Healed to Love

5

"Are you stupid? Why the hell did you punch the window? I mean what did it ever do to you? And plus, now your seats are going to be soaking." Right now, we're in a trauma room, dripping wet from the unexpected rain. He hasn't spoken to me since I went to him outside, and it just happened to start raining when I did go out – leaving the both of us soaked. Not my fault.

"I thought you had to take Sarah home, why are you back? If you're worried about Rachel, I'll look after her." I'm almost done with the stitches. I feel his stare on my every movement as I close up the laceration. He occasionally winces from the pain – suits him right for refusing the local anesthetics I offered.

"So now you're ignoring me? How ironic." I finish off with the last pull through and knot the end. Looking up, his eyes stare back at me almost accusingly. I shake my head and let out a sigh. Taking off the gloves and throwing them away, I walk to the door.

"You're a hypocrite, you know? And a coward." His unusually harsh tone stops me.

"Excuse me?"

"Years ago, you tell me that we can't happen, and look where you are now. You were never willing to give me a chance, were you? You said there was nothing going on between you and him, really? So I guess that makes you a liar too." Did he just brand me a liar? I blink my eyes, not believing what he's actually accusing me of.

"So you and the magnificent Matt Stephens who's still standing outside, huh?" His voice is hard and challenging. I could lie. I could say there was...

"No."

"No?" It's clear my answer catches him off guard because he raises an eyebrow to my raging expression.

"Who are you to judge me? Matthew Stephens is married to Serena and they have a kid for crying out loud. So tell me, who are you to brand me a liar, and a coward, and a hypocrite? Why'd you come back anyway? You should've stayed home with Sarah." I clench my jaw and push the door open, but am quickly stopped when he pulls me back.

"There's nothing going on between you and him?"

"Why the hell does it matter to you... or anyone?"

"Answer the question."

"I already did." I cross my eyes.

"Is there anything going on between you and anyone?"

"Why do you care? You have Sarah anyway." I push him off of my hand turn toward the door again.

"Sarah's with Ben. They got married a month ago." His voice is soft and gentle. My heart flutters a bit when I hear this. So Sarah wasn't his, but his younger brother's. "I came back for you, Arielle."

I gasp and face him. He sits on the edge of the bed with a vulnerable expression. Go to him, this is probably your last chance. It's a miracle it happened again considering the first time. A miracle. Miracles don't happen.

I shake my head. I can't do this. No.

He advances forward and I back up to the wall. Holding his arms out, he blocks me off from any escape. His eyes bore into mine with intimacy.

"Arielle, stop running away from me."

I choke out a sob. "You'll get bored of me eventually, and then you'll leave. And-and I can't take that... b-because I saw what it did to m-my mother, a-and I won't let it happen."