The Don And His Flower

17

Imani sat at what was once the opening of the garden.

The place was completely deserted, from Valis Kholodov's demand.

Almost everyone was in the second compound, surviving their ways over there.

With shaking hands, she numbly pushed the large wheels moving to the next tombstone. Her breath hitched as she looked at the name.

Viktor Malio.

Hannah Marley's Viktor.

With a strong grip, she pulled the next flower from the bouquet, placing it as far as her arm would let it toss. Right in the center.

Valis watched from a distance. His eyes on Imani Milton as she tried to throw the second flower, accidentally knocking the remaining bouquet off her lap.

She looked down, staring at the unnamed tombstone and cried.

The strained vocals were soft as her shoulders shook.

Three days. She's been home for three days, relentlessly in and out of consciousness. Three days since being told about her injuries.

Three days her baby has been in a cloth, placed in a small cardboard box. Three days since she looked at the cardboard box that was wrapped in layered plastic.

Hell couldn't be enough to describe her world right now. When she woke up this morning, she managed to say his name. Managed to call out to the man she's dreamed about during her captivity.

Valis.

That was the only word she could manage. Nothing more. Nothing less. The doctors explained the damages her body took.

No baby.

Loss of her voice.

May never walk due to hidden spine injuries.

It was pure torture.

And all that remained was the fact that she wanted her baby.

She wanted those flutters.

Valis was quick, on his knees by his woman. Her cries finally clear to his ears as he picked up the remaining four flowers. He gave them to her, observing the bags under her sore eyes.

"Valis." She whispered.

He ignored the butterflies in his chest. The harmony she spoke was still there, still fluent. Just softer than he predicted it to be.

"I know baby." He soothed her fears only for such a short moment. Valis reached behind the wheelchair, grabbing the other bouquet of flowers. Dark crimson red roses in her view as she snapped off the ribbon, carefully tossing the rose to the headstone.

Hours had passed, Valis watching his woman adjust to such a new life of hers. She was back in his bedroom. The sounds of him cooking faint as the aroma made her nauseous.

Valis opened the door after a swift knock. A trolley entered first with him behind it. The man gave her a lingering kiss, kissing her cheek and capturing her tears as she struggled to vocal her thanks. "Don't talk, flower. Just for tonight..let your body rest a bit more. There's tomorrow waiting for us. Here."

She nodded, a small sniffle leaving in a sigh as she opened her mouth. Warm liquid chicken broth down her throat as she slowly chewed an egg noodle. "Thank you, flower. Do you think you can take another spoonful?"

Imani ate that entirety of soup within two hours. Tears threatened again as she realized Valis hasn't once touched his food. "Don't, princess. No tears remember? Heal tonight. Here, drink some more tea."

Imani was carried into the bathroom. The aroma of her soap in her nose as she sat naked on the shower bench. Carefully, Valis cleansed her skin. Avoiding every bandage area that he could.

It didn't make her feel clean at all.

Not the way she preferred, but it was nice to see some of the sweat and dry blood get off of her skin.

She watched the man clean her feet, focusing on avoiding the fresh scars of her ankles. His lips burned her skin, making her crave more of his kisses.

Trailing up slowly, he kissed her knee.

Kissed her palm, her fingers.

Her inner wrist, back of her hand.

Soon, his lips were on her jaw, against her cheek before meeting her forehead.

A struggling cry left her mouth as her lips were met against his.

"I'm.. I'm sorry." She whispered. He shook his head, wiping her thigh with the damp cloth before kissing her again.

"Those are the very last words that should ever leave your mouth, flower. You have so little to ever apologize for. Me..." He sighed, pouring the used water out before refilling it with clean water. "I have everything and more to say those words to you, my sweet girl."

A relaxed sigh left her lips, the back of her head supported with a pillow as she is back in bed. The sight of the ceiling made her eyes water.

It wasn't there.

The ceiling was gone.

Replaced with a massive window of the night sky.

The light turned off besides her, bed dipping with Valis besides her. A comforting arm around her body as he watched the tears fall from the corners.

The dark room was barely lit by the millions of stars that were shadowed by small clouds.

"Valis.."

He shushed her, kissing her cries away as she looked at the stars. "I know baby. Don't tell me..not until you're ready."

Valis listened, kissing and rubbing his woman to sleep. His own tears fell as he listened to the soft breaths that managed to escape her mouth.

Hours had passed and all he did was listen to her breathing, noting it being the first time that she's gotten a full night of sleep since being home.

The dark skinned flower beside him let such few tears fall from her eyes as she dreamed. Dreamed of the future she desperately craved.

Dreamed of a life with Valis Kholodov.

Valis wiped them away. The very early morning sky lighting so lightly as she wept in her sleep.

He kissed the fragile woman, tightening his hold on her as her mouth parted slightly.

The tension visibly subsided from her body, content and tamed as she unconsciously realized she wasn't there anymore.

She was home.

In bed.

Safe.

With Valis Kholodov.