Vince

Clock Hands

I watched as Vince threw my mother over his shoulder and brought her outside the room. He dropped her on her feet, shoved my father out next to her, and slammed the door.

"If you ever scare me like this again, I'm going to kill you," Hannah laughed and took my hand in hers.

"But then you'd never know what a jackfruit is," I mumbled, unable to find the strength to do much more.

"That's not a real thing." Hannah shook her head.

David cleared his throat to get my attention, "I'm sorry. I thought you'd want to see your parents."

"You didn't know. That's fine," I admit.

Vince was busy calling security to get my parents removed from the building. Kaleb was holding the door shut. I could hear them pounding on the outside, and even with two of them pushing to get in, Kaleb didn't budge.

Security came to get them and the pounding on the door stopped, but the pounding in my head didn't.

"Can you tell the doctors you made a mistake and David isn't your fiancé?" Hannah asked.

"Why?"

"He pissed me off."

I looked at David who seemed frustrated with Hannah.

"Han, I don't feel like fighting right now."

"Right, of course. Forget I said anything. Do you want us to step outside so you can get some rest?" She asked.

"I'm not leaving," Vince shook his head.

"If she wants you to leave, you'll leave." David stood taller as if that would scare Vince.

I could see Vince's jaw twitch. I knew I needed to be the one to separate them or else someone would get the hospital bed next to mine.

"I don't need you to leave." I felt myself whisper, "I don't want to be alone right now."

Vince sat back in the chair beside me. I rolled on my side and gingerly pulled my legs up closer to my chest. Vince put his hand on my back and rubbed circles on my skin, trying his best to comfort me.

I honestly needed it. I relaxed into his touch and tried to ignore the ache in my chest. He broke things off, and I would respect that. I just couldn't remember how I functioned before him.

"I'm going to head home, I'm glad you're alright sweetheart." Raphael smiled, his warmth always surprising. Dean and Kaleb went with him and left the room a little more spacious.

I pulled my blanket up and held it close to my face, able to smell Vince all over it. I appreciated the mint, only now realizing that this was the lotion he bought when we went on our trip.

"What happened while I was in surgery that made the room so tense?" I asked.

"We were all scared and I think it made it hard to act civilized," Hannah spoke up, "It's nothing to worry about though. We just needed you to be okay, and you are."

"Hannah yelled at David and then at your parents and then David yelled at Hannah and it was just a big mess," Vince chimed in, "So don't you ever get sick again. Next time, someone might die."

"I didn't yell at anyone," David corrected him.

"Well, you made Hannah pretty upset," Vince mumbled.

I felt anger flood my bloodstream, "David, what did you do?"

"I didn't do anything," David said defensively.