. I caress his cheeks as Dad says, "I'll pay for your medical bills--"

"No! Sir--"

"No, Luke. You need to stay alive! My daughter needs you...."

I look over at my father and let my tears fall for his tender heart. He takes my hand and gives it a strong squeeze. With his touch, strength comes within me as I look back at Luke. "Honey," I say with determination. "Go to the hospital. Get checked. I don't want to be sorry in the end. I need you." I softly put my forehead with his and I can see in those dark eyes the way they shine with strength. He gives me a blink of agreement and I look over at my dad.