Purity And Cowardice #Wattys2018

11- Coming Home

He was smiling, happiness radiating off of him.

Finally at peace with himself.

"Hi." I hesitated. "How are you doing?"

He grinned and his face lit up.

"Hi, Ella. I'm good, thank you."

I sat next to him and handed him the box of donuts.

"Your favorites." I smiled.

"I'm starting to think that you presume, I ask to see you just so you can buy me these." Damien guessed, eyeing me suspiciously.

"Isn't that exactly what you do?" I teased, playfully.

"You got me." He laughed, holding up his hands in defeat.

We sat in silence for a couple of minutes, enjoying the sunrays' kisses away from the chaos that is New-York city. Some patients were strolling around doing the same thing, and a couple of nurses roamed through to keep an eye on everyone.

"You know," Damien started, out of the blue, and I gave him my full attention. "I never got to thank you properly."

I shook my head. "You don't have to. Recovering quickly and getting out of here as a better person is my thank you."

I squeezed his hand in mine and smiled.

"No, I want to thank you for everything Ella. I can't even think of what would've happened to me if...you...didn't pick up my call...that...night." Damien recalled, shutting his eyes and shaking his head.

It was a hard night for both of us.

I was at my firm. We were celebrating the first deal that we scored.

At the time, I didn't know what happened to Damien or his whereabouts. I didn't care. I already forgave him but I wasn't ready to meet him yet.

My phone rang and when I heard his weak and whimpering voice, I got scared. I thought he was about to die, which was what would've happened if we hadn't got there fast. I called Isabella to let her know.

She contacted the police and the ambulance as I was driving full speed to find him.

The sight that was before me when I finally got to him made my stomach sick. I still can't earse it from my mind.

He was sprawled out in a dark alley, completely disfigured, blood covering his entire body. I thought he was dead.

Thankfully, he wasn't. The doctors took care of him.

He was in a coma for probably a week. He overdosed on drugs and he had high levels of alcohol in his system.

Later on, he told us that he was jumped by some men because he owed them money. They were the people responsible for so many scars displayed on his torso especially a very ugly one on his neck near his left ear.

It's still there, reminding him and me, of that awful night.

"How did you know I would answer your call?" I asked hesitantly.

"I was hoping you would, you were my last chance and the first person I thought of." He confessed, gazing at me with such sadness and regret in his eyes, my heart clenched.

I nodded.

"I'm really happy for you. You have your own company now." Damien tempted to change the subject, and I was glad he did.

"You read the article?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

"In my defense, it's the talk of the town. The girl on fire, success after success." he chuckled.