The Day I Fell In Love With A Demon

Even If I...

Even If I 

“My baby!” a woman’s voice cried in relief.  I looked up to see my mom bounding down the hall.  She wrapped me up into a hug, in which I fought the urge to cringe.  I’d always hated hugs, but I had the common sense to realize now was not the time to bring that up.

“Oh honey, I was so worried.  When they said you’d only just woken up, I told them I had to see you now.  They didn’t tell me anything.”  She started rambling until she noticed we weren’t alone. 

She turned to look at Vincent, slightly puzzled.  “May I ask what you are doing with my daughter?” She said panic leaking again into her voice.  It was my same old mom.  She had always worried too much.  This must have driven her crazy! I looked at her, unsure of what to say.

The easiest solution would be to lie.  It’s not like I’d never lied to my mom.  I know that sounds terrible, but the truth is the truth, so isn’t it just better to embrace it?  Some girls say that they have never lied to their mom, but I can guarantee most of the girls have and are just to afraid to admit it.  Even though I had never lied about lying, I still didn’t like to do it.  I had never lied to her about anything like this before; this was way too big.  I really didn’t want to either.  Yet, she would never understand the truth of what had happened.   

I had only paused to think all this for half a minute when Vincent spoke.  I tried to stop him.  If he noticed, he didn’t seem to care.

“May I speak for her? We have been here, at the hospital, for a long time now, most of which your daughter was unconscious.  My name is Vincent Anderson.  I was getting new clothes for my first day of school, which would have been today, at the local mall.  I was taken from the store, gagged, and almost killed.  Kendra’s friend…was also taken.   We were being choked; I tried to get away.  I fought, as did she, but…she didn’t make it.  I was unconscious and nearly dead when Kendra arrived.  She had no idea who I was, but she still saved my life.  She called 911, and then passed out. She was not hurt in any way beyond a few scrapes.  The shock is the only thing that made her pass out.  I hope you won’t punish her for saving my life.  If anything, she's a hero.”           

I hadn’t heard the whole story yet, so it was kind of a shock to hear it now.  My mom, on the other hand, seemed outwardly horrified.  I suppressed a shudder.  My mom was a hard-core person and it took a lot to hurt her. 

“Oh honey, are you okay to go down to the station? Since you were there, Sidney has to ask you some questions.” Sidney was the head police officer and my mom’s best friend.  They knew I’d never do it, but what about Vincent? They didn’t know him.  Wait, where were his parents.         

“Vincent, where are your parents?” I whispered to him.  He seemed a bit unwilling to reveal it. 

“I live with my uncle.  My parents have been dead for a long time.” He looked down, seemingly indifferent to the entire situation while  I was upset I had said anything at all.            

“Are you ready to go?” My mom asked.  I looked at Vincent.  He smiled a mom-approved smile.  My mom looked at him, finally acknowledging Vincent.  “They said to take you down to the station.” He looked at me, completely ready to go, waiting for my approval.           

I know he wanted to go, but if something happened to him, I don’t know how I’d ever forgive myself.   After all, unlike me, there was a real reason he was in the hospital.  “I’ll be fine,” Vincent whispered just loud enough for me to hear.  I smiled meekly.  I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, but in the end it was his choice, so if he wanted to go it wasn't my place to stop him.