LoVing Two

Discharged

"Gin." A gentle voice called. "Gin, it's time to wake up. We're leaving today, come on, it's time to get up." I felt a hand placed on my shoulder. My eyes opened to see Ezra sitting next to me, a container of hot chips in his hand. "I bought us some chips for breakfast, and made sure to get chicken salt on them the way you like." He sat them on my lap and opened the box, the smell flew through my nose, it was so strong. I moved over to make room for him and we sat there eating the chips, he'd set Foreigner to play. He had changed into faded black jeans and a dark blue t-shirt. His hair seemingly damp, as though he'd recently showered.

When we finished, he put the container in the bin and I chose the clothes I'd wear, with a little help from Ezra. A pair of dark blue tight jeans, a burgundy, long-sleeved top and black, shin-high, heeled boots. I placed Caesar at the top of my bag, with my new bear's head poking out purposefully, I had decided to name it Silas, that was the name of my favourite character in a book I'd read recently, I could not remember the name of it though.

I noticed a white fedora sitting on the corner of the chair with aviator sunglasses attached.

"We'll head to the shops first and get you some more stuff, then I'll take you to get protection, it has to be made especially for the wearer, otherwise it won't work. You'll get a ring and a necklace, made from pure silver, they'll keep you safe from the sun. It will still be brighter and warmer than usual, but you will be safe. We'll leave in about fifteen minutes." He sat down and leant his head against the wall, looking up at the blank, white roof.

"But how am I supposed to get out without being burned?" I held his arm and looked up at him, his eyes sparkling in the bright lighting. I admired the structure of his face. He had high cheek bones, a finely sculpted jaw, and his nose made an imperfect right angle.

"It's nearly sundown, so we won't need to worry about the sun for long. You can borrow my hat and glasses until dark." He pulled me into his chest and stroked my hair, leaning his face against my head. Feeling his chest rise and fall slowly was so calming, I would never get sick of this feeling.

Was this what normal people did? Hugged you and told you everything would be fine for no real reason other than for comfort? I had only been hugged a rare few times since I was six, so I was still getting used to it.
I felt tears sting my eyes as I remembered running to my room, locking the door and stroking my own hair, telling myself everything would be alright. I played the part of the caring mother to myself, I cried on my own shoulder, because no one offered theirs.
"Thank you, really thank you. I...I'm so glad you're here with me." I hugged him tight, digging my head into his collarbone.

"It's okay, you've got my shoulder to cry on now, you'll never have to be alone ever again, I promise. I want you to forget all those memories, because you have a million new ones to make." He looked into my eyes and I knew he was telling the truth. It was the first time in a long time that I really believed a promise being made to me. He wiped my cheeks with his thumbs, moved the hair from my face and kissed me gently. It was better than last time, I think because it was of his own choice. He pulled his lips away from mine slowly and stroked my cheek, my face started to have that tingling feeling that you get when you're embarrassed.

"I knew I felt someone's warmth inside my heart, always there, just waiting to be free, I sensed you so often, but I was so sure it was just the loneliness, just my mind losing sense." I squeezed his hand lightly and kissed him softly on the lips. I let go and licked my lips, the taste of alcohol still present from his last drink. He pulled away with a quick last kiss and stood from the bed.

"I'll wheel you out, you're still meant to be injured, so try to look stiff and sore. I can wheel you to the car and then we'll be on our way, okay?" He grabbed the wheel chair and put his satchel back over his shoulder. I went to get up, my bag in my arms, when Ezra slipped his hands under my knees and arms, carrying me to the chair.

"If you insist." I kissed his cheek as he sat me down, a childish smile on my face. "Where's Stephen? I was hoping to say goodbye." I said as we made our way down the hall.

"He'd be on his break, I'll stop there along the way, okay?"

We made a couple turns, riding down an elevator in between and stopping just outside a doorway. "Wait here and I'll go grab him."

Stephen came out, Ezra following. He hugged me tightly, kissing my neck secretly as he did so. "I'll miss you. If you need anything just call, and be careful." He held me at arm's length and looked into my eyes, watching me for a moment, then looked to Ezra, "And don't get into too much trouble."

"I'll see you later." Were my last words to him before Ezra started wheeling me to the reception area.

He made the receptionist look into his eyes. "I would like to sign Guinevere Valentina Dehaan out, I am her brother Cedrick Antonio Dehaan, she is better now and Doctor Materska believes she is well enough to be discharged. This conversation will be fuzzy in your mind and you won't be able to remember my face. Thank you."

I put the hat and sunglasses on as we headed towards the door. Ezra wheeled me across the carpark and stopped when we came to a dark blue Jaguar F-type. "This is your car?"

"You like it?"

"It's the coolest car I've ever seen!"

He chuckled and blushed as he helped me in, ensuring I wasn't exposed to the sun, which hid behind the main building, then returned the wheelchair.

It was a ten minute drive to the shops, Ezra bought me a black sunhat, large framed sunglasses and some more clothes.
Lastly we went to a small shop, lit heavily by candles, a pot boiling over a fire in the back corner and strange objects sitting in jars.
A girl of about twelve, with ringlets of jet black hair and golden-brown skin, appeared from the backroom and Ezra explained to her that I needed ancient protection. The girl whispered some things back to him and then we left.

"What did she say to you?" I asked as we shut the doors to the car.

"Just some instructions, you'll need to drain a cat of its blood, then fill a vile with your own blood after and keep the body. Is that all fine with you?" He kept his eyes on the road, one of his hands sitting on his lap.

"Yes. Where do we get the cat from though?" I didn't have much of a problem with draining the cat, I had never really felt much pity or empathy towards those I did not care deeply for, and I was quite sure he would make it painless.

"We'll stop at the animal shelter on the way home and pick up two cats. The other will be for food, you'll get hungry soon."