Cherishing Cherry

Chapter 15

Cherry

Wow, so much happened in one day. Alex attempted suicide, I nearly had a nervous break down and Josh- well Josh kissed me. Why? Why would he do that when he so clearly loves Karly, and he knows how much I love Tyler, so why? Gee, I don't know. Teenage boys mess with my mind. Especially the ones in my life.

Ed called me on Skype from the hospital. He was sitting in a drab corridor, probably using his iPad. Seeing that he was ok gave me some sort of strength.

"Ed! How is he?" I asked, concerned.

"Not good, he keeps crying out for you, and when he realises that you're not here, he tries to rip out all the tubes and meds so they have to sedate him." Ed's voice caught in his throat. "Cherry, do you want to see him?" He asked.

A single tear slipped down my face. I nodded. Ed took a deep breath, stood up and walked into Alex's hospital room. He turned the iPad towards Alex. I saw Alex lying in his bed, sleeping-or drugged, really. His skin was pale and drawn out over his skeleton, showing his veins and bones prominently. His wrists were thickly bandaged, bruises bright purple on his ashen skin. Hi lips were cracked and dried tears stained his face. His eyelids flickered, then opened. He looked towards Ed, his face hostile. Then he saw me. His face softened and tears began to trickle down his face.

"Ed,"Alex said, his voice barely more than a whisper, "Please can I talk to Cherry in private?" I sensed that Ed nodded and he set the iPad down on the small table thing at the end of Alex's bed. I heard the door close.

Alex looked at me, and smiled. Tears of either joy or sadness or relief began to pour down his face. "Cherry, listen, I need to tell you something, and I need you to listen. Can you do that?" Tears streamed down my face, but I nodded. Alex took a deep and shaky breath. "Two months ago, I had been in a long term relationship with a guy called Craig Lightwood." Alex let out a small chuckle and smiled a little, "He was the perfect guy, handsome, kind, polite, selfless, funny, always put me first. I used to go over to his place where we'd sit on the sofa, eat popcorn, watch some films, kiss, just be comfortable and happy in each other's company. I was happy, when I was around him, I didn't have to put on an act, I didn't have to hide, I could be me. And I loved him, I thought he was the one," his voice caught and he bit his lip hard. He carried on, "but, if there is a God up there, he must have something against me, because just like all happiness in my sorry excuse for a life, it had to end. I finished Uni classes early, so I decided to surprise Craig by turning up with some flowers and some Skittles which are his favorite sweets." Tears were waterfalling down his face by this point, but he still carried on. Tears were dominating me by now as well. "I heard some moaning and thumping from upstairs. So, I went upstairs. They were coming from Craig's room. I opened the door, and what I saw, it killed something inside me. I saw Craig with some guy I didn't know, but it wasn't the guy, he was with a girl as well. They were in the middle of some kind of three way. I retched, slammed the door shut and ran out of there. As soon as I was out of the building I threw up. I cried. I didn't know what else to do. My world shattered. I somehow made my way home and had a nervous break down. I posted the keys to Craig's apartment back to him and I haven't spoken to him since." He looked at me, his midnight blue eyes so full of horror, hate, sadness and a want for vengeance. He reached a thickly bandaged hand out to me and I reached mine out to Alex. Our fingers met on the screen. "You get it now, right, why I did it? To escape the hurt. Cherry, help me." He sobbed and ran his shaking hands through his hair. Tears cascaded down our faces and we felt closer, joined by our hurt.

"Alex, I'm here, I'm here to help you. I love you. I love you, no matter what shit happens, I love you" I said, pointlessly reaching for the screen. Pointlessly reaching for him.