Hide And Seek ~ Josh Dun

Chapter 52

(Josh P.O.V.)

I don't know why I did that. I'm so pissed off at myself. After running down the hall and hiding behind a corner, I heard her sob echo throughout the hall. I caused that. I caused her that pain.

After that, her cry plays through my head over and over again as I walk around town. I don't even know where I'm walking. I didn't mean to run out of the room. I just, I thought of her dead and I couldn't take it. I had to get out of there.

Sighing, I look through the window of a store I'm walking by. The rising sun creates a glare on it, causing me to squint to see it. Seeing the open sign, I decided to walk in and look around. Thank god we are just traveling today, or else I'd be screwed.

"Hello, Sir!" An old man says from behind the counter, a wide grin on his face. Smiling at him, I pick through a few things. "Are you looking for anything specific?"

Sighing, I bite my lip and walk over to him while nodding. "Yeah... I kinda made my girlfriend upset. And I want to make it up to her but I don't know how, or with what." The old man watches me with sad eyes, and gently pats my back.

"Over here, son." I follow behind him as he wobbles over to a glass counter. "We have everything you could think off. Jewelry? Stuffed animals? Flowers? We got it all." I smile at him gratefully while looking at some of the necklaces. "Tell me about her, kiddo." He leans against the wall, hands pressing down on his cane.

Licking my lips, I can't help but smile. "She's beautiful. Short, about 5 ft 2 inches, but she wears heels a lot. She has the most vibrant eyes ever, they twinkle whenever she talks about something she loves. I've known her for a while , but I've only been dating her for a couple of weeks. I love her more than anything."

He watches me the whole time as I talk, a grin on his face. "So how did you make her upset?" I sigh, and he gives an encouraging smile.

"She's... Sick. And she won't get help. She just doesn't understand how scary it is. Sometimes she will just stop breathing, or just blackout for hours. I'm scared one day we are gonna fall asleep next to each other, but I'm going to be the only one to wake up." I rub my hands over my eyes, taking a deep inhale of air.

"I know just what for you to give her, Son." The little old man quickly shuffles behind the counter and grabs a long box out from under it. Making my way over to him, he keeps the smile on his face. Opening the box, it reveals a gold necklace with a lavender angel. "For when you can't protect her, know that this angel will."

Tearing up, I immediately grab my wallet out and the old man grins. Giving him the money, I wrap the bag containing the necklace around my hand. The old man walks over to the flowers and feels a couple, wrapping their stems with plastic.

"Give her these also. On the house." Unable to contain myself, I hug the old man, and he gratefully hugs me back. "Maybe you could bring her to the store later. I want to see if she likes the necklace." Eagerly, I nod, and he walks me out of the store.

With a little pep in my step, I quickly make my way back to the hotel. By now the sun is bright in the sky, so I make a stop at Dunkin Donuts on my way back, grabbing Abby an iced coffee as well as myself.

~~~

Walking into the hotel room, I see Abby laying against the wall instead of on the bed. I release a sad sign, knowing it's because of me. I put the stuff down and pick her up, laying her in bed. As soon as my arms leave her, her eyes flutter open.

"I'm so sorry, Josh." Her voice is quiet, but the emotion in it kills me. I place my forehead on hers and kiss her nose.

"I got you something, Princess. We leave for the Albany in about an hour, so I brought you a coffee." Walking over to get the coffee and flowers, I tuck the box in my pocket. She smiles when she sees the flowers, gracefully taking them, sniffing them before placing them on the bed stand. When I hand her the coffee, she takes a long sip.

"I love you, Abby. I really do. I will always worry about your health, because I want you to be ok." I say before pulling out the box. She gazes at it with s raised eyebrow. When I open it, she gasps and her hands go to cover her mouth.

"It's so beautiful." She whispers, glancing up at me before looking back at it. I take it out of the box and put it around her neck. Her fingers cradle the angel, and she smiles. "Thank you, Josh."

"Anything for my baby girl. Now get dressed. Before we leave, i want to take you somewhere." I give her a quick but passionate kiss and she rushes to the bathroom to get changed, chugging her coffee as she does so.