Saving Liam

Love is a Battlefield

It's been a few weeks since I walked away from Liam and his grandparents that night in the hospital. Liam has texted me everyday since but I've ignored him. I feel terrible but I can't get all caught up in a boy. He needs to help his grandparents. I need to focus on my own family and problems.

Mom suggested that I visit Colin in rehab today, since today was visitor day. I wanted nothing to do with him but mom said he's been asking about me so I went anyway.

"Knock knock." I tapped on his door. He immediately sat up and patted on his bed for me to come sit.

"Fifteen minutes Miss Grace." The nurse warned me.

I slowly and carefully took a seat next to him.

"I'm so glad you came, I've been waiting for you." He gently rubbed a finger down my cheek. I moved away as he did it.

"We can't be together." I whispered. He's probably going to get out of control and hurt me, so I stood up from the bed.

"No. NO!" He shouted. A nurse came running in then.

"What's going on here?" She asked.

"Nothing." Colin shook his head in his hands.

The nurse then disappeared out of the room to give us some space.

"Do you love Liam?" He asked, out of nowhere.

"Gates?" I tried playing dumb.

"You know that. Don't play stupid." His voice was becoming angry again. For the first time since his attack on me, I felt scared to be near him. I slowly started to walk backwards so I could escape.

"Don't leave me, please. Don't leave me." He cried.

"Colin, you're sick. You need help. There can't be an us, I'm sorry. It was a mistake coming here." I felt the last words sting on my tongue. Did I really just say that to a patient with anger problems?

"You're the mistake." He fired back. I instantly felt my heart break and the tears coming in full blast.

"You think you're this sweet little girl who goes to church and helps the less fortunate but really you just like to play with boy's hearts and act like its all okay. Go. Go get Liam and never talk to me again." He shooed me out. I turned around, tripping over my own feet because of the tears blocking my vision.

I ran out of there so fast, I think a nurse was chasing me down, asking what happened. I stopped before I reached the exit.

"He's a disgrace. Make sure he never asks for Melody Eva Grace because I wish to never speak to him ever again." I pointed my finger in the nurse's face even though she really has no control of his actions or words.

"Um yes dear. We will make sure." Her voice was a bit shaky. I scared her.

And with that I left, letting the door slam.

~~~~~

"Melody, I just got off the phone with Mrs. Gates. I need to talk to you dear." Mom set the phone down and sat down next to me on the couch.

"Is Mr. Gates okay?" I asked, suddenly very concerned.

"He's.. okay." Mom looked pained to reveal the next set of information.

"Um, I don't really know how to word this." Mom took a pause and my heart rate accelerated.

"No." I shook my head. Everything is fine with Liam. He's fine, right?

"Honey. Liam is... hurting." Mom had to wipe away a stray tear.

"Physically, mentally?" I asked, my patience becoming low.

"Both." Mom said.

"Mom..." I started to cry.

"Mom, what happened?!" I shouted, on the edge of the couch now.

"Liam tried taking his own life today." The words hit me like a truck. I felt my heart sink and my mind lose it. I instantly landed in my mom's arms sobbing and stopped when I realized she said 'tried' as in he's still here?

"Where is he?" I asked.

"In the hospital. Oh, his grandpa is so worried about him. Mrs. Gates too. They don't have any idea why he would want to do that. Do you know anything that would cause him to do this, Mel?"

"I don't know him all that well but what I do know is that, his grandpa means everything to him and since Liam just moved in, he feels as if his grandpa is already being taken away from him. He feels alone. Oh my gosh, I could of done something." I gasped at my realization.

"He didn't tell me he was alone but it was noticeable. I'm so stupid." I cried harder now.

"You're not stupid Melody. He needs help." The words were so familiar. 'He needs help'. It seems I'm a target for troubled boys.

"When can I see him?" I asked, standing up from the cry session.

Mom smiled and said, "I'll drive."

Mom waited in the waiting room while I went up to the fifth floor to see Liam. I knocked on the door and he was sleeping. Mrs. Gates hugged me and thanked me for coming. She left to give us some privacy when he was to awaken. I sat beside him and looked around the room, lots of tubes were hooked up to him. It was then, I noticed his wrist. There were many slits and my heart broke and I could feel the tears making their way again. My cries turned to sobs and I startled him. I slapped my hand over my mouth to shut myself up. Once he noticed it was me, he tried sitting up but I begged him not to.

"You came." He smiled. I just shook my head.

"Are you okay?" I asked, my voice completely shaken.

"Yeah and look, I'm really sorry. About a few weeks ago, just a few hours ago. I was a jerk and I'm sorry. I'm just jealous that's all. You're really beautiful and so perfect, I just want to be able to call you mine." And with that I stood up and gave him a hug, the best I could.

"I'm not going anywhere." I whispered, as I took in his beautiful blue eyes.