Dreams Can Come True

88. Guilt

Bas gently placed his hand on my arm, and I felt his presence like a reassuring embrace. The room seemed to fade for a moment as I focused entirely on the warm contact between us.
When I looked at him, I saw the emotion in his eyes, the deep concern mixed with a determination to be there for me. His face, usually so lively and full of energy, was now marked by the stress of recent events. But even in these difficult moments, he exuded a calmness that soothed me.
"Elise," he whispered softly, his voice broken with emotion. I could feel the tremor in his voice as he spoke my name. "Elise, I'm sorry."
I tried to find my voice, but my throat was too constricted by the fear and confusion coursing through me. Eventually, I managed to say with difficulty, "Bas, it's okay."
But Bas shook his head, his eyes filled with regret. "No, Elise, it's not," he said gravely. "That bastard went too far. I should never have let you out of my sight."
I felt powerless, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions. I scooted over in the bed and motioned for Bas to come lie beside me. He hesitated for a moment but then gave in to my gesture. I rested my head against his chest, craving his comforting warmth.
"Bas, please don't feel guilty," I pleaded, my voice barely above a whisper. "It all happened in the restroom. You couldn't exactly follow me everywhere, could you?"
A faint smile appeared on Bas's face at my words, but his concern hadn't dissipated. "I shouldn't have let you go alone," he repeated, his voice heavy with regret.
I sat up a bit so I could see him better. "And I shouldn't have drunk so much," I replied, my tone serious. "We can keep blaming each other, but that won't get us anywhere."
Bas looked at me, his eyes full of emotion. "I just want you to know that I'll always be here for you, Elise. No matter what," he promised solemnly.
I took his hand and squeezed it gently, grateful for his presence and support. "I know, Bas. And I'm so grateful to have you," I whispered, holding his gaze. In his eyes, I saw a mixture of love, concern, and determination.
We lay there silently next to each other, our breaths synchronizing. The room was filled with the soft hum of medical equipment and the muted sound of voices in the hallway. But for me, there was only one sound that truly mattered: the reassuring beat of Bas's heart, telling me that I wasn't alone in this dark time.
"Bas," I began, my voice whispering, almost afraid to break the fragile silence between us. "I'm sorry you have to go through all of this. I never thought that..." He interrupted me with a soft smile, his eyes full of understanding. "Elise, you don't need to apologize," he said resolutely.

Bas looked at me with concern as he asked, "What exactly happened, Elise?"
I took a deep breath as I dredged up my memories of the terrible events of that night. "I started feeling worse in the club, and I have no idea how he managed to drug me there," I began, memories flooding over me. "And then... then David was waiting for me in the restroom." The memory of his cold grip on my arm and his malicious smile made me feel sick.
Bas's face contorted with disgust at the mention of that name. "He took me to his apartment," I continued, my voice barely above a whisper. "And there... he drugged me again."
A shiver ran down my spine at the memory of those terrifying moments. "He... he wants the other Elise back," I whispered, struggling to keep my tears in check. "He knows I'm not his Elise."
Bas's face twisted with anger and helplessness at hearing my story. "It's unfathomable that he gets away with this," he muttered, frustrated. "It's all criminal, Elise. The fact that he gets away with it... it's just incomprehensible."
I nodded in agreement, a sigh of frustration escaping my throat. "We can just be thankful that I didn't suffer any lasting damage," I sighed, folding my hands in my lap.
"All because of that other Elise," Bas said with a bitter undertone. "I've seen her," I whispered softly, and I saw Bas look at me in surprise.
"Seen her?" he repeated, his voice full of disbelief.
I nodded slowly. "I was so scared that I almost escaped from reality."
"But no?" Bas asked, his eyes wide with amazement.
"But he won't break me, Bas," I continued, my voice now determined. "This world means much more to me than my fear of David."
Bas wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close, a warm embrace that gave me a sense of security. "I'm here for you, Elise," he whispered, his voice filled with love and support.

"Tell me," I urged. "How did things end between you and Tilly?" Bas ran a hand through his hair as he chuckled. "Um, maybe this isn't the right moment," he began hesitantly. "I already feel guilty enough about what happened." I gave him a playful punch in his side. "Don't be lame, Bas," I laughed. "Did you guys have sex?" The twinkle in his eyes confirmed my suspicions.
"Yeah, okay," he sighed as he rolled his eyes. "Oh, Elise," he began, "I regret it so much. I had too much to drink and that whole thing about me having to look lovingly at girls. I'm 100% sure again that I'm into guys," he laughed. "Unfortunately, I'll have to break that girl's heart." "Poor Tilly," I sighed. Bas shrugged. "She'll get over it," he said with a hint of resignation.
At that moment, a nurse entered the room, indicating that visiting hours were over. We looked at each other briefly, and I knew it was time to say goodbye.
"I'll be here again tomorrow," Bas said as he climbed out of the bed. I nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Bas."
As he put on his jacket, Bas suddenly asked, "Are you going to tell Bill anything?" I shook my head resolutely. "No, Bill will freak out if he finds out. I want him to focus on making that music video," I explained. Bas nodded understandingly. "See you tomorrow, kiddo," he said with a warm smile, and with those words, he left the room.
I sighed deeply as I was left alone in the room. My thoughts drifted to Bill, and I hoped he wouldn't be too worried when he heard what had happened.