Strangers in the Storm ✔

Chapter 24: Regression

Double update yayyy <3 thank you for reading! 

DAMIEN

Damien's mother had a seizure. Once they reached the hospital, she had regained consciousness, but she couldn't move her legs and her head wouldn't stop aching. Over the last two months, the cancer grew and it was now leaning heavily against the motor cortex, disabling her from using her muscles properly.

The prognosis wasn't good. She was weak, her immune system was a mess and they gave her nutrients and medication through an infusion pump.

Damien sat in the armchair in the hospital room while his mother slept on the bed. He couldn't believe how much she's changed in four days. Dressed in white hospital rugs, pale and so, so thin. Without her makeup, drawn eyebrows and fake eyelashes, she looked ill and tired. Damien wondered whether she was in pain, he didn't want her to hurt.

Rain was pouring outside; the summer storm attacked the world with ferocity, lightning struck around town and thunder reverberated through the walls. Damien appreciated the sounds, he couldn't handle the silence or the heartbeat monitor's beeping.

The door creaked open, "Mr. Douglas?"

Damien shuddered at the name, "Yes?"

A cute blonde nurse peeked into the room; signs of fatigue and a sympathetic frown on her young face. She worked the night shift and tolerated Damien more than the other nurses.

"There's someone here to see your mother." The girl said with an apologetic shrug.

Damien specifically requested that everyone visiting had to go through him. That much his father's money managed to buy.

"Who?"

"A young woman." The nurse said. "Says her name is Roxanne."

Damien closed his eyes and sighed. Roxanne had been calling over the past four days and Damien hasn't answered once. He couldn't handle being seen in his most vulnerable, he couldn't allow her to come this close to him.

Perhaps it was regression and perhaps his mother would curse his ass if she woke up, but she was still asleep and Damien didn't have enough strength in him for growth and change.

"I'll deal with it." He stood up.

"Is she alright?" The nurse asked as she approached the bed to check on Dana.

"Not a good question, Melissa." Damien murmured as he left the room.

Damien exited the hospital, only to find Roxanne right in front, dressed in sweatpants and a plain black shirt, a large floral umbrella covering her head and rain pouring over it like a waterfall. The sounds of the drops hitting the wet ground muffled everything else.

The smell of asphalt lifted off the ground. Sweat beams covered Damien's forehead; summer heat lingered in the air despite the cold rain.

Roxanne came closer to the hospital, until she stood under the roof. She had no makeup on, so the tears threatening to spill from her eyes had nothing to ruin, but she kept swallowing them as she looked at Damien.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

Roxanne took in a sharp breath, "I've been calling."

"I've noticed." Damien caught himself as he spoke the words and sighed, "In the politest way possible, what are you doing here?"

Roxanne shrugged, "I just wanted to say goodbye."

Damien's throat choked and he had to breathe in and out before he managed to speak.