Strip My Mind (Did She Make It To The Emergency Room Sequel)

Final Chapter...

*1 Month Later*

I sat in the front room, just waiting for the crying to start happening, I had woken up earlier than usual today and am currently sitting on the couch finishing my coffee off in the warmth before Sage woke up from her sleep. Only a few minutes later I started to hear the soft noises coming  from Sage's room. She was awake. I peeked in just to make sure it wasn't her dreaming. I saw Electra rocking Sage in her arms. I didn't interfere; Just watched. Electra had stayed here lastnight after Her, Ricky and I had gone to see HIM live. Electra couldn't stop thanking us because we had surprised her with a ticket; They had sold out before she was able to buy one. Obviously Lyl and Josh looked after Sage. The door squeaked, compromising my positon. "Damit!" I mummbled. "Oh- I- uh- Sorry she was awake and I just wanted to... yeah." Electra laughed nervously. "You can hold her or play with her whenever you would like Electra, I've told you this before." I Laughed. "Yeah but y'know, I dont wannna step on your toes or get in your way." She smiled down at Sage lying happily in her arms. "You would never!" I scoffed. "Sage loves you!" I laughed. Electra's smile grew so big. "Its cool to have a younger..." She stopped... not sure what to say. "Sibling?" I suggest. "Yeah... It's fun for a change." Electra's voice grew quite and I hugged her and Sage. "Sit down, I wanna tell you something." I Smiled. Electra sat in the rocking chair while I leant against the changing table. "I'm looking for a house." I smiled. "CHRIS!" Electra screamed, jumping up and hugging me with her one free arm. "That's... Awesome !" She laughed. "It's between you and I for the moment being, okay?" Electra passed Sage over to me a nodded a yes. "Thanks for everything, Chris." She smiled, hugging me.

* 

I was placing Sage in the stroller just as the doorbell rung. Ugh. I swung the door open with a slight smile. "Hello?" I greeted the stranger at my door hesitantly. "Uh, Hello. Are you Christopher Cerulli?" The man asked. "Depends on who's asking." I said wearily. "I'm Mr. Manning, I believe I can find one of my daughters here." He smiled at me as if it were the most simplests thing. The anger that flushed over me took full control and it was nearly impossible not to hit the man in front of me. I stepped forwards and closed the door, nearly fully. "I promise you, if I ever see you here again or even know that you are within one hundred miles of either Electra or Anne I will hurt you so bad you will never be able to walk again-" I threatened, the disgusting excuse for a man looked shocked and tried to bud in. "Don't. You have no right being here, you abandoned them rememeber?! You have no goddamn right!-" I screamed. "Do you know what you missed out on? Too much. You missed out on watching two amazing girls grow into even better women. You. Abandoned. Them! -"  I said through gritted teeth. "- Don't ever show your face again, you disgusting excuse for a man." I stepped back and slammed the door in his face. When I turned around to check on Sage, Electra was standing behind the stroller, tears so close to spilling over. Her body swayed. I ran towards her and she collapsed against me. "Shhh, It's fine, It's all fine." I tried to reassure her. I was shaking. "Lyl?!" I shouted, she rushed down the stairs and I nodded over to Sage in the stroller, Lyl realised quickly and slipped into some shoes, pushing the stroller outside with ease. I picked Electra up quickly and carried her to my room. I lied her down on my bed and held her hand while she cried. Knowing she wouldnt be up for talking I told her I would make her some tea and rushed downstairs, making her a tea and me a coffee. I handed the mug to her when I arrived back and walked over to my record player. I put The Smiths record on and walked back towards the bed, the corners of Electra's mouth turned up slightly when the music started softly across the room. "I'm not sad." Electra whispered. I looked over to her and smiled confused. "Well, yeah that did kinda hurt but It was-s-" She started to studder and I rested my hand on her knee. "It's more what you said a-and I feel truly a-a-mazing to have you, Chris." She finally looked at me in the eyes. I put my coffee down and wrapped my arms tightly around her shoulders. "You're part of the family, now. Get used to it because the more you're here the more I wont be the only one defending you like that." I rubbed my hands up and down her back comfortingly. We stayed like that barely talking and when we did it was only to comment on things like the sound of Morrissey's voice in the chorus of the song that was playing around us.

* 

- 1 year later-

Moving day had arrived! Electra, Sage and I would be moving into a brand new house that had recently been built in a nice community of homes, only a twenty minute drive from the old house, which everyone was slowly moving out of. Ricky and Anne had moved in together, they're slowly becoming something that I'm sure will last. Anne insisted that Electra didn't have to move in with me but to be honest, I kind of needed her. She had nearly cried when I asked her. As we unpacked furniture together, Sage slept in her cot upstairs which was the first thing we unpacked. After we had set everything up I grabbed the only drinks we had in the fridge, water bottles. As we looked over our handy work of setting up the furniture I looked towards Electra and raised my bottle, she clinked it to mine. "To new beginnings." I laughed. "New Beginnings." Electra smiled taking her first sip, I followed after her. 

* 

After everything was unpacked we ordered take away and I heated up some food I had bought for Sage and fed her as we waited for ours to arrive. I placed Sage in her bouncy chair once I had finished feeding her. I sat back and watched the episode of Dexter that Electra had chosen to put on, the doorbell rung not long after and I handed Electra the money and she scoffed, "I'm not going to be your maid." She joked and I laughed. We enjoyed dinner with a giggling Sage next to us while Dexter played and it felt like a family, obviously not a perfect one, but something that filled a little bit of the emptiness. Like a feeling of purpose in the world. 

So many questions left to be answered but I guess I'd just have to wait untill they came along.

________________________________________________________________________________

I'm feel bad to announce but this is the last chapter, Except a 2000+ word Epilogue which will be a look into the future.

I've already finished it so as soon as I'm ready I will upload it.

I'm sorry I said 10 chapters for this but I can't see it going anywhere else but the Epilogue because it would just be unnecessary and ruin what I've worked on, sorry.

Until next time!