Second Chance At Love

Chapter 3; Part 3: Old Demons

Olivia jerked herself off Elliot, looking at him with confusion. She could not believe at what she just heard. "You what?" Elliot stared back at her, his eyes blood shot red. "I socked her in the face and sh-she fell down on the ground. Hard."

Stunned, Olivia slowly took two steps back. She moved her head up and down, looking at Elliot from head to toe. "What were you thinking El?," she whispered. Elliot sniffled. "That's just it Liv. I wasn't. He hesitated before continuing. "She dropped to the floor. It looked like she was in slow motion while she was falling. At first, I didn't think much of it. Kathy rolled across the floor covering her face. She was screaming. I just stood there over her as the blood started seeping in between her fingers. I was motionless. Suddenly I see Dicky and Lizzie crowding her. I'm still standing there. It was like I was paralyzed. Then out of nowhere, I felt my body falling backwards. I didn't realize that Dicky pushed me down. He began beating my face; screaming like crazy. It looked like he was cursing me out. I couldn't tell. I wasn't all there in the head."

Placing her hand over her mouth, Oliva backed up another step before pacing across the small living room. 'Who the hell am I talking to?' she thought. 'This is not the Elliot I know.' Now she was getting upset. Stopping in her tracks, Olivia turned to once again to face Elliot. "Please tell me that you didn't hit Dicky", she snapped.

Elliot shook his head. "I didn't. Dicky actually beat my ass. Hell, I saw myself in him each blow he gave me to the face. Kathy was able to get to her feet eventually and her and Lizzie were yelling at Dicky as they managed to pull him off me. My face was numb; my vison blurry. All I could see were three figures surrounding me." Elliot fixed his eyes on Olivia. She was staring back at him with both disappointment and concern.

"Along with Elliot Jr., they immediately packed up whatever they could fit in the car and left. Without a trace Liv. Days went by. Next thing you know it, weeks and then months went by. No word from anyone. Not even from my two eldest daughters. I was beginning  to lose my mind again. I lost our home and I was living in motels. I drunk more. I hooked up with women I met at the bars. I was utterly a total wreck.  I felt so alone and depressed. I was so low that I even had nightmares of killing myself. I didn't want to feel like I was suffering anymore. I used to grab my gun and have it in my hands, sometimes all day. I would point it to my temple and just feel so tempted to pull the trigger, you know? It was like there were demons whispering in my ear saying do it. Like what do I have left to live for, huh? What do I have left to lose? I shot a teen girl who recently lost her mother to a shooting. I left my job because I felt like there was no reason for me work in that type of line of duty anymore. I lost my wife, my kids, and my home after going insane. I lost everything and everyone I loved."

"Hold on El", Olivia interrupted. "You didn't lose me. You know you could of called me. Do you know how many times I called you to see how you were? I knew you were going through some things, but not this tragic. How come you couldn't come to me?"

Elliot began walking to the kitchen. "I couldn't get you involved with all of that Oliva. This was my war. Not ours." Olivia tilted her head at his response. "Are you serious right now Elliot?", she said crossly. "We might not be partners anymore, but we're best friends. To my understanding I thought we were." "Liv, we are the best of friends, yes, but wha..." "You could have came to me Elliot!" Now Olivia was yelling with fury. "We could have talked about it. I could have been there for you. Look,  honestly I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that, but by yourself Elliot? Things were rough, I get it. I probably would have not called myself as well if I was you, but eventually I would have called to say hi and let you know that at least I'm alive." Elliot looked at Olivia straight in her brown eyes. Now she was beginning to tear up. "Not once did I hear anything from you for five years. I didn't know what became of you."

Olivia hung her head down. "I have to go", she choked up. "Thanks for the invite." With that, Olivia grabbed her purse from the couch and hurried towards the front door. Elliot sprung right behind her. "Olivia wait", he called out, placing his hand on her arm. Olivia jerked her hand towards herself to release his grasp. Elliot was taken back from this. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't know how to handle it all. It was too much for me." Turning around one last time to face Elliot, Olivia looked into his bright blue eyes. "To honest with you El", she whispered, "as much as I feel sorry for what you went through, you weren't the only one who had too much on their plate."

Opening the door behind her, Olivia quickly walked down the apartment hallway towards the stairs. She didn't look back. Elliot watched on until she was out of site. "I'm sorry Liv", he whispered to himself. He stood at the doorway for a few more seconds still staring at the empty hallway. With a sigh, he hung his head and wiped the rest if his tears from his chin as he finally closed his front door.