He Did This To Me

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Salvatore crossed the room, pretending we weren't even there. I could tell he was tense, and was doing all he could to hold things together. But then again, that's how we were all feeling.

"What are you doing here?" Colton asked coldly, rolling his eyes. Salvatore didn't answer, didn't even look at him. It was like we weren't here. Just Sal and Ella.

"Hey baby." he said softly, pulling out a little daisy. I don't know how he got it because they were out of season, but he did. That was all that mattered. He gave her a tight hug. "You're getting so big!" he laughed. The way he acted with her was so natural. Like they had never been torn apart. Sal loved her and it was so obvious that it hurt.

"Hi Daddy!" Ella replied, trying to put energy into her voice. She was so weak. So tired...

"You shouldn't be here! Get out!" Colton raised his voice. He was mad, really mad. Jealousy had nothing to do with it. Something had happened while I was in a coma. Whatever it was had made Colton hate Salvatore... not that Colton hadn't hated him before, but this was a new sort of hate.

Still, Sal watched Ella like they were the only people left. His eyes were bright red, but he was smiling so wide. And I felt guilty. I never should've took her from him. I mean, he was a great father. Only ever put her first.

"Did you not hear me? Leave!" Colton was almost screaming now. Sidney had her hands over her ears and she was curled up in her bed. If her mother Elizabeth had been here, I would've died of embarrassment.

"Shut up Colton!" I screamed back, nearly crying. His nagging was ruining the moment for Ella. She finally got to see her Daddy again and Colton had to wreck it. "She's his daughter too!"

The whole room went silent. Everyone was staring at me. Once again, I was crying. Sobbing, I leaned my head onto Ella again to listen to her heart. The quiet thump in her chest comforted me to the point I was relaxed again.

"I'm sorry I haven't been around much, baby. I love you, you know that right? And you're so beautiful!"

Ella smiled weakly. "I know Daddy. I love you too." She looked peaceful.

And then there was a doctor at the door. "Any of you Ella Smoke's guardian?"

I turned to face him and so did Colton. When I glanced at Sal, I saw how left out he felt. "All three of us sir." I answered, knowing I couldn't just leave Sal out of all this.

"May I talk to y'all out in the hallway?"

I nodded.

*****

"Ella has stage four cancer." the doctor said, rubbing his temples. "The cancer has spread across her body. There isn't a cure." He paused and looked up at me, genuinely sympathetic. "I can't explain how sorry I am."

None of us moved. It was like he hadn't even spoken yet. Like we were locked in the past, a moment before I knew that my whole world was about to crumble like a cookie without enough eggs in it. Then it dawned on me what he had said. And everyone had there eyes on me, hoping I could hold myself together.

"No." I said breaking the silence of the near empty hallway. "No. You're wrong. It's not possible." I stood from my wheelchair, aware that my legs were weak from going so long without exercise. "This isn't happening. Just a bad dream." The whole world dropped away from me, pulling me into a haze. But I refused to faint. I refused to do this here.

"I'm really sorry Mrs. Smoke." the doctor said again. No longer could I hear his voice, I was only reading lips. What was happening? Ella was so sweet and innocent and beautiful. A gift from God that I got at the moment I needed it most. Ella was a piece of me. No, she was me.