DAISY'S BUTTERFLIES

Nineteen.

"So, do you wanna talk about it?"
My heavy eyes struggled up at Windy's sympathising face.
"I broke him," I whispered controlling the tears wanting to flow out.

She shifted on my bed and cupped my face. "I'm sorry Daisy. I really am. But I'll be honest with you, Alex didn't deserve this at all. The guy loves you like no other guy ever will."
Was she making it any better by condemning me?
I pushed down her hand and rolled to offer her my back.

"Please leave me alone Windy. I don't wanna talk. I need some alone time."
The sad sigh from the female stabbed me cruelly.
As she slid off the bed, she placed a kiss on my hair.

"I'm only one call away Daisy. Take your time and think of a way to set things right."

I squeezed my eyes shut as if avoiding to stare at the devil. But I was trying to hold in the punishing guilty tears.
There couldn't be a worse being than I was at the moment... Alex had tried his best. But like the idiot I was, I failed to give him a chance.

Minutes later, a knock echoed through my ears. It was coming from my door.
As it swung open, my eyelids clung together tightly.
Why wouldn't they leave me alone?

A portion of the soft surface sunk behind me.

"I know you're not asleep Daisy." It was mom.
She sighed pressing my shoulder lightly. "You may think that love is only about the intimacy or the hugs and kisses. But there's more to it than just that. I know you're hurting right now. But try thinking of someone else. What he must have felt.
"You're only naive right now, but Alex is a good person. He's even been enquiring about your state over the last couple of days without you knowing. He still cares about the girl that had slammed his feelings at his face Daisy. Tell me where you can find an honest guy as himself?"

It was quiet for a few seconds. And I just laid there silently, listening to mom.
"You're a smart woman. I know you will fix this problem. I won't say how, that's all up to you."

Just like Windy, Mom kissed my the back of my head and left the room.
They were both right. Even though it stung like crazy, I had wronged Alex greatly.
It was time to go make peace with him.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The nervousness eating away the energy in my knees stole away any will left as the footsteps approached.
The large door opened and the sight of a frowning Stacy graced me.

"You! What do you want?"
"Is Alex ho-" "No!" She snapped rudely.

My gaze dropped to my apology gift, ashamed. His car was there, only meant he was in the house. Besides, Stew had confirmed that Alex had left their house to come here to the mansion.

"Could you please-" I handed the purple box to her "-give this to him."

Stacy received it, eyeing me dismissively. And I turned to leave.
"Daisy?"
My feet spun around in a jiffy.
But the look on her face did not encourage me at all.

"Please don't bother him after today, ever!"
I nodded and she slammed the door to my face.
My eyes were immediately crowded by the wave of wetness... I deserved it. Deserved all the humiliation and hate.

Three days whispered away silently. No word from Alex's side.

The whole silence was starting to shake the walls of my strong emotions.
He was bluntly ignoring me. Ignoring my calls and texts... Stew wouldn't say a thing about him to me.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

A spark of life shot through me at the mention of Alex's name on mom's mouth while she conversed at the telephone.
But it died as soon as it had popped when she replaced the receiver and turned to me.

"Mom? What, what is it?"
I barked running in the lounge... She inhaled deeply while running a hand through her brown strands.
There was shock and sympathy in her green eyes.

"Mom?" I grabbed her elbows.

"Alex... He's, he's dying."

The sudden drain of thoughts and energy washed through me hungrily. And how my world ended up dark, I could not tell. I just woke on my bed with a wet towel on my forehead.

The white body lying on the hospital bed wasn't my Alex. This one was too pale and wasted. There were dark rings round his eyes from sleepless nights... It hurt looking at him so sick. And no one could really explain to me what had happened to him.

He stirred and I jerked forward to catch any sound from him.

"You?" It was a dragged word. His eyes were still fighting to open. And the heaviness in them almost killed the little energy inside.
"Yes Alex, it's Daisy. I'm here for you." I kissed his knuckles, tears running down my face like an emotional fool.

"Nooo... I thought I..."
His breaths seemed to run out. "Stop talking Alex, please."
Gotta be strong for him Daisy. Alex needs you.

He inhaled deeply through the tubes running out of his nostrils. The hand in mine moved a little.
"Dai...sy."
"Shh!" I cried brushing off the hairs from his forehead.

A small smile ached across his dry lips. "Why?"
"Didn't you receive my gift Alex? I... I realised something."
At my words, his eyes forced open to look at me.
"What?"

Through the wet eyes and quaking lips, I finally admitted it... "I love you Alex. And I'm not saying it to make you feel alright or-"
A finger was pressed on my lips. "You still...talk...too much."

The glow on his white face reassured me of his survival.
I'd take care of him till he was up and functioning properly as he should be.

Day in, day out...
Three weeks passed by. The pale body I had met on that bed a while ago, now seemed to be regaining form.
I made sure to visit him twice a day and spend quality time feeding him what mom made, or sometimes, what I cooked.
His recovery was kicking faster than the doctors expected... Till it reached a point where Alex could allow only me, to feed or inject him his doses.

It was a little difficult at the beginning, but the nurses taught me everything. And in no time, the damned male was cracking jokes around the room and even making out with me when we were sure no one was around.

Every person in our lives was playing his roles in making sure he was comfortable and recovering even more by the day...

The fifth week went down.

Still trying to enquire about Alex's real condition, his mom, Mrs Bold called me outside his room in the sisth floor.
There were tears in her precious blue eyes. And I concluded that the worst was yet to come.

She just grabbed me in her arms, gave me a firm embrace that felt like death would take me anytime.
"You're an...an angel Daisy... Oh gawd!" She sobbed.

I retreated. "Please, tell me what the doctor said."

She quickly wiped off the transparent liquid off her pretty face, as a grin surfaced.

"Oh Daisy, my boy is fine. The hole in his lung mended itself. They say it's the greatest miracle this hospital has ever witnessed."

A huge load dropped from my heart. Alex was fine. He would lead a normal life once more. He would be out of this hospital where chemical smells stung from all over.
•••••••••••••••••••

"If every guy had a supportive and strong girlfriend as you Daisy, the world would be a better place," the doctor whispered in my ear. He stepped back to pick the little tray by the bed and gave it to the nurse.

He smiled returning to Alex. "You're a lucky man in life boyo."

Someone rubbed my arm while we watched Alex stand up on his own, eyes on me.
"That's your guy alright," mom whispered sweetly.
I chuckled eyeing her childishly.

"Daisy?" Alex called extending an arm to me.
I moved and spooned myself by his left side to arch his arm over my shoulder.
"Sure you don't want a wheelcha-" "I'm not crippled Daisy," be reminded with a smile, then kissed me lightly before our families.