The One

The One (22)

-Steve-

"What are you doing here?" he asked gruffly. His hand was covered in bandages, and he had scratches and bruises all over his body.

I looked down. It was all my fault. I couldn't bring myself to look at him in the eye. "I'm... I'm sorry about Emily," I apologized.

He stares at me from the hospital bed. "It's too late, Steve. It's too late. Don't apologize to me. Apologize to her. You were the one who did this to her. It's your fault."

I hesitated. "How... is Emily?"

"How is Emily?" he echoed. "How do you think she is, huh? How well do you think she is, cooped up all alone in a mental institution? The nerve of you to ask about her. Do you really care about her?" he snorted.

My heart sank. So she was sent to the asylum. My heart was heavy with guilt. What he'd said was correct - It was my fault.

He sighed. "Look here, Steve. I want to forgive you so badly. You're my best student. Heck, you're even closer than a student to me. But I can't forgive you. Because my baby girl is more important. And she's lying in a mental institution - mainly because of you."

That stung.

He continued. "Because of you, my one and only daughter, who had such a bright and shining future, is ruined. She's ruined. I'm ruined. I can't play the violin anymore. Do you know how much the violin means to me? I pleaded with you, didn't I? All I wanted was for you to tell her gently. She's a fragile child; you know she lost her mum. And then she lost you."

His voice was weary. "I lost my wife, then I lost my daughter and my violin. The three things I hold dear to me. I know you never wished for this to happen. But I'm sorry, I can't forgive you. It hurts, you know? It hurts whenever I think I'm lying here because my daughter was obsessed with you - but you didn't have the same feelings for her."

"I'm sorry," I whispered. All the guilt washed over me like a wave. "I know, I shouldn't have ignored her. I should have broken it to her gently. But in the first place, you were the one who asked me to give her false hope," I said bitterly.

He sighed again. "Was it wrong, to ask for a mere bit of happiness for my daughter?" he asked rhetorically. "You saw how happy she was with you, didn't you?"

I recalled the times when I was Emily's boyfriend. She was really a beautiful girl deep down - but she wasn't The One for me.

"I thought you'd change. After giving her a month of heaven, you sentenced her to hell. You ignored her, Steve. You ignored her right after you dumped her. You didn't even say anything. Like how her mother left her. How was she to accept that?"

I winced at the mention of Emily's mother. She had left Emily when she was 8 without a word for another man.

"I know you're sorry, but no amount of apology can undo this, Steve. I don't wish to see you. Now get out of my room."

"But - " I protested.

"OUT!" he ordered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I woke up with sweat all over my forehead. It was that dream again. I was panting heavily. I buried my face in my hands. It still haunted me.

I looked at Felicia, who was sleeping on my bed beside me. I forgot how she ended up here. I think I'd begged her to stay here with me. I stroked her hair gently.

As if by magic, her eyes fluttered open. "Steve?" she mumbled, sitting up.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" she asked, bleary-eyed. Then she noticed the sweat on my forehead.