Darkest Desires [Joel Miller]

22

Joel

Fuck, I missed her. I miss her smile. I miss her laugh. I miss her soft, delicate lips on mine. I miss her touches. I miss how she felt against my body. It's been a few weeks but it felt like months. All my thoughts were consumed by Daisy. Working on a construction site offered me an escape but the moment I entered my quiet home, all my thoughts went right back to Daisy.

I haven't talked to her these last few weeks. I didn't even know if she found another place to be. I wanted to give her time. Time to process everything. I didn't want to rush her into anything. One thing was clear for me: I wanted to be with her, no matter the consequences.

I wiped the sweat out of my forehead as I surveyed the construction site. Work has been a good distraction these past few days. With each swing of the hammer and each piece of lumber laid in place, I tried to lose myself in the work. I focused on the intricate details of the building plans, channeling my energy into the task at hand. But despite my efforts, my mind kept drifting back to Daisy.

I couldn't shake the image of her teary face from my mind, nor the echoes of our last conversation. The guilt weighed heavily on me, a constant reminder how I messed up. Even Sarah moved to his boyfriend's, leaving me in the quiet house. But amidst the chaos of my thoughts and my life, the construction site provided a distraction.

As I was thinking about her, in a momentary lapse of focus, I misjudged the placement of a beam, and before I could react, it came crashing down, pinning me beneath its weight.

The searing pain shot through my body as the beam pressed down on me, trapping me in its unforgiving grasp. My breath caught in my throat as I struggled to free myself, the weight crushing down relentlessly. Panic surged within me, mixing with the pain to create a suffocating sense of desperation.

"Joel!"

Pain shot through my body as I lay trapped beneath the beam, unable to move. Panic surged within me, but I forced myself to stay calm, assessing the situation. I could feel a warm trickle of blood running down my forehead, and every breath sent waves of agony radiating through my chest.

Tommy and a few other crew members rushed to my side, their expressions a mix of concern and urgency. They worked quickly, lifting the beam off me with a concerted effort. I gasped for air as the weight was lifted, the rush of relief almost overwhelming. Tommy knelt beside me, his face etched with concern.

"We need to get you to the hospital,"he said firmly, his hands steady as he assessed my injuries.

One of the boys called the ambulance immediately, the others helped me stay focused. The pain was unbearable and I felt like I could pass out any minute. But eventually, the sounds of the construction site faded into a distant echo as my vision blurred and darkness crept in at the edges.

"Daisy..."I whispered, her name escaping my lips like a prayer before consciousness slipped away.

I regained consciousness in the hospital and at first, everything was blurry. I couldn't recognize faces but I could recognize hers in a minute. Daisy. At first I thought my mind was playing tricks on me but she was really there.

"Daisy?"

She rushed to my side, taking my hand into hers. She squeezed it gently, trying to comfort me.

"Welcome back to the living,"she joked, gently stroking my hand.

I tried to laugh at her joke but my throat felt dry. Clearing my throat, I managed to whisper her name. "It's so good to see you."

"Tommy called me, saying you asked for me,"Daisy smiled faintly. "I came immediately."

Tommy was standing in the corner, nodding his head. "How do you feel?"

"Like shit,"I answered honestly. "Is Sarah here too?"

"She's outside,"Tommy nodded. "She wasn't very happy that I invited Daisy."

"Yeah, I understand her,"I sighed, looking at Daisy. "What did the doctors say?"

Tommy's expression grew solemn as he relayed the doctor's prognosis. "They said you suffered a few broken ribs and a concussion,"he explained, his tone tinged with concern. "But they're optimistic about your recovery. You just need to take it easy for a while."

I nodded, absorbing the information with a sense of resignation. The injuries were painful, but they were manageable. What weighed more heavily on my mind was the dynamic between Daisy and Sarah. I knew there were going to be consequences of our actions but I hated how everything ended. I hated how messed up it was and I knew I had to fix it. Or at least try to fix it.

 "I'll talk to Sarah,"I said firmly, determined to fix things. "I'll make things right."

Tommy offered me a reassuring smile, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Take your time, Joel. Focus on getting better first. The rest will fall into place."

I was surprised by his support. I knew he wasn't fond of me and Daisy but he still invited Daisy to the hospital. Tommy's unexpected support touched me deeply, reminding me that despite our differences, we were still brothers at the end of the day. I offered him a grateful nod, appreciating his gesture more than words could express.

"Thanks, Tommy," I said sincerely, the weight of his encouragement bolstering my resolve. "I owe you one."

He waved off my gratitude with a dismissive gesture, his expression softening with genuine concern. "Just focus on getting better, Joel. That's all that matters right now."

Tommy left us alone and I turned my attention back to Daisy. Her comforting presence was everything I could've needed at that moment.