Michael Afton x Reader (Stay By My Side) {Completed}

Chapter 21

Y/n's POV:

I felt so bad for Michael. Gosh, he had been through a lot. He watched both of his siblings die and now even his dad die. I always thought that he didn't care much for his dad, but after seeing the effect William's death had on him, I realized that he really did genuinely care about him.

And as much as I thought I didn't care about William, I can't deny the fact that I was a little bit sad. I mean, sure, there were times when I hated him—such as when I found out that he was a murderer, and the time that I had thought he was responsible for me and Michael's death—but I had also once known the good William.

For a full hour or so Michael stayed in that storage room. I decided to give him some space, and waited in the car. I would've gone to go get him by that point, but I didn't; I figured it'd be best not to disturb him.

I eventually did see him heading toward the car. I assumed that he had been crying for most if not the whole time he was in there. Once he got in the car he sighed.

"I'm sorry you have to see me like this," he apologized. "I feel like all I ever do is cry in front of you."

"No, don't apologize!" I said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You have every right to cry."

"It's just... I should be staying strong for you, when really I'm the one who's always breaking down and you end up staying strong for me," he sighed.

"You have been staying strong," I said. "You've been through so much throughout your whole life. It's okay to just... let out how you feel."

"You're the only one I can do that in front of."

"And you can always come to me. I'll always be here for you."

"How did I get so unlucky to have to go through all of these things?" he went on. "Why me?"

"I don't know, Michael," I said. "I don't know..."

He looked up at me with a few tears in his eyes. "But at the same time... how did I get so lucky to have you?"

"Aww," I said with a small smile. "Thank you."

He reached over, embracing me in a hug. "I love you."

"We should probably get home and get some rest," I said once we pulled away. He nodded.

"Good idea."

The drive home was pretty quiet. I could tell that Michael wasn't up to talking. But how could you blame him? He had just watched his dad die a horrific death.

Once we got inside, he took a quick shower before going to bed to wash the blood off of himself. Once he was done, I got in bed and took a shower too—since I had got a little blood on myself as well—while he waited for me.

Once I got out of the shower and got dressed, I walked in my bedroom to see that Michael was still awake; he was probably waiting for me.

Once I got in bed beside him, he looked over at me, seeming to be glad to see me. Once I was laying next to him, I moved next to him and he pulled me closer, gripping onto me. I could tell that he was still upset about everything that had happened, but he seemed to relax a bit now.

It was only a matter of seconds until he fell asleep. I gave him a kiss on the cheek before falling asleep myself.

That night was not easy for Michael at all. He woke up two or three times in the middle of the night in a complete panic. He'd ask me where his dad was, or other questions about his dad. Once I could finally get him to calm down he would explain to me that he woke up with the traumatizing image of his dad being crushed in that springlock suit. I was glad that I could be there to comfort him, but I wished I could do something to help him.