OPEN LATE ;; PENGUIN

1.4

I woke up to a knock on the door. Oswald peered his head in.

" Os? " he smiled back at me, walking in.

" I believe that is the nickname you have given me..." he chucked and limped to the right side of my bed. " I missed you, old...friend, if you may. Not to mention I have... " he sighed. " well I've just been worried sick. "

" I heard... " his smile twitched.

" From who? "

" Margo, of course. " he nodded, limping the other way and turning his back to me.

" Good. Has...she been taking care of you? "

" No--she doesn't have to. I can take care of myself. " he spun on his heels, his eyes bulging at me.

" I told her to. Has she not been following orders? Huh Lyla? "

" ...I...guess she was in here for a few hours when I was asleep? "

" ...Better have been. " he turned back around.

" Are you alright?-- "

" Listen Lyla. " he walked towards me quickly, putting his hands on the sides of the hospital bed to steady himself as he got up in my face. " you're going to be leaving here tomorrow. And when you do...I don't want you to come back to the club. " I tilted my head.

" W-why? " he shrugged and looked both ways.

" I think you're making me weak. And you and I know that can't happen... " I looked down and thought for a few moments.

" ...Okay. " he chuckled.

" Good. " as he walked out of the room, I had no idea why I felt it. Why I felt that bitter and sour like pain had been lodged straight into my heart. He said he missed me. And that he was worried sick. Or was that a lie? Either way the tears were pouring down my cheeks before I knew it.