Left Behind

Chapter 10

Soft sheets. Cold sheets.
I'm lonely.
I'm sorry.
Come back.

"Viktor..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Viktor was awakened by a soft tap on his shoulder. Irina was standing over him, a caring smile spread across her faces. "Do you feel better?" She asked.

Viktor nodded and brought a hand up to rub the sleep from his eyes, but stopped the second he began. "Ouch..." he murmured as his eyes burned.

"You cried so much that your eyes are swollen and red. Do you want me to get you an ice pack?" She nodded her head towards the kitchen, but Viktor declined her offer; sitting up slowly and yawning. He got up and walked to the bathroom after being told by Irina that she was making breakfast.

He splashed cold water on his face, not caring if water splashed onto the floor. The cool water soothed his eyes and he stared at his reflection. I look awful. He pouted at his reflection and tilted his head, checking all angles.

Nope still awful. He made his way past the living room and to the kitchen where two plates sat at the table, eggs and bacon on both. "I didn't know I had bacon." He said astonished as he sat down eyeing his plate hungrily.

"You didn't. I brought food yesterday, remember?" She asked as she also sat down placing two cups of water on the table. Viktor reached for one and took a big gulp; he hadn't realized how thirsty he was. He ate so fast he could barely remember what the food had tasted like; Irina ate slower, but didn't correct Viktor's actions. When they had finished Irina took their plates to the sink and began to wash them. "Wait where did you sleep last night?" Viktor asked curiously.

"The couch in your office." She explained. Viktor nodded and leaned back.

"Do you want to go out for a while?" Irina asked as she placed both now clean plates into the cabinet that was next to the fridge.

"I can't. Yuuri might wake up soon."

"Well let's go see if he's up." Irina said with a wide smile and started to head towards the bedroom.

"No no no no no." Viktor stumbled after Irina and slid in front of her, holding both his arms out. "We can't wake him."

"We're not going to wake him, Just see if he's already awake." Irina explained and stepped around Viktor. The bedroom door squeaked open, making Viktor wince as they both stepped into the dark room. Yuuri was sitting up and staring at the closed blinds of the window.

"Yuuri?" Irina called out in a soft voice and Yuuri twitched slightly. Irina walked over to the bedside and placed a hand on Yuuri's shoulder. "How are you doing?" she asked and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. Yuuri didn't reply, but he did turn his attention away from the blinds and to Irina.

Viktor silently observed the interaction from the doorway and sighed, leaning his head against the frame of the doorway with half open eyes.

"Would you like to go to the park?" Viktor's eyes shot open as he whipped his head around in time to see Yuuri nod his head up and down slightly. No way.

"Awesome! Okay let's get you ready. And by that I mean Viktor, help him with his clothes." Irina spoke quickly as she walked past Viktor.

"We're taking him to the park?" Viktor asked nervously watching Irina sit at the table in the kitchen from the bedrooms door frame. "Is that a good idea?"

"Well, I may not know much about mental health, But whenever one of my clients gets down I always suggest going outside to work." She stated.

"Yes, but those are the muscle head athletes you train. Yuuri is different and in this state he seems so-"

"Viktor." Irina's voice suddenly became serious and Viktor felt a chill run through his body. "I know you want to help him and I hate to be this honest with you, but do you really think how your version of helping is right? He needs to start somewhere and staying in the apartment won't help him progress back to normal. Trying to help him alone won't work either."

Viktor nodded his head; he knew she was right. It wasn't fair to Yuuri to keep him here, especially if it wasn't helping him. "Go get him dressed. I'll be waiting here." She said, her voice still held that serious tone that compelled Viktor to do what she asked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yuuri was shaking and Viktor was anxious. "Isn't this fresh air nice?" Irina exclaimed and took a deep breath. The two boys stayed silent, both focused elsewhere. The park was practically empty since it was technically still morning; 8:38 am to be exact. Irina walked to Yuuri and placed a hand on his arm. "Would you like to walk round? Or maybe sit down on a bench?"

"...nch..."

"Hm?"

"Bench..." Yuuri mumbled again and Irina nodded. She lead him over to a dark wooden bench with Viktor close behind. Yuuri sat carefully onto the cold wood and Irina sat on his right, Viktor hesitantly sitting on his left. They sat in a semi-comfortable silence, enjoying the tweets and chirps of birds that flew from tree to tree.

Their silence was disturbed 10 minutes later when children began to accumulate around the playground that sat across from them. The kids were squealing soon and playing with others as parents chattered away with each other.

"I hadn't realized it was the weekend, no wonder there are so many kids here." Irina said in a joking tone, but got no response from the two. "Come on guys at leas-"

"Excuse me." A little girl tugged at Irina's jeans catching the older woman's attention.

"Ah, yes sweetie?" She answered.

"Can you help me find my doll? My mommy gave it to me and it's really special." The little girl's voice wavered as tears streamed down her pink cheeks.

"Can your mommy help you find it?" Irina asked curiously.

"No. She's at work. I'm here alone." The little girl let out a small sob.

"Uh, yes of course I can." Irina stood and looked down at the boys. "You guys stay here, I'll be back soon." Irina took the hand of the small girl and headed towards the playground.

Viktor glanced over at Yuuri who seemed to be observing the children. "It's cold huh?" He said attempting to make conversation. "Mornings always seem to be colder." Viktor mentally face palmed after he heard himself talk. Of course it's cold, it's winter and we're in Russia.

"Mhm." Yuuri responded which surprised Viktor a little.

Viktor pulled his hands into his coat pocket and shivered a little. He looked around the park and shifted uncomfortably on the bench. He couldn't take the silence, it was making him nervous.

"Yuuri... I'm sorry." This seemed to catch Yuuri's full attention because he turned his head slowly to face Viktor, their eyes meeting; Yuuri just stared at Viktor no saying a word.

"I shouldn't have left you, I really shouldn't have. I've felt nothing but guilt since the day I boarded that plane to Russia. I want you to know Yuuri... that you never did anything wrong... and that I... that I still love you... please... please give me a chance to explain myself." Viktor begged his face looked pained as Yuuri continued to stare at him.

Viktor stared back, his eyes never breaking contact. The silence between them grew again, but Viktor didn't dare break it, it was up to Yuuri now. Yuuri seemed to be thinking as he looked into Viktor's soft blues eyes and finally a breath left his mouth as he opened it. "Why..."

"Why?" Viktor asked, a pain growing in his chest.

"Why did you leave me?"

Viktor took a deep breath and let it out. He was so glad the conversation hadn't been going where he dreaded it would.

"Well." Viktor began and adjusted in his seat, taking Yuuri's hand, hoping he wouldn't pull away. When he didn't Viktor took a deep breath again.

"I have a lot to tell you."