Curved Edges ✔

(48) Noble Noah

♡ NOAH

I pick up the pace, hoping to run into Ama and getting a chance to see her, to talk to her for a bit. I smile at the thought of it all and basically run in her direction. 

That is until I see her; ghostly white, crouching down with her back against the outside wall of the beauty salon.

Something is wrong. Very wrong.

I run over to her and kneel in front of her. She looks up at me with eyes full of tears, her cheeks wet from the ones that already spilled out of her gorgeous green orbs. I notice she is holding her phone and I hear someone yelling at her.

I take the phone from her and put it against my ear. There's a girl yelling she's sorry at the other end. The penny drops and I think it's Ashley. "Ashley. I'm with Ama right now. Could you tell me slow and simple what's going on?"

It stays silent on the other end and I hear her take a deep breath. "Ama's dad had a heart attack. They took him away in an ambulance this morning. They made me swear not to tell her, but as soon as I was on my break I called her. I just didn't want to lose my job. I'm sorry, I-"

I speak up to stop her from rambling on. "Which hospital, Ashley?" 

She tells me and I hang up, sliding Ama's phone into my pocket. I look at the broken girl in front of me and she looks so young right now. I better stay clear-headed for her.

"Ama? Can you stand, sweetheart?" 

She looks up at me and shrugs. 

"Could you try? For me?" I hold my hands out to her and she grabs a hold of them. Her grip is weak and her eyes are dull. I like the feisty, stubborn version of her a lot better. I pull her up and she looks at me with desperation written all over her face.

I pull her close for a hug and her shoulders shake as she cries against my chest. I try to breathe in and out calmly, trying to calm her down by staying calm myself. "I've got you, sweetheart. I've got you." My heart breaks for her. She is such a strong woman, but all I see is a lost girl right now.

We slowly make our way over to my house. I have to hold her up because her knees give out every few steps. Would have loved to pick her up and carry her, but I have to be careful, she's fragile right now. 

I help her onto one of the chairs in my kitchen and make her a cup of strong coffee. Sending messages to Mary, X, and Conan, to let them know what's going on and asking X for Mona's number because I'm sure Ama needs her best friend.

I put the cup of coffee in front of her and drop two sugar cubes in it. She looks up into my eyes and there's a tiny speck of amusement visible in there. She whispers a thank you and clings to the cup while she takes small sips.

I watch her like a hawk and when she seems to have calmed down I crouch down to eye level with her and ask: "Ama? Do you want to go to the hospital?"

She sucks in a breath and stares at the ceiling. 

I give her time to gather her thoughts and when she lowers her head and looks into my eyes I see doubt, pain, worry, stress, tears, and shame in them. 

Her hands shake when she puts the cup down on the table and she says: "I'm not sure. I have this feeling that my world is about to come crashing down, like knowing my dad had a heart attack is just the tip of the iceberg. I'm scared."

I take her hands in mine and give them a squeeze. "I could take you to the hospital. I'll stay with you if you want me to. I'll do whatever you need."

She stares at me. Disbelief all over her face. "You would?"

"Yes."

She whispers: "Take me to the hospital. Stay with me."