Secondhand Life

Chapter 16

Ash's P.O.V .

I still remember that time in my life as clear as water. Jackson had left two years ago, and I haven't spoken a word to him since. I wonder how he's doing with his new future wife or if he even remembers me at all. If he remembered me or not my words from the last time we spoke still are true. I will wait for him, and I don't care if I die before it happens which may actually happen sooner than I thought.

It was still early in the morning and yet I was still in the hospital. According to Christopher I had fallen asleep for four days while I remembered everything about Jackson. No wonder why I was so hungry. I got out of my hospital bed and grabbed a ten dollar bill out of my purse near by. I walked down the hallway to a breakfast cafe.

"Can I get a hot chocolate and pancakes please?" I asked the front desk lady.

"Sure, that'll be four dollars and fifty eight cents."

I paid her the money and got my food at the next window. I picked up my tray and sat down at an empty table only to have Maria sit next to me only a few minutes later. I stopped eating and dropped my fork onto my tray with a small clink.

"Ash please let me talk to you."

Still frozen to my position. I couldn't do anything but defend myself with my fork. "What do you want Maria? Money, food? You always seem to want something from me so just tell me instead of punching me please" I said hyperventilating. She seemed sad and lowered her gaze to the floor.

"I don't want anything from you Ash, just listen to what I have to say, okay?"

I didn't say anything and instead let her talk while I poked at my pancakes.

"Ash I felt bad for what I did to you years ago and I want to apologize but I didn't know how. When your brother messaged me over Instagram and told me you were in the hospital I thought it was my fault and asked my mom to drive me over here. I cried the entire way here but now I'm so happy to see you alive." She stuttered with her words for moments after that, but I couldn't quite react but rather sat there in a daze. I'm not sure if she was actually apologizing or just feeling stupid, meanwhile I didn't care. All I wanted was to hear her say she was sorry.

"Say you're sorry." I said. 

"W-what?" Maria asked puzzled. 

"Maria. Think about it. Everyday since I was a tiny ten year old you've been making me feel like shit, along with Jackson. You remember him don't you? The boy who stood up to you for years. If you really wanna help me, just say you're sorry and leave me alo-" I stopped as I saw tears dripping down Maria's face. She gasped for breath and got ahold of herself once again. "I-I'm so sorry Ashley... I-I never knew what I-I did t-to you was so painful... I'm so sorry please, forgive me." She exclaimed slamming her powerful fists to the table with a loud smack. I stared at her, how the tears actually seemed to mean something, and how it was tearing her apart on the inside. "Okay." I said getting up and leaving the table towards the workout facility. I needed to blow off steam and sitting in a hospital bed doesn't do anything.

*****

I returned to my hospital room two hours later to find a pink sticky note on my bed in loopy handwriting.

I'm so sorry to have made you angry but I need to become friends with you or I'll never be able to live with myself. See you tomorrow.
-Maria

I ripped the note in half and threw it in the garbage can beside me. If she thought it would be this easy, oh boy Maria was in for a surprise.

*****
2:44am Ash's dreams.