Saving Liam

Tears

I told mom and dad about old Harrison Gates, they understood that I would be at the hospital with Liam and Carol. They offered to help with whatever.

I sat in between Liam and Carol in the waiting room. Carol was praying while Liam was muttering something over and over. All I could do was pray. Mr. Gates is an incredible man with a kind soul, he's still fairly young, 67.

"He had a heart attack, didn't he?" Liam asked me. Like I was suppose to know?

"I don't know Liam. The nurse will tell us shortly what happened. Just breathe." I took his left hand into my right and squeezed it.

"You two remind me of Harry and I. We met when we were seventeen. It was young love. I met Harry through the church. I was in a Christmas play and Harry was stage crew. I'll never forget when the curtain closed, he asked me to be his girlfriend. I thought he was talking to the lead role, standing next to me but then he slowly walked up to me and kissed me on the cheek. It was magical." Carol smiled at the memory and I couldn't help but say 'awe.'

"You think Melody and I will get married, grandma?" Liam looked over and had that cheeky grin on his face.

I felt my face heat up. No way do I want to talk about marriage just yet, I'm only seventeen.

"I do. I truly do." She patted my hand with hers. I looked over at Liam who couldn't get that cheeky grin off his face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked.

"You're so beautiful, I can't help myself."

"Thanks." I looked down at the ground, smiling.

"He's a keeper. He can play you a magical song before you go to bed, make you breakfast in bed, ohhh young love! So cute!" She clapped her hands together.

"I'm not in love with him, Carol." I said the words that were itching in my throat to escape.

I felt Liam take his hand away from mine instantly then.

"Why? Is it because you still love Colin? The boy that hurt you, literally!" Liam shouted.

"Lower your voice young man!" Carol warned.

"I-I.." I couldn't get the words out.

"I don't think I ever loved Colin." I cleared my voice.

"I don't think I experienced what real love feels like. Colin abused me. He just wanted sex. His mother forced him to join youth group. Maybe I fell for him because we were once best friends but after we ended our friendship, that's when he changed. He became this bad boy." I started to rant about Colin and I realized I should probably stop before I say something that I'll regret.

"Mrs. Gates?" A woman then came into view, holding a clipboard in her hand.

"That's me." Carol raised her hand.

The nurse came and bent down beside us. Carol instantly burst into tears.

"How is he?" I asked, as it looked like Liam and Carol didn't have the voice to ask.

"He had a heart attack." The nurse looked down at her clipboard before speaking again.

"He has congestive heart failure." She said, giving us a minute to take it all in.

"Oh my poor Harry." Carol cried.

"What does this mean?" Liam asked.

"It means he's going to need to cut down on the manual labor and just relax at home. Maybe take a walk by the beach or at the pier every once and a while. Using the automated carts at stores wouldn't be a bad idea either. He should just take an easy because it isn't looking much longer." The nurse said.

I felt Liam take my hand then and squeezed it. I looked at him and squeezed it back but then let go.

"I'm going to go Mrs. Gates. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call me." I bent down and looked her in her teary eyes.

"Where are you going dear?" She asked, heartbroken.

"Home." I whispered.

"Why?" She asked.

"I'm sorry, I just need some time to think." I could feel the hot tears forming and I knew if I didn't get out soon, I would be a mess.

"You need time to think? What about? Colin?" Liam stood up, infuriated.

"Liam, he hurt me! I can't get the image out of my head! I'm scared!" I admitted, tears running down now.

"What are you scared of?" His voice quieted.

"Getting hurt again." I shyly admitted.

"Do you think I would hurt you? Because I would never do that, Melody." He slowly walked closer with a sincere face. He stepped so close, he wiped the tear off my face and put my loose strand of hair behind my ear. I could fee his cool breath against my face.

"Don't." I whispered, backing away heading towards the exit.

"Liam." Carol said.

"Chase after her. She's worth it." I heard her whisper.

"Maybe she doesn't want to be chased after." I heard him say sadly.

I couldn't take it anymore, I bolted out of the hospital into the pouring rain. It never rains here and when it does, everyone goes inside. They act like its hail. I let the rain hit my tear streaked face and cried. I screamed a few times to get it out of my system. I found a bench that was still hospital property and took a seat onto the puddle on it. I didn't care.

Is he going to walk out and chase after me? Or stay in the waiting room, wishing he did? I waited at least fifteen minutes. He wasn't coming. I messed up. I never imagined my life to be this messy before. I always stuck to my mother's strict parenting. No boys until twenty one. Man, I should of listened. This stuff is complicated and not worth my time moping over.

I stood up from the bench. I was now drenched. My butt was soaked and so was my hair. I just need some soap and I could shower. I laughed out loud at my humor. I wiped away the silly tears and walked away in the lonely dark night.