A Boy Worth Saving (Previously Let Me Help You)

Chapter 17: A Fateful Day Part 2

A/N: I'm back with part 2! This one has some major feels, and it was a good chapter to write. 

⚠️⚠️⚠️ ACTIVE PHYSICAL ABUSE IN THIS CHAPTER! ⚠️⚠️⚠️

⚠️⚠️⚠️ FINAL WARNING FOR PHYSICAL ABUSE! ⚠️⚠️⚠️

Let me know if you need a chapter without the abuse scene.

Still Jay's POV:

The bright lights on the ceiling of the hospital were almost blinding after being in the small, dimly lit bathroom. I trudged down the hall, coming to the door I dreaded. Mrs. Jones and Noah were not outside anymore, but Parker sat in a chair outside, scrolling through something on his phone. He looked up and saw us, pocketing his phone as he stood. He must've seen the question on my face, as he quickly answered before I even asked.

"They're getting some food. Probably be back within the hour. Good news, two are allowed in the room with Hunter, but no one is going in without me." I knew he didn't trust me. I didn't blame him. I looked at Sam, and he got the message. Parker led me inside the private room, closing the door behind us. It was cold, and about half of the lights were off, casting shadows here and there. There was a window with the blinds closed, a small couch below the window. Next to that was a hospital bed. A small bathroom was across, and slightly to the right of the bed. But the bed stood out most. Tubes and wires were strung around. An oxygen mask was put over Hunter's nose and mouth. The heart monitor beeped slowly, the only sound in the cold room. Blankets covered most of Hunter, but his left arm was out. There were bandages around his forearm. An IV was taped onto the top of his left hand, the tube sticking into a big greenish-blue vein. The finger heart monitor was clipped onto Hunter's middle finger, the same hand as the IV. A few tubes went into the blankets and disappeared. It didn't take much medical knowledge to know what they were for. His face was pale, and his hair was neatly resting on his forehead. He looked so small, so frail. Hunter physically looked broken. I was rooted in place next to Parker. We were both just staring at him. I felt sick knowing his state was partially my fault. I felt tears welling in my eyes. I never knew he was so...hurt. The longer I took in his sight, the sicker I felt.

"It never gets easier. Every time you look at him. It's a picture you'll never get out of your mind." Parker said in a broken whisper.

"No. You never will. It just hurts more the longer you look. I'm so sorry, Parker, I'm so damn sorry. I know you don't forgive me, but please know I mean it. I don't want to become my parents." I looked over at Parker, his tears slipping silently down his face.

"I don't think I'm the one you should be saying that to. They never said if he can hear us or not. I think he can. I think he knows what's going on. But at the same time, I don't want him to be worrying about the people he cares about, being able to do nothing. I know he would hate it." Parker's voice was shaky and scratchy. I put a hand on his shoulder, giving him a small comforting smile before walking forwards.

"Hunter? It's Jay. Please don't be scared. I promise I'm not going to hurt you. Parker's here too. I just want to apologize to you." I faltered, not knowing how to start. "I-I know more about how you feel than you think I might. I've been hurt too. I think we have a... a lot more in common than we thought." I sat down next to the bed in one of the plastic chairs. "I don't know if you can hear me, and even if you can I don't know if you'll remember i-when you wake up. And I want to make sure you know I am sincere. I'm going to see you today, but after that, I'm going to stay away until you're healed. Which is why I'm going to write you a detailed letter explaining my-my... actions. God I'm rambling. Uh, I'm just going to start at the beginning." I took a shaky breath in and glanced back at Parker, his gaze r=never leaving me and Hunter. "I'm sorry, Hunter. I am so goddamn sorry for everything I've ever done to you. I-I'm sorry for every time a single finger touched you. I didn't know what you were going through and I was going through things of my own, and I still am, and I'm sorry. I know you'll probably never forgive me, and I don't blame you. But please, please know that I'm sorry." I stopped to wipe the tears from my eyes and take another deep breath. "I only ever hurt you because you seemed so perfect. You have a perfect life, a perfect family, a perfect house, food every night you like yourself, you're happy, there are people who love you, your life never had a single bump. And I wanted that. I just wanted to know what it was like to be perfect and happy. I wanted you to know what it was like to not be happy and perfect. So, I ended up hurting you. I feel so bad about it. I didn't know how much it was hurting you because everyday you came to school your normal happy self and life was perfect again." I heard a sniff from behind me. I turned my head to see Parker wiping away his own tears. "Every night you went home to the perfect house with food and the perfect family, texting and calling your perfect friends. I... I don't have that. I go home each day not knowing if I'll wake up the next morning in my own dried blood. I go home not knowing if my parents are going to throw things, hit me, or make me clean with no payment. I go home not knowing when the next time I get to eat will be. And I took out all of my self hate and insecurities and anger out on you, which wasn't fair." My voice was down to a rough whisper, tears falling carelessly down my face. "So I'm sorry, Hunter. I'm so, so fucking sorry." I got up from the chair, breezing past Parker, and opening the door before I could let my emotions get to me.