Zelus (Perseus Reimagined) (BXB)

Chapter 37

People say everyone was born for a reason, and everyone goes through shit, but my whole life feels like shit.

2016

"YOU'RE DOING GREAT; WE'RE ALMOST there, okay?" His arms cradle me like an infant, being a consistent reminder that he's here and there's nothing to worry about. Though, the darkness in my closed eyes kept playing the day of the incident. My hurling stomach encloses in my arms, and all I can hear is the sound of glass shattering, tires screeching, and the long ring in my ears as the car stays upside down. "You're okay."

Three weeks ago, Alex's parents had saved me from my dad. I was brought in as another member of their family. They sheltered and loved me in ways my own flesh and blood could never. I got the peace I never knew I needed for a long time. The kind of peace that even death couldn't offer. Since then, mom and dad have kept their distance. Max and Victoria occasionally dropped by to check in on me and hand me some things I might need, but they never stayed long. And I actually preferred it that way.

Mr. and Mrs. Beau provided me the guest bedroom on the third floor. The room had its own bathroom, a single bed, a walk-in closet, a ceiling fan, an air conditioner, and a mini balcony. In other words, it was perfect. Though Alex insisted that I'd stay with him, and honestly, I wasn't complaining, and neither were his parents. I did pretty much nothing, or maybe it's because I couldn't do much with my condition. I was bound to the bed; bandages were my daily clothing, and medication was my entertainment. Alex had to miss out on many classes because of me. He always stood close, ensuring I was alright. I tried to support myself, though every attempt felt like hell. There was a time when I slipped in the shower. At that moment, I saw the end flash before my eyes as I embraced for the worse. Instead, Alex steps in from nowhere, catching me before I fall. Since then, he started bathing me. I've never felt more humiliated in my entire life as I crouched in the bathtub and felt the loofa gently stroking my body. A frail elderly is what I felt, and I was fucking embarrassed no matter how many times he assured me not to.

Certain nights when he's asleep, I'd stay up and stare out to the balcony, the night city vague in my visions, and ponder on subjects happy kids wouldn't understand, such as my existence on earth and if it's merely an accident or intentional. If it's the latter, then why am I suffering? People say everyone was born for a reason, and everyone goes through shit, but my whole life feels like shit. I don't see any reason that's meant just for me. I'm simply lost in this life, and I don't know what to do.

Time began doing its job, and I could stand on my own feet again. The slashes on my back had turned silverish pink, a scar that doesn't sting when it comes in contact with any physical touch. The visions in my head and the burning in my calves ceased. Alex returned to campus, and the guilt shouldering me had loosened, knowing I was no longer at fault for delaying his education.

However, he had only returned for a week, and now, he's out again. Or maybe, both of us are, as we're officially in Greece. Before the terror of getting into a vehicle, the day was pretty normal. As normal as it could be. It was a fourteen-hour flight from Seattle, and our flight took off at eight in the morning. It's hard to comprehend how a day had gone by just by us sitting in a plane. I guess it's the same as wallowing in my room the whole day and coming out around dinner time, and I never knew about it until now. Alex was well prepared for the journey. He read, slept, ate, we talked, and repeated. And just like that, fourteen hours flew by, and we arrived in Greece before midnight.