His Sunflower

21

'Just keep taking those baby steps every day. You think you're not moving but when you look back, you'll realise how far you've come.'

The doctor came over to reapply my bandages and ask how I was doing before telling me that I was free to go and to make sure that I looked after myself.

I slowly got up, careful not to tear any of my stiches, and was about to bend down to put my shoes on before he stopped me.

"Una regina non dovrebbe chinarsi, lascia che ti metta le scarpe per te (A queen shouldnt have to bend down, let me put your shoes on for you)", he said, grabbing a shoe and holding it in front of my foot, asking for permission from me.

I obviously got flustered and shook my head no to tell him I was capable of putting my shoes on but he didn't agree and proceeded to put my shoes on for me.

Once that was done, he held out his arm to help me up. I hesitated for a second, but the pain radiating from my body signalled to me that I couldnt get up by myself so I gripped onto his arm and stood up carefully. I immediately let go of his arm when I was up and began to slowly walk towards the door, ready to leave to wherever my feet decide to take me.

I knew that I couldnt go back home. I didnt know if my father was back there or not but I couldnt afford to take that risk.

I didn't really have anything important back there, all that was left was the bad memories, so I would just have to start from scratch.

It was times like this that I wished I had friends to turn to when I needed help. I manged to survive on my own all these years but I craved someone to talk to. Someone that would care if something happened to me. Someone that would make me feel like I belonged here.

"Where are you going, amore mio? (my love)", he asked just before I got to the door.

I stopped in my steps. I don't know myself where I was going so how was I supposed to tell him? Why did he want to know? Was he going to tell my father were I was?

No, he wouldn't!

Why would he save me from my father just to take me back to him. It wouldn't make any sense.

"I-I dont k-know", I stuttered, scared of not knowing where I was going to end up tonight.

"You can come and stay with me, Sunflower", he said whilst picking up his car keys and jacket, opening the door for me and asking me to follow him.

When he realised that I wasn't behind him, he stopped.

"Stai bene?", he asked with concern.

"I-I can't s-stay with y-you", I said, shaking my head no.

I couldn't possibly stay with him. I couldn't burden him with the responsibility of looking after me for even longer. I was not his problem to take care of. He probably had much better and more important things to do then look after a pathetic girl like me.

There was also the fact that I didnt know anything about him. What this was all an elaborative plan to make me trust him and lure me into his house, alone?

But if that was the case, he would have done something last time I was at his house. He was a perfect gentleman then and I can't imagine him being anything different. In the back of my mind, I knew that he was a genuine guy and I couldn't keep making reserves because of some horrible people in my past.

I only had two options, one being to go out on my own. Whats the worst that could happen? I could possible find some alleyway to sleep in before my father escapes and catches me again or I die of hypothermia or an infection.

Or, I could try my chances and go with him.

I knew I was being stupid, trusting a stranger who I had just met a few days ago, but for some unknown reason, I knew that this was the right choice.

He has been the only person in years to have shown kindness to me. That has to account for something.

"I know you're most likely thinking things over in your head right now, and I understand that this is all really scary for you, but we can take it one small step at a time. Just because we would be living at the same house, it doesn't mean you are obligated to talk to me", he said with a sad chuckle.

He held out his hand and I surprised both of us by placing my hand in his. He rubbed his thumb over my hand and looked at me.

"You're safe now. You don't have to be scared anymore", he said with a strong voice, which almost made me believe him.

"Lets go", he said as we began walking out of the hospital.

Hand in hand, we walked to the car and he unlocked it.

He opened the door for me and made sure I had sat down with my seatbelt buckled on safely, before going around and sitting in the drivers seat and putting his seatbelt on.

It was cold in the car, as a result of it not being used in a couple of days, and I could help but shiver. Him, being as observant as always, noticed and I was soon wrapped up in his jacket, his scent surrounding me like another layer of protection.

He eventually started the car and began the drive back to his house. I didn't know how far the drive was so I just sat back in my seat and looked out the window at the passing view.

Subconsciously, I must have been fidgeting and picking at the skin around my nails and before it began to bleed, a large hand covered my own.

My hands began to fidget with the rings on his fingers and before I knew it, the car had stopped and we were outside his house.

He quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and came around to open the car door for me.

Chivalry is not dead after all.

He held out his arm for me and I knew that I had to hold onto him or else I wouldn't be able to make it into the house on my own.

He went as slow as possible to make sure that I was okay and sometime later, we finally made it to the front door.

He unlocked it and with persuasion from himself, and honestly me being too tired to do it myself, he took my shoes off for me and replaced them with some cute, fluffy bunny slippers he had asked Sofia to buy for me.

"Are you hungry, tesoro?", he asked, which obviously perfectly aligned with the time my tummy decided to rumble.

He laughed at my embarrassed state and told me to follow him to the kitchen. The first thing that I noticed when I walked in were the massive bouquet of sunflowers on the kitchen table.

"Um, I thought you would like them", he admitted nervously, his hand running through his hair.