Devil's Advocate • ONC 2020

11

     The sound of hospital machines humming filled my ears. I groaned as I felt the pain in my abdomen. I opened my eyes slowly, cautious of where I was and who I was with. For all I know I could be at a hospital with Nathaniel to make sure I don't die before he gets his revenge. I open my eyes all the way and swallow the lump of fear in my throat as I search the room for a familiar face.

     Lucius. A sigh of relief escaped my lips as every muscle in my body relaxed. "Lucius?" He opened his eyes and lifted the hospital blanket from his body and threw it on the chair as he came to my side. 

     "Thank God you're awake," Lucius spoke between tears. He was crying, and it wasn't just tiny lines of tears.

     I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "I'm awake. It's okay, I'm okay."

     "I should've never let you leave my side... This wouldn't have happened," he bit his lip to stop the trembling as tears trickled over his plump lips.

     "Kiss me," I stated.

     His eyes shifted up to mine, piercing green to warm brown. "What?"

     "Kiss me."

     "I thought you would hate me after everything..."

     "Lucius!" I laughed as he leaned in. "Kiss me." He kissed me gently, tears slipping from his cheeks to mine as he leaned over me.

     "Where am I?" I asked.

     "Mercy Gen in LA. How're you feeling?" he spoke slowly, his eyes searching my bruised face.

     I took his hand in mine. "I'm okay, it hurts a little... I heard your voicemails. It's okay, I forgive you."

     He climbed into bed with me and I scooted over a little bit to allow him the room. He wrapped me in his arms as best he could without ripping the IV out of my arm. "I love you," he whispered against my forehead before he kissed it. I felt the wetness of his tears touch my forehead and I looked up at him and kissed him. "Marry me."

     "What?" I leaned away from him a little bit to look at his face more clearly. "Are you serious?"

     "Yes. I'll pick out a ring later. I just... I need you. For the rest of my life, I need you. I need you in my arms and in my life. I need to love you as much as you need air to live."

     A tear fell down my cheek and I smiled as I spoke, "Yes!" He pulled me against him tightly, afraid to let me go again. 

     "I'm never letting you out of my sight again. I won't ever let anyone hurt you ever again," he stated firmly.

     "Okay Superman." I kissed his cheek and settled into his arms, my head against his chest.

     He took a deep breath, his heartbeat settling down to normal. He held me there for what felt like hours but probably amounted to half an hour or so. I was half asleep when Lucius' voice coaxed me out of sleep, "I love you... I never thought I could love anyone. I didn't know that I could feel this way. Ever since I saw your eyes, and that smile of yours, God that smile... I was a goner after your smile. I could watch you smile every second of the day for the rest of my life. I will love you everyday for the rest of my life Adelaide."

     I rested my hand against his chest, gripping his shirt. "I will too. Just promise me you will try to not put that wall up? I need to know that you are in this. That you want to be better for me."

     "I promise. I want you to know that I am going to do my very best to not put a wall up between me and my emotions, especially my emotions for you."