The unwanted sister

D E C O S T A

Antonio De Costa

"Are you okay?" Lily's worried voice asks me as she presses a wet towel on the bruises of my rib.

I watch her calculated movements, her lips forming a pout as she focuses on the injuries.

"I'm okay." I reassure her, holding her chin between my thumb and finger to make sure she's looking at me. "Angel, I promise I'm okay." Her fierce green eyes stare up at me.

"You don't have to be okay." She murmurs in soft tone. Her eyes averting from mine as she wets the towel again with the sink next to me. I lean on the bathroom counter, her standing between my legs.

"I know." I whisper back, brushing her fire-like hair out of her face so I can see her better.

My angel is so beautiful.

"Antonio..." she whispers, calling out to me in the dark abyss of her ugly thoughts to save her from them.

I bring her in closer to my chest, discarding the towel. My arms subconsciously land on her lower back. My ribs hurt like hell, yet I can't bring myself to want her to step away.

In my dying pain she's my one and only cure.

She sinks deeper in my chest, allowing me to overwhelm her small figure with my much larger one.

Her soft arms cross around my neck, allowing me to stuff my head in the crook of her neck. Inhaling her sweet cinnamon scent with a drop of vanilla.

I leave a few harmless kisses on her creamy skin, not able to deny the craving of tasting her.

"Angel?"

"Mhm"

I pull back, making sure her eyes meet mine. "Promise me you won't leave me." I say, laying out my vulnerability and insecurity for her to pick through. My voice slightly breaks, revealing the sincerity in my worries.

A soft smile makes its way onto her face. "The Devil himself would have to pull me away from your arms."

"The Devil, I can hurt. I need you to promise me that you won't be the one choosing to leaving me. I won't be able to go through the pain without finding someone to blame... Well there's always myself."

Her warm eyes look at me with so much care it almost makes me melt. "You harming yourself hurts me more than if you were to harm me."

She brings her face closer to mine, our lips brushing as we both stare into each other's eyes. I get lost in the forest of her eyes, wondering what did I ever do to deserve such an angel in my life.

A smile grows on her face as she looks at me with so much love and care it makes my heart hurt. I gently cradle her face with both my hands. "God you're so beautiful. I love you so much." I say, planting my lips on hers.

She pulls away with a giggle. "I have to finish cleaning you up."

"No." I say, effortlessly picking her up by her waist and turning around so she's the one sitting on the counter.

"Antonio I'm serious." Lily says, amusement coating her voice as I pepper kisses on her collarbone.

"So am I-" I get interrupted by a loud banging knock on my bedroom door. I groan, stuffing my face in her neck. I stay still. Maybe if I stay quiet they'll go away.