A World of Lions and Tigers -A Dan and Phil- AmazingPhil and Danisnotonfire-

Falling - Part II

-El's POV-

Three Questions are in my head as I resurface from the land of dreams:

1.) Where am I?

I can tell by the buzzing and bright lights that it is a hospital room.

2.) What happened?

It's all a blur, so I decide I will ask someone when I see them. I must have passed out.

3.) Most importantly, why is someone touching my wrists?

Shivers rack my body, and my blood runs cold. I can hear the heart rate monitor speed up. Gingerly, with a swarm of evil butterflies in my stomach, I open my eyes.

Phil is staring with a look of horror- no, disgust, on his face- This is what I was afraid of - This is why I hid. He must hate me. I can't stand that look, especially not on him... and what about my brother. Oh gosh no.

"P-Phil?"

-Phil's POV-

Elizabeth's ivory arm is full of bumpy, criss-crossed scars. They run halfway up her forearm and lie in jagged patterns. I am at the verge of tears - I don't understand.

"Who did this to you, El?" I say softly.

She gives me a look of confusion and then sympathy - for me?

"Phil, no one did that to me..." She responds, her voice a pained whisper.

How? If someone didn't do that to her, then... oh. The realisation hits me like a truck. She did that. To herself. My heart beats in my ears. Elizabeth cut herself, numerous times. What could have been so painful that she needed something like this to drown it out?

I stare back at her.

"Wh-why? Please - I -" I couldn't find the words.

El's POV

Shoot. Shoot, shoot, oh my gosh.

"Phil, please," I start. "I- I don't want to talk about it, please...? Please keep this a secret, or better yet, just forget about it. It's something I don't want to talk about. It's our secret - I trust you," I finish as I choke. I just want to curl up into a ball and disappear.

He looks up at me with a look of care, and something else, something I can't place. It looks protective and warm, but he must be cold inside.

"Elizabeth," Phil says adamantly, "If you trust me, please do something for me. Promise me, please! Promise me you won't do this ever again!" Phil looks up at me with a mist over his eyes.

Why is this hurting him so much? Why does he care this much. We barely know each-other. I don't even know his middle name.

I can't answer his question. I can't because I can't make that promise, even if I tried to make it to myself.

A knock on the door saves me from having to.

Phil's POV

I release El's arm as a knock emanates from the door. I try to do what she says: to forget. The image is seared into my brain, though.

I look up at her face, the faux, small smile she has made. She mouths "please" to me, silently.

I can't help but look at her. My god, she is so beautiful.