faded

50.0 - cara

"How is she?"

I stir my coffee slowly and make myself more comfortable. "She's not well. I'm terrified she's going to try to kill herself or hurt herself. She won't talk to anyone."

It had been two weeks since Anastasia arrived. Kristen and I tried to speak to her, but her door simply remained closed. Zayn had warned me she'd perhaps be trouble, but she was the total opposite. It was like she wasn't even here.

"I'm trying to get back soon," Zayn assured, "Anything else? Has she been eating?"

"Yeah, but very little. Uh... You should know..."

He groaned. "What? If it's about her then it concerns me."

I sigh. "She's not wearing her ring anymore."

For the first time, his voice sounds strained. "She's not?"

It's so weak and hurt, it's strange. I had never heard him sound so upset over anything. This was a man who I'd seen at his very worst, a monster, and there he was... Torn.

"You need to speak to her... She needs you. She's like a little girl, Zayn. She's waiting for you. You have an obligation here, she's your wife. She's still very young and you're all she has!" I find myself getting upset but I can't contain the words. "You should've let her go home. You can't expect me to try and fix what you've broken. She doesn't want me to fix it, she wants you. You took her life from her, now deal with the consequences."

"I know... I fucking know. I just need a few days. I'm going to go back for her, she needs to know that. I fucked up! But I love that girl. Please watch her, protect her. I can't right now."

His voice breaks and I know he's crying. "I love her. I'd die if I lost her. I'll be back in a few days... I promise."

"Cara?" I hear her little voice and Zayn does too.

"Let me talk to her."

She rubs her arm, her sleepy, bloodshot eyes so low. Still, she was still so adorable and small. Worryingly thin, too pale. Sickly.

"Someone's on the phone for you," I held it out for her and she warily walked towards the couch, slowly sitting as if in pain.

This wasn't going to end well.

-

"Hello?" I greeted confused.

"Angel,"

His voice makes dormant butterflies awaken in contentment. I'm dreaming.

"Why are you not wearing your ring?" He asks patiently.

"I... I took it off."

"Hmm... Why?"

He's not teasing me or anything like that. Instead, he's actually sounding calm, which is a facet of him I only got to see a few times.

I bite my bottom lip. "I'll put it back on."

"Only if you want to, I'm not mad," he says, "I miss you."

I wipe a tear away. "I miss you too... When are you coming home?"

"Few days, princess."

I rest my head on Cara's shoulder and try not to make audible crying noises. I don't want him to feel sorry for me.

"Don't cry, baby. I'll be with you soon. For now, I need you to eat and do fun things with my sister. It'll be good for you."

"But I want to do those things with you," I answer stubbornly.

"Anastasia."

"What?" I sniffle.

He clears his throat. "I love you. I love that you need me. I just- I miss being with you. I miss you so fucking much. When I come home, we're never going to be apart again. I'm going to give you what you needed from the beginning. I swear."

"I believe you. I love you, I'm waiting for you."