Downfall

Chapter Five

                          *EDITED*                                             Ava's POV

     I wanna strangle him. Stanley. He is being so overbearing. Always by my side. All day, every day the past few weeks he has been there. Hovering over me like I'm some broken, pathetic being. I hurt everywhere. My shoulders are scabbing and healing and it's so painful to move. But, I have to. I have to keep living. If I don't then I'll go insane with my thoughts in that small cabin.

"Here Ella, let me do it," Stan says, taking the empty bucket from my hands and filling it up with water. My blood boils and I fight the nerve to whack him over the head with it.

     "Stan, I can d-" I started, only to be immediately cut off.

     "No Ella, you cannot. Let me take care of you, please." He abruptly stops and gives me a stern look. I grit my teeth and nod my head silently, clenching my hands into fists at my side. I turn and walk to the house, almost walking into a horse. I look up to give the person a piece of my mind but stop when I see his face. He's handsome. In a rugged, loner sort of way. His hair stops just to his broad shoulders. I can't see his eyes. But I want to. I nod my head at him and he nods back. Before I could say hello, Stanley is rushing to me, gripping my shoulders causing me to wince a bit.

     "What the hell Ella! Watch where you're going, please. You could have been hurt!" I stare into his eyes, my lips in a straight line, my gaze burning into him. Can't you see you're hurting me now? 

     "Stop." I said, my voice calm but firm.

     "Stop, what?" He asks, his eyes swam with confusion.

     "Stop fucking smothering me Stanley! I can't take it anymore!" I yell, causing him to step back, hurt evident in his eyes. I wasn't done. "I know you're trying to take care of me but give me space Stanley. God, I can barely breathe without you fucking falling apart over me. I'm fine. What happened was really scary, but I'm fine. How do you expect me to get better if you're fucking suffocating me all the time. I'm honestly surprised you haven't bathed me yet. If you don't let me breathe, I will continue to be miserable. Let me go. Let me gain my strength back." I felt horrible for speaking to him like that, but I can't take any more of him treating me like a glass object. His shoulders tensed and he looked down, nodding his head.

     "Fine. If that's how you wanted to be treated. Fine. I won't bother you anymore. I won't fucking care about you like I do anymore. I'll treat you like the others." His voice was void of any emotion.

     "Stan, I didn't-" I reached for him. He stepped back. My heart squeezed in guilt.

     "It's Stanley to you now. Only my closest friends deserve that title. I don't know why I thought you were different Ella." He turned and walked away to his small cabin, slamming the door shut. 

     "Shit!" I yell, stomping my foot and taking a deep breath, looking up so the tears don't spill. I hate crying when I'm mad. I hate being emotional. I know he means well and is making sure I'm okay, but he should know by now that treating me like a fragile being isn't the way to treat me. I then continue the walk to the house.

     "Miss Mackey! Miss Mackey! I need to talk to you!" I yell, my voice full of irritation.

     "In the dining room dear!" I hear her say. As I walk to the dining room, I hear loud thuds and the open and closing of a door. Hushed whispers were said as I half-ran to the dining room. I stop in the doorway.

     "Hi dear," Miss Mackey says sweetly, hands clasped in front of her. I look at the table, some of her famous buttery cookies that just melt in your mouth are half eaten, two glasses are also present on the table.