Running Through The Garden

Pale Shadow

   "How does it feel?"

   Lindsey limped around the hospital room, his hand braced against the wall as he steadied himself.

  "It's still really stiff." Speaking of his leg.

   The nurse nodded,  urging him to continue. "You're doing great, keep going."

  "I'm tired."

  "Mr. Buckingham the only way you're going to get better is if you continually stretch out your muscles and get your nerves active."

   "He said he's tired." Stevie spoke up from across the small room, her arms folded as she watched the scene in front of her.

   The nurse sensed the slight warning in Stevie's tone, relenting. "I'll be back to check on you later."

   Lindsey nodded, thankful he didn't have to walk around anymore. The nurse left the room and he limped back to his bed, sinking down in to it.

   "You sure know how to clear a room."

  Stevie shrugged. "You're physically hurting."

    Lindsey sighed, leaning back in to the pillows. "Stevie you should go home."

She frowned at him. "Why? Am I bothering you?"

Lindsey shook his head. "No, not at all. You look exhausted, you should go home and get some sleep."

"I've gotten sleep." She argued.

"In an actual bed. I'll be fine, go."

Stevie reluctantly got up from the chair, walking over to his bedside. She leaned over him, pressing a soft kiss on his cheek. "I'll be back later."

He squeezed her hand, giving her a small smile. "Can't wait."

Stevie smiled back at him, grabbing her bag. Leaving the room, she met Karen in the hallway.

  "Hey." Her assistant greeted her.

   "Hey, I'm ready to head back."

  "Ok." Karen nodded, leading Stevie out of the hospital. They got in the car, the drive filled with silence on the way back to her house.

   "You okay? You're pretty quite."

  Stevie nodded, shrugging her off. "I'm fine, I just have a lot on my mind."

  Karen nodded in understanding, eventually pulling up to Stevie's home. They got inside, Stevie heading for the stairs.

   "Just yell if you need anything."

  "Thanks Karen."

       She climbed the stairs, entering her bedroom and shutting the door behind her. Kicking off her shoes, she sank down on to the bed, her eyelids heavy from sleep deprivation.

    The past events started to play out in her head, tears burning her eyes. She was alone, her thoughts weighing like a ton of bricks on her mind. Finally having time to process the ordeal, Stevie cried.

    This man abused her, degraded her, and took advantage of her in the worst possible way; and she killed him.

   Her shoulders shook, her breath coming in quick gasps as she relived each moment. The way he touched her, the way he held her life in his hands like it was a simple toy, the way he spoke and leered at her, the way the look in his eyes left his body when she fired the gun.