Oh, Eleanor

Chapter 26: Through the silence

There was so much Ron could talk to Eleanor about. But the wound and subsequently the blood shut him up. Eleanor needed help right now. To shower her with questions was no good. He took little steps towards her, wincing at the little pool of blood around her.
She definitely was crying. But something about that crying told him that it wasn't for the pain the wound caused her, but something else completely.
He sat quietly besides her. Being really careful to be close, as to provide her comfort but not too close to freak her out.
"Does it hurt?" He asked a simple question. To break the silence. To start her words.
"It does. And not just the wound...But everything does. Everything hurts." A trickle of tears started flowing. No matter how much he wanted to wipe them off, he didn't touch her.
"What's everything?"
"Me. I am hurting myself."
There was silence.
Ron thought about what was that supposed to mean.
"You did this?" He pointed to the cut.
She shook her head.
"Billy threw a broken glass tumbler at me."
Ron got confused.
"Then what do you mean when you said, 'I am hurting myself' ?" He enquired.
She didn't reply.
He waited for a few more seconds for the reply, when none came, he stood and went downstairs to get the first aid.
After having tied a secure bandage around her arm, he felt a little relief.
He looked up to meet her gaze and cocked his eyebrow. As if to ask if everything was fine now or not.
She nodded.
After that, they sat there for a few minutes.
Ron tried to think of a way to bring up Halloween party. But when he himself wasn't sure, then how could he ask her anything. What could he say?
What were you doing at the party?
How dare you lie to me about being grounded forever?
How can Chris of all people be your boyfriend?
He had a lot of questions, and as it happens...He asked none.
He stared at the single streak of orange light entering the Attic from the little window on the slope.
He wondered how many days Eleanor spent here when she wanted to see sunlight. Or maybe she saw sunlight.
He wondered how she met Chris. He wondered why Chris never told him. Or why she never told him.
He wondered alot for those few silent moments.