A Twist Of Time

twenty four

"It's cold."

I was sitting by the window with a cup of coffee in hand, hair down for the first time in weeks, and my jacket atop my shoulders. I couldn't even bother to put it on properly. Margaux has been trying to get me out of my state for how long I've been sulking at the window, not going down for breakfast, lunch, nor dinner. Jane, however, was beside me, listening to my every word without saying anything. Every now and then she would go down for an hour for her duties, leaving me alone with Margaux, then returning. Margaux wasn't doing her duties, though. And it was surprising that Sergio hasn't looked for her.

"Jane, would you please get her a blanket? Val, you sure you're alright?" she asked.

"I am," I whispered.

She raised an eyebrow. "Yes. You just threw up fifteen minutes ago and you're alright."

"I am, trust me."

"If you want to talk to him, then do it. That man has a pride higher than he himself."

This made me laugh. "But I'm not sure I can. I screamed at him."

Jane returned with the blanket and put it on my shoulders, rubbing my back gently. "Thank you," I responded.

She nodded in return. Margaux opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by somebody knocking on the door. She stood up to open it, and a frown immediately formed on her face.

"I think now's not the time, Sergio," said Margaux. Jane walked over to her.

"Let Valerie decide, and would you mind? That's your father you're talking to."

Margaux lowered her head. "Sorry. Val, you want?"

I thought for a moment and nodded. I didn't exactly know what I was doing—but it was better to let out what I felt at this moment rather than to keep it in and let the anger overcome everything I felt.

"Fine. Get in."

Margaux and Jane looked at each other and left. A tired looking Sergio quietly entered the room and shut the door, catching sight of me. I looked him over; up and down, and rolled my eyes. "Where's she?"

"Would you let me at least explain?"

"No secrets. What a load of bullshit."

"I don't even know what that means, but I'm sure it's against me."

I shook my head. "What do you want now?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? So you bother me and my time alone just to tell me you want nothing? Are you insane?"

"I've done everything I could but you always feel the need to look over them. All you see are my wrongs."

"So what do you want me to do?"

"Nothing." He put his head down and looked at my hands. A frown formed on his face. "What happened to you?"

I followed his sight. He was looking at the scars from that one incident yesterday; I was so mad that I crushed a cup in my anger. He took my right and gently rubbed it. "Don't touch it."

"Was this treated properly?" He ignored my comment.

"Get off."

"Valerie, was this treated properly?"

It was like he could read me. This was making me weak. "No."

"Why didn't you call for a nurse?"

"Because it's your nurse and not mine. I'm just another one of your residents in here. Now go away and help your country survive the war instead of staying here and scolding me?"

"Valerie. I'm here to help."

"I don't need your help!"

Sergio sighed. "Won't you just let me show you for once that I love you?"

"You love me? Tell that to the woman that was going to kiss you, when you told me that you had no secrets left to say. I thought I knew you."

He walked over to my dresser and rummaged. His hands landed on a small bag, took it out, then motioned for me to sit on my bed. I raised an eyebrow. "What are you going to do?"

"Just sit down."

Sergio opened the bag and took a bottle out. He opened it, took my wounded hands, then gently wiped the bottle's liquid across. I hissed.

"I told you—don't touch it! It hurts."

"You didn't want a nurse to help you, and I wanted these to get better, so I'm trying my best to aid you. You chose it."

"You're lucky I'm weak or else I would've slapped you hard."

"I am."

He finished the job and put the kit back in its place. "Will you let me talk now?"

"Fine," I replied. "As if I'll listen."

"That woman was the astrology lady. I have no attraction to her whatsoever–I find her more as a pest than a guest."

"Then?"

"That wasn't a wanted kiss. She let herself in the palace and into my room without my consent. I tried escorting her out nicely, but she took my face and I guess, tried to kiss me. I was about to pull my head away to avoid her when you came in."

"And?"

"Valerie, the only woman I would want kissing me at this age is you. I would never want her—it makes me sick just thinking about it. That woman was obsessed with Manuel. I don't know why I needed to get in the picture."

The silence was deafening. I smiled. Though I still had a subtle rage flowing through my veins, his explanation was enough. The tiny part inside of me that loved him was telling me that he was telling me the truth. And I believed he was.

"Are you sure about that, Sergio, or are you just making all of this up?"

"I'm not. Why would I lie to you?"

"It's because I'm an awful person."

"The only person you're awful to is yourself. Valerie, you didn't want me to help you with your case. You didn't want me to help you with your hands. You didn't want anybod helping you, and it's such a shame how a beautiful, intelligent, and feisty lady like you could be so hard on yourself."