Loving Her *ON HOLD*

~I love you~

c h a p t e r t h i r t e e n

"Em?"

She tenses, her back to me as she stands in the dimly lit bar room.

I walk deeper into the room, grimacing at the smell of pure alcohol. It wasn't too pleasant.

"What's going on?" I inquire, rounding the corner of the bar stand.

A glass rests in her hand, the liquid in it shaking. My eyes travel up to her hand, that was squeezing the glass. Her body shaking along with what was inside the cup.

I close the distance between us slowly, placing my hand on hers. "Calm down."

The glass shatters and I jerk back, shielding myself.

She releases a breath. "I'm so sorry. Fuck," she leans down to grab the broken pieces.

"Emilia stop. Your hand is bleeding." She repeats how sorry she was, still picking up the pieces that only created more cuts.

"Jesus, Emilia! Stop it!" I reach for her hand, pulling her up with me as it drips.

She clenches her jaw, looking away from the blood pooling in her palm.

"We need to get the glass out and wrap this up," I state with a gentle voice, "Okay?"

She says nothing, and I grab paper towels, wrapping it around her hand before walking out the door and up to our room. She follows quietly, not saying a word.

I walk into the bathroom, making her sit on the toilet seat. "Stay here. I'm going to get the kit. Just...apply gentle pressure."

I quickly walk out of the room, walking down into her office to grab the kit that was resting on her desk.

Taking a deep breath, I run a hand through my hair before walking back up the steps.

"I found it." I hold it up like a trophy before kneeling in front of Emilia, peeling off the bloody paper towel.

I turn on warm water, gesturing for her to run her hand under it. She does so, not even flinching as the water meets her wounds.

Grabbing tweezers, I take out the remaining glass pieces in her hand before using a cotton ball with alcohol on it to clean her hand off.

I wrap up her hand, giving it a kiss before packing away the health supplies.

"I didn't do it." She mumbles quietly, finally lifting her head to look at me.

I shove the kit underneath the sink, closing the small door behind it.

"Didn't do what, my love?" I ask gently, laying my hands on her thighs.

She sighs, her body relaxing slightly with my touch.

"Drink...I didn't drink it."

Relief floods through me, and I suppress a sigh. Part of me knew she hadn't, but another was doubtful.

"I believe you." I smile gently at her, kissing her cheek.

"I'm sorry I messed up again. I thought I was.." she pauses, looking away, "I thought I was doing better. But I'm still fucked up." She chuckles humorlessly, shaking her head, "I craved that drink so much. To take everything away."

"Baby, you didn't mess up. You didn't do it. You stopped."

"Because of you. Because you were there. If you weren't, I would've gotten wasted until I could barely breathe."

My chest clenches tight, tears touching the back of my eyes with the sadness in hers.

"What would you do without me?" I joke, rubbing her arms.