Ending Silence

Chapter 40

Morgan's POV

I groan when I feel my pillow move, and I grab onto it tighter.

It stops moving after that, only for a short minute before it's running away again.

Groaning, I open my eyes, squinting as I look around the dark room. I spot Sage, getting up out of the bed, but I grab his hand.

"Where're you goin' "I mumble, half asleep. "Shh, go back to sleep" He whispers, pushing my head back down onto the pillow.

"No, you had a..a bad dream" I mumble, trying to keep my eyes open but it's so very hard. He sits down on the edge of the bed beside me and starts running his hand through my hair. And I know I'm a lost cause.

"I'm just going to the bathroom" He whispers, and I shake my head. "No, you're not.." I mumble, just as my eyes become too heavy, and I fall back into a dreamless sleep.

***

Opening my eyes, I look around for Sage but realise I fell asleep.

Cursing to myself, I stand up and walk to his door.

I stop when I realise I'm only wearing his shirt.

Four am or not, I will not walk around his family's house in just a shirt.

Stumbling to his closet, I turn on the light, squinting immediately. I spot a pair of basketball shorts, and just pull them on, holding them up with my hand.

Leaving his room, quickly, but obviously quietly, I go down the stairs, down the hall, down the stairs again until I get to the gym.

Sure enough, I find Sage, punching the punching bag hard like before.

I walk over, wrapping my arms around myself as goosebumps rise on my arms. It's freezing down here, especially the floor. I wish I had some socks right now.

"Sage" I call out, but he seems to not hear me.

"Sage, are you okay?" I ask again, louder this time as I stop a metre behind him. But he doesn't even spare me a glance. Does he have earplugs in?

I step even closer and stretch out my hand. Tapping his shoulder, I go to speak, but my words get stuck in my throat when he suddenly turns around, his arm raises back like he's about to punch me.

I stand still, waiting for him to snap out of it.

And I can see it the moment he does.

Regret and pain flash through his eyes in the form of tears, and his arm slowly lowers. His lips move like he's trying to talk but nothing comes out.

He takes a step back, and I shake my head, reaching my hand out for him. "Sage Im fine" I assure him, but he stumbles back as he avoids my touch.

"I'm sorry..I-.." He whispers, his voice sounding so different it causes pain in my heart.

I take steps forward. "Sage you didn't mean it. I know that. And I'm fine, okay?" I tell them softly, but he continues to shake his head, not even seeming to hear me.

"I-"

I step forward suddenly, wrapping my arms around his neck tightly. His hands push against my shoulders, trying to get me away but I won't budge.

He gives up eventually, and just hugs me so tight it almost hurts but I couldn't care in the slightest. He whispers 'I'm sorry' on repeat, his head resting on my shoulder, while I try to hug him tighter.

"Shh, It's okay, you didn't mean it," I tell him, feeling him physically shaking in my arms. He's crying. Sage, is crying and shaking in my arms and I don't know what the fuck to do and I hate it.

"Let's go upstairs" I decide, pulling away from him. I quickly grab his hand in mine and start walking back to the room, Sage following silently behind me.

Back in his room, I sit on the bed, while he lies his head in my lap, staring into nothing. I run my hand through his hair, trying to calm him but he doesn't even seem to be here. Too busy lost in his own head.

"I'm so sorry Morgan" He whispers, and I shake my head. "Don't be Sage. You didn't do anything" I tell him. "I nearly hit you" He mumbles, sounding to be in complete disbelief.

"That's not your fault," I tell, and he suddenly scowls. "How is it not my fault?-"

"Because you weren't thinking, and were lost in your head. You can't blame yourself for something like that. I should have known not to touch you when you were in that state. But now I know" I say seriously, but it doesn't look like he believes me in the slightest.

"Nightmare?" I ask, and he nods. "Can you tell me what it was about?" I ask gently, and he stays quiet for a minute, and I begin to think he isn't going to answer.

"My dad" He eventually says. "Was he hurting you?" I ask him. "Making me fight him. If I didn't win, Clayton got hurt".

My heart breaks, and I feel my eyes slightly sting with tears. "Then he-..he turned into Clayton. I was hurting Clayton and he was screaming, crying- begging me to stop. And when I did he morphed into dad and I was getting punched" He whispers, and I bite my bottom lip, nodding my head. For fuck sake Morgan, pull yourself together.

"Want to try sleep again?" I ask him, but he shakes his head, unsurprisingly. "Okay, let's watch a movie instead," I say. "Go to sleep Morgan" He mumbles, and I ignore him. "We're going to have a 'how to train your dragon' movie marathon" I decide, getting excited. I only recently found out he loves the movies. He has great taste.

"Morgan-" "You stay here, okay? I'll do everything. You're gonna love it" I tell him, moving his head off my lap and standing up.

I run to his closet and grab the two extra pillows he has on a high shelf. Tucking them under my arms, I run back and throw them on the bed, before grabbing his laptop.

I sit back down on the bed, beside Sage who is now sitting up. I turn on his laptop and click into Netflix I downloaded without him knowing.

The movie starts playing, and he takes my hand in his and leans his head to the side against my shoulder.

"I know it's selfish to ask, but please forgive me..and please don't hate me for what I did" He whispers, and I frown. "I don't, and I never will. I love you Sage" I said it so casually I didn't even realise it slipped out till Sage has his head off my shoulder and is staring at me.

I smile at him. "Sage, I love you. More than anything" I tell him, and he looks to be trying to speak but nothing comes out. I chuckle, leaning in and pecking his lips.

He kisses me back, and as I go to pull away he keeps me there for longer.

"I love you" I whisper against his lips, panting. "I love you, Morgan. More than I ever thought I could" Sage mumbles, and I grin, staring at him before kissing him once again.