Running Through The Garden

Can You Love Me Only

She couldn't move, her eyes glued to that familiar scrawl that haunted her. Tears burned her eyes and she found it hard to breathe. Taking a deep gasp of air, she turned to Karen, tears rolling down her face.

"Stevie? What's wrong?" Her assistant asked her worriedly.

"We have to go back to the hospital."

"What why?"

"Karen please." Her voice was shaking, her fist clenched around the note of paper.

Karen nodded, leading Stevie back to the car. She didn't say a single word on the way back, just starring at the window.

"Stevie are you ok?"

She didn't respond, Karen only growing more worried. Pulling up in the parking lot, Stevie practically ran towards the front doors, ignoring Karen's protests.

   Heading straight towards Lindsey's room, she felt her arm being grabbed, being pulled back.

   Stevie looked over at the  nurse from earlier, her eyebrows knitted together.

"Can I help you ma'am?"

     "I need to see Lindsey." Stevie looked at the nurse in confusion, she was the same from earlier, surely she knew who she was.

    "I'm afraid I can't let you back there dear."

  "Is he ok? Did something happen?"

  "He's fine, Mr. Buckingham has requested that you're not allowed back in his room."

  "What? No, there must be some kind of mistake."

   "I'm just following his request. If you'd like I can let him know you are here."

  Stevie shook her head, holding back tears. "No, that's alright thank you."

She left the nurse, turning and finding Karen.

  "Stevie?"

  "He doesn't want to see me Karen." She was trying her hardest not to break down, holding back tears.

    "That's impossible, did they tell you why?"

  Stevie shook her head, taking a deep breath.  She glanced over at the nurse she had just spoken too.

   "Karen I need you to go over there and ask her a question, distract her.

"What are you going to do? Sneak back there."

  "I have to talk to him!"

"Stevie-

"Karen please." She begged, her eyes filled with tears.

Karen reluctantly nodded her head, squeezing Stevie's shoulders. Going over to the nurse, she distracted her attention. Giving Stevie the nod of her head, she continued to ask the nurse questions.

  Stevie slipped through the double doors unnoticed, knowing exactly where his room was. Not bothering to knock, she opened the door, slipping in to his room. He didn't acknowledge her, tears stinging her eyes.

"Linds?"

"What are you doing here Stevie?"

"Why are you being so hostile?" She tried to touch him, Lindsey shrugging her hand off. She bit back tears, holding her hands together to refrain from touching him again. "What's wrong?"

"Why don't you go ask Don?"

Her eyebrows drew together in confusion, squinting her eyes as she looked at him. "What? What does Don have to do with anything?"