If I Were A Boy (camren)

Chapter Thirty-Four

Blinding lights were the first objects I had encountered when my eyelids finally decided to flutter open.

Shit. What was I thinking? I could've ended up in the hospital again! I could've done more to help...

The inside of my head began to throb painfully and when I moved my right hand up to cure the ache, a sharp pain buzzed through my fingers. Instead of opening my mouth to carelessly curse, my vision  caught onto something else. Through the luminous surroundings, a single face was seen and it seemed to stand out in a heavenly manner. 

Whomever it was their hair glowed with perfection and was resembled to pure silk. Her eyes radiated off with worry, but there was now a tint of happiness shooting off. After a few moments of studying, my mind started to recognize the girl. 

"Camila? What are you d-doing here?" My throat managed to croak out awkwardly. 

"You think I was going to abandon you, Lauren?" The tired looking woman tilted her body slightly to reach for something behind her. "Never again."

Her answer surprised me and I wanted to thank her, but nothing wanted to escape my lips. Camila turned herself so that she was facing me again. This time there was a wet cloth positioned in her palm; the towel marked with faded blood stains. 

"Don't move, okay?" She commanded softly and cautiously leaned forward to begin dabbing the side of my head. Once a tiny bit of the gentle pressure was applied, I had flinched backwards and shouted at the excruciating burn that had taken place.

"Fuck," I murmured and noticed the frown upon Camila's face.

There was a period of silence until she spoke again, "Can we try again?"

"Yeah. Yeah, okay," I hesitantly nodded and prepared myself with a deep breath as Camila moved closer.  This time as she patted the injured area soothingly, I felt her lips press gently against my cheek; my eyes widened immediately from the soft touch. 

With her mouth beside my ear, she breathed, "I'm glad you're awake."

"Cam" -My throat seemed to completely clog up once the younger woman moved away and faced me. I inhaled deeply before starting my sentence again- "Camila, you d-don't have to do this."

"I wanted too," her small body trembled a bit at her next words. "I'm scared, Lauren."

"What? Why? Is it b-because of me? Are you scared of me, Camz?"

The corners of her mouth curled upwards in a light smile at the past nickname, but that soon faded and was replaced by a sad look on her complexion. 

"It could never be you," she sighed and leaned herself forward again, dabbing away at the injury that remained on the side of my head. "It's him."

"You don't have to live in fear f-forever, Camila. Please," I reached my hands out towards the girl's chin and nodded it upwards so that we could make eye contact. "You're d-destroying yourself by being with him. He doesn't d-deserve you."

"That isn't the first time you've said that," she released a mild chuckle, another huff of air following after. "Besides, I couldn't possibly divorce him. Do you know how difficult it is to find a lawyer who isn't friendly with him? Where the hell would I find the fucking money?"

"I'm always here for you, Camila. My insurance company g-gave me some extra cash and I could-"

"There's no way I'm taking your pity money," she basically hissed. Right after the tone escaped from her throat, she quickly realized it and growled quietly to herself. I watched carefully as Camila stood up from her seat that was obviously moved to be in front of me and threw the liquid filled rag onto the ground. "I'm sorry," she rubbed her eyes in annoyance. "It's been a long day and this whole incident hasn't really made anything better."