𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 |𝟏𝟖+|

55

Miguel Raffetò POV

Etta's coming home today. Correction. I'm taking Etta home today. In 17 minutes to be exact.

She just had to sign the discharge papers and then at eleven, we're free to go.

I can't lie and say I'm not slightly shitting my pants at the thought of being home alone with Etts 24/7. Not because I don't wanna be. Fuck, all I've ever wanted is to be glued to her side until she gods bored of me.

But I'm anxious because I wanna look after her correctly. I want to be everything she needs. And I know how fragile both her mental and physical state is at the moment, so I just want to get it right.

It's the least I can do after all I've been the cause of.

Every night for the past week, Etta has suffered from nightmares. My heart cracks every time. Not just because of the thought of what she sees whenever she closes her eyes. But because she tries to hide her terror from me.

I know we're not a couple anymore, but her unwillingness to turn to me for comfort crumpled something deep within my soul.

But I've done that to her. Done that to us. So it's my duty to make it better.

Seventeen minutes later and I was wheeling her towards my car.

I opened the door and adjusted the seat before turning to the girl currently drumming her good fingers against her knee in anxiety.

"Etts, tell me what you're thinkin."

Her movements halted as she looked up at me behind those goofy glasses I loved so much. But as I thought she was gonna talk to me, she shook her head and dismissed her anxiety. "Nothing. Please just take me home."

"Roger that, cap." Putting the brakes on the wheeled chair, I gave her a helping hand to get to her feet.

Whether it was subconscious or not, Etts out all her weight onto me, leaning into my touch as I lifted her into the car.

All her breaks were healing and getting better by the day. But she still didn't have the use of two crutches whilst her wrist and fingers were healing.

I ducked into the car and buckled her up, hearing her sharp intake of breath at my proximity.

When I slid into the drivers seat moments later, her face was painted with a blush.

Still nice to know I have an effect on her.

Half an hour later and I was steering her towards her apartment door. I passed her the keys as she unlocked the door, and when we entered, the sight took my breath away.

Our little bubble. My second home because Etta is my first. The sanctuary and root of many core memories.

And right on that couch, was where I shattered our hearts into tiny little pieces.

The air grew taut between us as if E was remembering everything too. I was still thankful every fucking day that she even could reminisce on the good times and the bad.

As we got further into the room, her bed sheets were pristine but what lay atop it had me swallowing the lump in my throat.

Toothless. That stuffed animal I bought for her. She must've slept with it.