Craving Forgiveness

42

The hours droned on as you laid in bed staring at the ceiling.

You did you best to not see into anything they were doing.

If you had a vision it would just make you want to help and you promised Erik you'd stay out of it.

Time passed slowly as you laid in the bed. You decided to head down to the lobby for a drink and some dinner.

You had finished your dinner and were sipping on your wine not wanting to be alone and in bed with your worries. At least watching other people was distracting although the dining hall was nearly empty.

You mindlessly studied all the decorations and furniture as you sat.

"Excuse me miss. Would you like me to take these?" You looked up to see a man there.

"Oh! Um yes please." You smiled at him and he took your plates and left.

"Did you enjoy everything?" He asked when he returned.

"Absolutely! It was incredible. Thank you for your service." You gave him a wide smile.

"Excuse me if I'm intruding but are you alright? It looks likes something is wrong. You're all alone and it's quite late."

"Oh, well. I'm alright. Just wanted to get out of my room for a bit."

He looked at his watch before returning your gaze," well miss, I would love to take you out sometime. Maybe tomorrow? We could go to a movie or maybe-"

"Oh. I'm sorry I'm engaged."

He looked down at your hand confusingly," I don't see a ring." He said annoyed.

You narrowed your eyes,"well I don't believe that's a part of your job description."

"So do you always make up a fiance to get out of dates?"

You stood up angrily," I'll have you know that he is real and he is the most wonderful man that I know." His eyes widened, he clearly wasn't expecting your attitude. "Now if you'll excuse me. I've got better things to do than argue with a boy who is way out of his league."

You turned on your heels and walked away making sure to sway your hips sassily.

You went back to your room and grabbed the ring from the nightstand.

You took it off not wanting to lose it during your drunken state.

You took the pills Erik left for you and hopped in the shower.

Once you got out you slipped into some pjs and crawled in bed finally feeling sleepy enough.

———————

You shot up out of your sleep.

Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong.

There was so much blood.

Erik.

His hand was covered in blood. Alex was standing over him saying something.

Sirens were heard in the background as Alex seemed to tell Erik to stay with him.

Your heart dropped as Erik's head fell back onto the cold concrete floor.

"Alex what happened?!?" You shouted from the corner of the room.

His head snapped in the direction of your voice.

"Atarah? What are you doing here?" He responded.

"I'm...I'm at the hotel. I don't know how this is happening. You can see me?"

He gave a slow silent nod.

You looked back at the unconscious Erik and ran over to him.

Tears flowed down your face as you knelt down beside him.

"Alex. What happened?" You asked between sobs.

"I- your father did this. He beat Erik pretty badly. From what I can tell he broke a few ribs before he stabbed him. It doesn't look good Atarah."

"Don't say that! He'll be fine. Where is the goddamn ambulance?!?"

"I...I...I don't know. I don't know." Alex whispered and frustratedly ran his hands through his hair and the sirens came closer.

"Erik. Erik come on baby wake up. Please wake up." You gently shook him but nothing happened.

Your cries became more desperate,"Baby please please please. Wake up. Please. I need you. I can't do this without you. I won't. Wake up Erik."

"Hello?!" A man called out. "Does someone need an ambulance?"

"Atarah. You need to go." Alex said. "You cannot be here especially if you're still at the hotel. You don't know how long you can keep yourself here. You can't risk them finding out about you. Go back to the hotel. Okay? Meet us at the hospital. We're in here!" He called out to the paramedics. "Go."

You rocked back in forth in the bed crying. You didn't have enough strength to get out of bed.

Something was terribly wrong.

You gathered whatever strength you could before getting dressed and heading downstairs to catch a cab.

You cried all the way to the hospital.

Erik was in the ICU when you got there.

You hesitantly walked into the room to see Erik tangled in tubes.

Alex sat at his bedside blankly staring at the wall.

You stepped into the room further,"how is he?" You croaked causing Alex's head to shoot up.

"Atarah." He said in a breathless tone. "He um. He's not doing well. He has 4 broken ribs and his lungs are punctured not to mention the 6 stabs to his stomach and the loss of blood. They um. They don't know if he'll make it."