A Promise

Chapter 1

It was a storm, windy night. Neil just got back from soccer practice. He lives outside his house, so he has a cabin to himself. After the quarrel with his parents, he just seems to not want to live with them anymore. But because of Gabi, he only decided that he'll live in a cabin outside on the garden. The argument was caused by Neil not wanting to follow in his father's footsteps. His father has a restaurant that he owns called Cantina Corazon, the biggest Mexican – Tex – Mex cuisine in the town that he lives in. He lives in a small, secluded area in Texas. His father, Michael wants Neil to take over the restaurant once he was done with his studies, but Neil had other plans. He wants to become a surgeon. A certain cardiothoracic surgeon. He wants to be the best cardiothoracic surgeon in the world. His dreams have always been to work in San Jose St Bonaventure Hospital. His plan is to do his surgical residency at St Bonaventure Hospital and try to earn a spot as an attending in St Bonaventure.

It is 12AM, Neil was about to fall asleep when he heard a loud bang on his door. He thought it was his father, so he shouted, "I'm trying to sleep Pa!" and the door bangs louder, he got up to the door and he swung it open and said, "I'm trying to sl..." and stuttered when the little figure in front of him hugs him tight around his waist, crying. "Claire!! Why are you crying?" He wrapped his arms around her. They have known each other forever. He was 8 when he first met Claire. Claire was 5. They met at a playground not far from where they live and ever since that day, they promise to come here every day at 4pm so they would have their playdate together. Neil is 15 now and Claire is 12. They have known each other for 7 years now. He had always loved Claire, adored her. Her strength going through her tough life, makes him respect her. He promises to protect her at all costs and one day, he wants to marry her. Claire have said that she loves Neil multiple of times, but he doesn't know if she knows what love means at a very young age. She comes from an abusive family – well, it only happened after her father left her when she was 4. Her mom, Breeze became an alcoholic which she starts getting violent at times when she's drunk. She would say things likes Claire is a mistake, Claire is the reason her father left her, Claire doesn't deserve to be loved and that no one would ever take her seriously and she would just end up like her mother. To Neil, Claire is the most wonderful thing that has happened to him. He values Claire so much and loves her company.

"Hey, sweetheart talk to me." Neil says, pulling her inside his cabin and closing the door. Claire sobs louder to the question so Neil sat her down on his bed as he sits next to her. Pulling her close to his embrace, he caressed her back and say, "It will be okay, Claire. Things will be okay."

"My... Mom." Claire says and pauses, Neil waits patiently for her to continue, while he still caresses her back. "She got drunk again and... she got physical." Claire sobs back into his embrace, her head leaning on his chest. It sends an electric pulse to Neil. He is so in love with her. Whatever love is, he knows that she is his, she is who he sees in his future. He wants to be by her side at all times and he wants her to know that he adores her. "Let me examine you, Claire." He says. He picked up a few first aid when he joined the red crescent, so he wants to help Claire, determine any cuts or bruises.

Claire nods and moves out of his embrace. Neil gently touched her face, examining it thoroughly. When he was searching for any bruises or cuts on her face, their lips were only inches apart. He looks at her in her eyes, doing that, it is as if time stops for them. God, I am so in love with you Neil thinks to himself. Neil leans down, resting his forehead on hers, he mumbles, "I will always protect you Claire, I will make sure that one day, I will get both of us out of this crappy town." Claire cups his face, and she nods, brushing her lips on his cheeks, she says, "Can we promise something?" Neil says, "Mmmhm" "We will never leave each other and if we have to separate one day, we will find each other again?" Claire asks, searching for his eyes but sounding as begging. She sees him in her future too. Neil closes his eyes, and caressed her cheeks, "I will never leave you and I promise we will find each other again if we get separated, mi amor." Neil gently gives a quick peck on her forehead and continues to examine her...

He sees a few cuts on her arm and definitely a massive bruise on her stomach. As he searches further, her thighs... her thighs are swollen. Neil dropped tears when he sees her whole body is covered with bruises, swellings, and cuts. He quickly pulls Claire in his embrace, "I'm... I'm sorry you're going through this sweetheart. I'm sorry you're hurting." Tears falling rapidly as he intertwines their fingers, Claire sobs. "Thank you for looking after me, Neil. I... I love you." Claire blurts out. Neil gave her a sweet smile as he goes and get ice packs and some plasters to treat her.

"And we're done." Neil says as he puts the last bandage on her ribs. "Stay with me tonight." Neil blurts out, not even making eye contact. Claire puts on her clothes, and she climbed up his bed. The bed was a single bed but Claire is small enough so the bed could have them two. Neil climbs the bed too and as he was about to fall asleep; Claire starts sobbing again. Neil extends his arm, opening and Claire scootch closer to him, snuggling in his neck and falls asleep immediately. Neil gives a quick peck on her temple, and he says, "I love you to the moon and back, sweet pea." And he dozes off.

TBC...