The Promise

43) Aurora

I'm preparing dinner so; I can have something before I head for my shift at the bookstore. My laptop displays my best friends' faces as they FaceTime me, and I answer their call.

"Hey, babe!" they chirp, "HI, I missed both of you so much!". "We missed you too, tell us how are you doing, girl?" they ask and I start updating them with my news when my phone starts ringing.

"Wait, guys, my phone's ringing in my room; I'll go grab it." I go to grab it to find Omer calling. "When's your holiday, girl? We want to see you," they ask. "Not yet. Wait, I have to get this."

"Omer?" I answer, but he doesn't reply. "Omer, are you there?" I frown at the phone. I hear shuffling then heavy breathing, "Omer, are you okay?" I start getting worried, "the card- with Crew" he whispers; words not fully clear.

"Omer, what card? Omer?" I frown as the shuffling stops even the panting. "Guys, something's wrong; got to go" I run for the door before they get the chance to respond.

I open the door and ring Omer's, but no answer. I start knocking, "Omer!" I call then remember the card is with Crew. I don't wait for the elevator as I take the stairs calling his number. "Yes, Miss" he answers, "Crew! Can I please get the keys to Omer's place? He said that." I rush. "Yes, of course". "Where are you?" I ask reaching the reception, "Downstairs, oh I see you, coming".

I see him reach me; overlooking my attire in home wear concerned. "Is something the matter?"," No just where's the key?", "There" he gives it to me and I start ascending again when I remember, "The fingerprint" I exclaim, "This one doesn't need it, go" he adds.

I nod rushing upstairs; I pant as I reach our level. I hit the card as the door opens with a ping. I rush inside calling for him, "Omer, where are you!". I look around to find nothing when I see the door to his room closed. I knocked on it several times, but no answer I slam it open. My heart lurches to my throat at what I see.

"Omer!" I rush to his side, he's on the floor; unconscious and unmoving. I shake him and try to check his breathing; it's so fucking shallow and slow. "No, no, no, no, no, Omer please open your eyes!" I start panicking as tears form in my eyes falling. "Omer, don't please" I sob as I look around for something, I grab for the phone to call 911 when he moves his hand for a bit.

"Omer, hang on, please. Stay with me" he holds two of my fingers as he opens his eyes slightly, "Don't" he breathes. "Let me call 911, or get a doctor. I'll get Crew!" I say when he stammers, "No one knows- the medicine- his breath catches. I look around, "Where?", "-drawers" I get up shuffling between a lot of them, something catches my eye, but I ignore it as I find a bottle of pills and needles.

"Are these the right ones?" I rush back to his side. He moves his head in a nodding attempt when his body starts to shake. "Omer! What's wrong!" I grab hold of him and cradle his head so he doesn't hit it; I saw this before. Oh God.

"Omer, no!" I hug his body to mine sobbing as he trembles; shaking us both in the process. "Please, stay with me. What should I do!" I cry helplessly. His body slumps again against me. "No! hang on, it'll be fine. Not you, please. Please." I place him gently on the floor again as I rush for some water.

I run back again to his side; cradling his head "Omer, it's the medicine. Open your mouth, please."

I put the pill in his mouth; adding some water and make sure he swallowed. I cradle his head again against my chest as I bawl my eyes out. "Please, God not him." I sob, "Wake up, open your eyes. Don't leave me, Omer, I'll do anything I swear on my life, but please open your eyes."

An hour passes, with us in the same position on the floor. Him in my arms unconscious and me; a useless bitch that can do nothing. I knew it was an hour as the clock now is 6:50 and when I came in it was 5: 53.

I looked around me, he said nobody knew, but Crew seemed to know when he rushed me to get here. I try to move him as I look at the bed, no way I can move him; he's way bigger than me. I remove these thoughts and try to get him to sit up.

After various attempts, I finally placed him on the bed. My mind screamed at me to get or call someone, but he stopped me from getting an ambulance. I have to wait till he wakes up, but what if the medicine is not the one? Or what if this happens again?

I look at him and check his breathing as I did the past hour every 5 minutes. I read the label of the bottle of pills, but understand nothing. I lower myself on the floor next to him as I take his hand in mine and stay there.

I feel a hand in my hair and startle awake. I find him awake; eyelids half-open; looking at me. "Omer!" I hug his frame burying my face in his neck; crying again. "It's okay, dove" he whispers, placing his hand at the back of my head. "I was so scared" I murmur as I look at him. "What should I do? I gave you this pill, but I don't know what else. Omer, let me call 911 or someone- Crew! Anyone, just- "Don't, dove" he cups my face; wiping my tears away.

"Then tell me what is happening and what should I do?" I ask. "Calm down, dove. I'll be okay. The needle, inject it in my arm, can you?" I shake my head and he winces as he nods, "Get it, little one" I rush to get it and go back to his side. "Here, it's prepared; just inject it."

I look at his shirt, "Should I take it off? I ask as he chuckles "Already eager to get me out of my clothes, dove?" I scoff, "I'm serious, Omer!". He smiles then adds, "Take only this side off" he gestures to his right side. I nod as I unfasten his buttons, he looks at me in awe as I undo his shirt. My hair falls in front of my eyes, he tucks it behind my ears as I get his right side out of the shirt.

"Where should I inject it?" I panic, he touches my face softly; "It's okay, here, dove" he points at the spot. I inject him with it and throw the needle after. "I'll get you some water" I go to the kitchen to get him water and go back again. Heat laces through my body as I see him half-shirtless on the bed. I didn't realize till now.

I cradle his head to help him drink some water then place him back on the pillow. I sit on the floor next to him, "Sit here, dove not the floor" he pats the bed. I shake my head, "I won't bite, dove. Unless you allow it" I huff out a laugh, "Not funny at all, I'm okay here. I want to be closer here."

"Tell me something; distract me, Rory." I smile, "That's a new one, Mi Amor," I tell him and he raises his brows. "I must be hallucinating, give me something sweet" I frown. "You sound like Dionne."

I take a breath then say, "Alright, I'll tell you about something that makes me happy" he smiles then nods, I go on "My books. They're my escape too. I always read at the school's library in the breaks because I didn't have friends. They were mine."

I keep talking and talking as he listens and asks questions. I never felt this comfort before, it's good when someone is interested in what you're saying. I am telling him the story of a book I loved when his eyelids start to drop. I stop, "Why did you stop, dove?". I stand climbing next to him on the bed, he looks at me as I turn off the lights next to us keeping the small one in the room. I open my arms for him, his eyes soften "Are you sure?" he asks and I nod.

He lifts his body and I help him to settle in my embrace; he lays his head on my chest and I place his arm around my waist. I wrap my arms around him as I lace my fingers through his silky hair. He sighs then we stay like that for a while.

I thought he slept when he whispered, "I don't have a brother, dove. I have two".

I tighten my arms around him feeling that this information is only for me. "Where are they?" I ask softly. "Not here" he adds. I nod then he adds, "Don't accept him, dove. For me" he pleads softly, I nod as I plant a kiss on his forehead. "Sleep, baby. I'm here, not going anywhere." I murmur as he drifts off to sleep.

I look next to the bed, at the drawers where I find a picture of me. it's not an old one like the ones I found in the file. I decide to let it be as I smile as I realize what is it like to be appreciated and liked by someone. I look at his peaceful face as he sleeps in my arms, I never let any man this close; they make me uncomfortable. But he's different, in everything. His presence comforts me; I feel safe when he's around like no one's going to look at me in a bad way because he's there. I lean in planting a kiss on his forehead and then nose as I lay my head atop his and close my eyes too.