Repressed (Wattys 2014 Winner)

Chapter 25

I tiptoed towards his room, first peering over the corner to make sure, Zara wasn’t around. Once I got the all clear, I entered his room with Shane in tow.

“Sit.” I ordered him. He exhaled sharply and went to sit on one of the couches at the side of the room. I turned to face Alex and almost screamed when I saw him. My hand flew to my lips as I took in his sight. He was pale, yellowish as if he was suffering from jaundice, his lips bluish black and he had lost more of his muscle mass. He was skinner, and his cheek bones jutted out in a very disturbing manner. The IV drip was still in his vein and the various devices strapped to him, made it look like a scene from an alien movie. I shuddered with that thought and pulled up a chair next to Alex. His brown hair was matted and had become knotty due to the poor upkeep, his brown lashes were shut tight. I wondered whether I would ever get to see his warm brown eyes again.

“You will see him, you know?” Shane broke the haunting silence. My lips quivered as my tears began to pour, “What do you mean?”

“His coma is medically induced, he won’t die, not at all.” Shane said and I could hear him shift in his place.

“Really?” I turned to him, a weak smile of hope plastered on my face, Shane nodded and I let out a sigh.

‘I want him so badly Shane. I love him with every ounce of my existence, I don’t…I can’t forgive myself knowing that my lack of attention to him that night is the prime cause he is here now.”

“Snap out of it, we are gonna’ escape aren’t we?” Shane smiled in positivity. I nodded and walked closer to Alex, I took his limp hand in mine and twined my fingers with his, “I love you.” I whispered, “Once you wake up, I’ll tell you that. All my suffering is alright, till the time you are safe and sound. All my suffering is keeping you alive and that is a sacrifice I would do a billion times in a billion lives. Oh, my baby. Wish you’d open your eyes to me. Once you do, I ain’t ever letting you go.”

I sat down and kissed Alex’s fingers hoping that such sensations would bring him to consciousness but he lay unmoving and unwavering. I kissed his cheeks, my tears wetting his face.

“They say love is blind but it knows right where to hit you, you know?” Shane spoke up. I wiped my face with the back of my hand, “But nobody told me it would hurt this much.” I reached out and kissed Alex’s lips, they were so cold, I cradled his cheek in my palm, “This is all my fault.”

“Stop blaming yourself. If there’s anyone to be blamed, it’s Adrian. Him, for dragging me, you, and Alex into his psychotic mind.”

“I just don’t understand why he isn’t ready to let me go.” I cried out, “I don’t love him.”

“Give him time and anyways, we are escaping tomorrow, be there at 9 okay?” Shane said and smiled, I smiled back and turned my attention to Alex.

I kissed Alex again as I heard the door open and the click of heels resounding, “You really never understand do you?” I could hear Zara’s infuriated voice, I turned around slowly, “No, I don’t Zara.” Zara was wearing a light blue sundress with regal blue sneakers. She looked pretty, her hair was pulled up in a messy bun and she had pulled her aviators off her face.

“Get out.” She ordered me, I shook my head. I turned back to Alex, before I could react, Zara had grabbed my arm, she dragged me out of my chair and pulled me out of Alex’s room. Her fingernails dug sharply into my skin, I cried out.

“Cry bitch, cry. That’s what you deserve for doing this to Alex.” Zara flung me to the wall and I cried out again when her palm connected with my face. I ran my fingers over the hurt skin and cussed. Shane grabbed my arm and pulled me, “Time to go.”