Until You

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen:
Daniel

I can't believe she's with Isaiah. She said she wanted to be alone. I'm not even mad that she wanted to be away from me. I would stay away from me too. I've gotten more aggressive. I can't be here anymore. I can't go home but I can't spy on Katelyn. I just don't want to go home.
I decided to go home. I grabbed some beer. Why should I care at this point? The person that loves me the most is suffering. I can't do this shit anymore. I chugged down my beer. I hate the taste of beer but I hate feeling anything even more. I only like the feeling I get when I'm around Katelyn. I love her.
I went home. I immediately heard glass shatter. I hate him. I ran to see what had happened and mom was on the floor with blood coming out of her head. God no. My nightmare has come true. I ran up to her and held her. I checked her pulse. It was extremely slow. He just came up behind me and hit me with something. It knocked the wind out of me. I couldn't breathe. Mom was starting to bleed way too much but I was still out of breath. I couldn't carry her.
"What the fuck did you do? How could you? She was the woman you love."
"I don't love this woman. At least I don't anymore. I have another woman in my life. What do you care about? You're always with Katelyn these days. Maybe I should take her away from you too. You never do what you're told."
"No. Don't touch her. You already hurt one important woman in my life. I don't need you hurting another one."
"Who said I was going to hurt Katelyn?"
"Don't. You. Dare. Touch. Her."
"Or else what?"
"Or else I will turn you in."
"That doesn't scare me."
I got up and punched him. I hate him. How could he have turned this bad? He used to be such a good father and husband. He grabbed me by my shirt and threw me against the wall. Michael walked in on us. He ran out the room.
"Michael!"
I screamed after Michael. Hoping he could help me out. I let him beat the shit out of me because there would be no use of fighting back. He dropped me and left. I dragged myself towards mom. I looked at her.
"Oh no. Mom. It's going to be okay. It's okay, just keep breathing. In and out. You'll be okay. I promise you."
Michael came back into the room. He ran over to me.
"Fuck. Daniel. I'm sorry I didn't do anything but I called an ambulance. They're on their way here. I hope mom will make it out okay. How are you?"
"I hope so too. I'm okay."
Michael and I waited until they got here. Fuck. I told them what I knew about what happened and they took her. Michael went with them and I stayed home. I couldn't go to the hospital. I always hated that place. Ever since mom went there the first time I hated it.
I decided to go over to Katelyn's. I can't stay with her. Who knows what he'll do. I have to protect her. I love her and I don't want anything to happen to her. I have to break up with her for her own safety. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I knew I could've done something to protect her.
I arrived at her house and texted her.

Me:
Come outside I need to talk to you

I texted her and I could see from her window that she came downstairs. She was looking beautiful like always. I looked at the trees in hopes of making this easier on both of us. I hate that I have to do this. I was looking at the trees until her beautiful voice spoke out to me.
"Hey Daniel."
"Katelyn, I need to talk to you."
She looked at my face. She looked concerned. Fuck. I probably had a giant bruise on my face from him. She pointed it out
"Daniel! Your face. What happened?"
"It's nothing, don't worry about it. So how's your cheek?"
"Oh I'm fine it just stings."
"Oh. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hit you. It was an accident. Believe me. I would never hurt you for no reason."
"I know you would never hurt me."
"I love you."
"Me too."
It stayed silent between us. We just looked at each other until Katelyn spoke up.
"So what's up?'
"I can't do this anymore. I can't be with you."
"What? What are you saying Daniel?"
"I'm saying we need to break up. I can't be with someone like you. Someone that lies."
"What do you mean? I didn't lie."
"Yes you did. You said you wanted to be alone yet I saw you hanging out with Isaiah. I even saw you two come out of the same dressing room. Are you cheating on me?"
"No, of course not. I love you. I would never do that to you. Yes I hung out with him but I wasn't planning on it."
"Katelyn I can't do this anymore. We're over. I don't need a girlfriend right now. I love you dearly Katelyn but I don't have time for a girlfriend."
Katelyn started crying. Did I really mean that much to her? I wish I didn't. I looked at my phone making us break eye contact and to see if Michael texted me. I feel so bad for making Katelyn cry.
"No Daniel. Please don't do this. Please don't leave me. I love you."
"I'm sorry Katelyn but I have to do this."
I looked at my phone again. I stared at it. I needed to know if mom was okay or not. Why hadn't Michael texted me? Was he trying not to worry me? She tried to reach for my hand but I jerked it away, I hated hurting her. I hated seeing her cry.
"Can I get one last hug at least?"
"No it'll make it harder on both of us. It's already hard enough as it is for me."
"Please Daniel. Just one last time. I just need to hug you one last time."
"No Katelyn. We can't. I can't."
She took off my hoodie and handed it back to me. That broke my heart. I hated seeing her sad. And she looked sadder than ever now.
"Here then. Take your hoodie. I don't need it anymore."
"Keep it."
I started walking away until she stopped me. I was hoping that she would make me realize that I couldn't do this. I can't leave her but I have to. I have to protect her.
"Am I not good enough?"
"No. You are more than enough."
"Am I ugly?"
"No you are beautiful."
"Is it because we didn't have sex?"
"No. You know I don't care about that."
"Am I too clingy?"
"No. I wish we could be together all the time."
I hated hearing her talk bad about herself. She didn't deserve to live in pain. I want her to be happy and safe. Even if that means not being with me.
"Then what's the fucking reason you're breaking up with me Daniel? What happened to what you told me on our four month anniversary? I'll never leave you"
"The reason is that I can't be with a fucking liar. I can't be with someone that's gonna fucking lie to me. Don't bring that up. That was before this happened. And I don't have time to have a fucking girlfriend. I'm busy. I have some shit going on right now. I'm dealing with some real serious shit. You can't be around me. It's not safe. Okay so there's your damn reason. I'm not just some dickhead that's gonna leave you for some other bitch to have sex."
Once those words left my mouth I immediately regretted it. I hate cussing at or around Katelyn. I always try to be as respectful to her. I walked away from her and checked my phone. I had a text from Michael.

Michael:
Come to the hospital. Quick

I ran to my car and drove away. I saw Katelyn from my rear view mirrors and my heart just broke. I was in love with her. I am in love with her. This hurts me so much. It hurts me to hurt her. I want to be with her but if he could do something like that to his wife and mother of his children then what's to say that he won't do it to Katelyn just to spite me. I can't let that happen. It's a good thing I broke up with her and I hope she realizes it. I will come back to her when it's safe to do so. I can't live without her. I'm addicted to her. She's like a drug to me. She's my new drug.
I made it to the hospital. I ran to mom's room. I saw Michael holding her hand. I hope she's okay. I heard Michael talking to her.
"When you wake up, Daniel and I will take it to get some ice cream. I know how much you love your butter pecan ice cream. It's going to be okay mom. You'll be fine."
I walked in with tears in my eyes. I knew she wasn't going to make it. Michael knew that too. At least I hope he did. He's still a kid. He still has hope in the world. I don't. He's 15. He shouldn't have to be suffering like this. He should be with his friends picking up girls and playing video games. I went and sat down on the other side of her. My mom was always beautiful. She was even beautiful when she was dying. Fuck. I'm gonna miss her so much.
"Hey mom. It's me Daniel. How are you? I hope you're okay. You're going to get through this. You'll be able to come home and see me get married and have kids someday. You'll make it through to be a grandma. You'll see me get back together with Katelyn when it's safe for me to be with her again. Once he's gone."
I started crying. I fucking hate this.
"Michael. Go spend the night at one of your friends' houses. Don't go home. I don't want you risking getting in his way. Spend the night. Get some rest and get away from him. Okay?"
"No Daniel. I have to be here with her. What about you? You're always tired. Dad's always beating you up. He's always hurting you. You must be tired."
"Don't call him that. He isn't a father. He's dead to us. I'm fine Michael. Go get some rest."
"Okay fine. But you have to promise to get some rest too. Go over to Katelyn's and spend the night. You need her. You can come back anytime. Her house is closer to the hospital than ours."
"I can't. I broke up with her. She wouldn't just accept me like that."
"Fine I take tonight off and you take tomorrow."
"Fine. Now go."
Michael left. I think he went to his friend Adrian's house. I stayed with mom. I held her hand throughout the night. I fell asleep soon after midnight. I hope she'll be okay. She has to. She needs to be. Michael needs her.

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