Becoming Riley

Chapter 13: Finding Forgiveness

Anastasia waited and waited for Riley to leave the convenience store restroom outside. It was definitely an old rickety restroom, the kind that's got an outside entry. Riley didn't know Anastasia was out there waiting and she knew that Anastasia just wanted to give Riley all the time she needed and deserved.
A long time passes and customers were needing the restroom. Anastasia watches from her car as the manager shows up. The store manager banged on the door eagerly hoping to not find another hobo possibly. Anastasia steps out of her vehicle just as Riley slowly opens the door.
Riley emerges from the restroom and her embrace met Anastasia's just as quickly as their eyes did.
"Wha-a-t are you doing here?" Riley stutters.
"I knew something was up. I had to see you. I just–" Anastasia stops as Riley kisses her. Anastasia tastes the salt from Riley's mouth.
She was crying. But I won't be the reason for her to.
Anastasia wraps her arms around Riley's neck. Without hesitation her waist is grabbed by Riley. The feeling of home overcomes Anastasia and nothing else exists. Not the pain, the issues of this world. Anastasia is lost, but she doesn't plan to be found. Riley lets go of Anastasia snapping her back to reality.
"Even after what I've done to you? The struggle of hiding us, the struggle of my moodiness, and the struggle of me all together?" Riley mumbles as they walk back to Anastasia's car.
"Yes, dear, yes. I forgive you," Anastasia buckles herself in and takes a deep breathe. A flush of coldness over laps her.
SHIT.

Blackness.

—•—•——•—•——•—•——•—•——•—•—

Riley sits down next to Anastasia at Saint Francis. Anastasia lays in a hospital bed, an oxygen mask attached to her face, IVs sticking in her arm and neck, and wires galore.
I did this. I did this. The stress was too much for her health. I should've left her a long time ago. I did this.
Riley covers her face as she shakes in the seat. Anastasia's monitor beeped. Slowly. Almost too slow, as if it was fading into nothing. Riley, while still shaking, grabbed Anastasia's hand. Her hands were cold and lifeless. Anastasia laid unconscious and half alive. Riley knew that with Anastasia's diabetes and poor health the stress of Riley's situations were nothing but back stepping towards the health she needed. Anastasia's doctor, Dr. Maxwell Scott, walked in as Riley stood up to wash her face off in the private bathroom.
"It's amazing you're still here, usually the family members leave by the second or third day. It's been two weeks and you're still holding up." Dr. Scott checks Anastasia's charts and monitor.
Riley stopped before stepping into the bathroom and spoke softly. "I'm not family and I'm not leaving her side."
It doesn't feel like it's been two weeks, have I really been here that long? I mean she can't have been gone for that long..
"Doctor, how much longer can she hold up? I'm on pins and needles wanting her back." Riley asks. Dr. Scott sets the clipboard chart back on Anastasia's bed frame and motions for Riley to follow him out into the hallway.
This isn't good.
As they step outside Dr. Scott looks Riley in her eyes. His lips are moving but no sound is coming out. Because Riley already knows what he's saying.
Silence.
Riley just stands there as Dr. Scott puts his hand on her shoulder to console her. She doesn't even feel it. She doesn't feel anything. She only feels emptiness because she's lost it all.
Riley is completely lost.