Blinded

Friends with benefits

In a dark cell, cramped up with two other cell mates, Daksh was staring at the moon creeping up through the small vent.

He looked at his callused hands and gritted his teeth. His body was aching from a days hard labour. His ability to be a chameleon had helped him so far in this prison.

Every time the bell rang to return to the lock up, his heart pounded. He recalled the time he escaped military prison just as an eighteen year old boy.

This waking up in the morning, hard labour all day long, organised unappealing meal times, all just took him back to where he was then.

Fuck you Annika! You had one fucking job to do! You got a free pass cause the blink has the hots for you isn't it? Fucking fancy wife of a billionaire now street trash! If I wasn't there you and that brother of yours will be starving on the street. I protected you...I kept you safe...Now you are lying in a pent house in the A/C on silk sheets while I rot in here?

He punched the wall and his knuckles turned blue. He punched it again and again until he saw blood oozing out from his own hands.

He scribbled the name he loathed on the wall in crimson red—Annika.

I'll show you what happens, when you betray Daksh...Just count your days babe...I won't be here for long...I will find away to bring down that glass castle you are living in! 

He spat on the wall.

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A week had passed since his birthday. Ann spent sleepless nights, worrying about him. Every night she sat beside him, tugging on his hair, massaging his head, until he fell asleep. Then she'd keep the door open, and sat outside the kitchen aisle, not taking her eyes off of him. She often woke up with a stiff neck, or her face slid off the cold granite, counter top.

She made a few futile attempts at making breakfast for him, with the help of YouTube. Most ot the time, the eggs overcooked or the toast turned into charcoal, but he'd eat it without complaining. Until one day, he placed a warm cup of hot cocoa, next to her dozing face and tapped on her shoulder startling her.

"Ann...I don't need you to baby sit me...Thank you though for staying out here all night...All these nights...I think you are getting good at chasing away my nightmares..." He winked and smiled—his usual heart warming, knee melting, soul hugging smile. She felt content finally seeing his smile returning back to his handsome face. He made pancakes that day, and she ate twice as much she would usually gleefully.

"Eat slowly...oh you'll..." Before he could complete, she had choked on the pancakes she stuffed in her mouth smiling like an idiot. He shook his head and placed a glass of water next to her, and rubbed her back a little.

"You are silly Ann..." You silly girl...You choke on pancakes...and you want to protect me? He thought to himself with a smile recalling her promise.

That night when she was talking to him, thinking he was asleep, though he probably shouldn't have, he just listened. Funnily enough when he was struggling to find peace in his mind, he found solace in her words of reassurance. When she hushed him, and told him it was going to be okay, he believed it!

She didn't try to force him to be normal...She let him cry all he wanted...So he started to feel that whatever he was feeling was normal and didn't suppress it like he had all this time...Most of the time, Ann didn't even say a word...She just patiently waited...looking out for him...at a distance...giving him all the time he needed...

Growing up he wasn't simply allowed to feel weak...feel remorse...feel upset...feel grief...He had to put up a smile, for the people around him to feel that he was normal. His grandmother made sure to remind him on his tenth birthday that boys should never cry, and he's suppose to celebrate, and enjoy! So though he felt like shit inside for doing so, he cut the three tiered chocolate cake with the vanilla frosting, danced, and braved through the Gala she threw for him.