Girl on the Bench [Completed]

Stay

Dominic

Rosa opened the door to the cottage and I followed her in, leaning on my stick as I stepped in and moved into the hallway. She carried my bags into a room on the right and I walked into the living room. I paused and took it all in, in the short time that she had lived there she'd made it her own. There was pictures everywhere, a couple of paintings on the white walls and a fire was blazing in the woodburner that was tucked into the corner. A couple of navy sofas faced towards the television and books were piled on the coffee table in the middle of the room. 

She dropped my bags onto one of the sofas and gestured at me to follow her, I did as she asked and we rounded the corner into an open plan kitchen and diner. I grinned at the sight of a large lemon cake sitting on a cake stand.

"I know, it's not much but all the rooms are on the one floor and you've got your own ensuite too so..." Rosa fidgeted with her fingers.

I gripped the kitchen island to steady myself, "It's great, Rosa. Thank you."

Rosa blushed and I felt myself falling for her all over again. She had asked me to come and stay with her, she wanted me with her even after everything. I was relieved, I didn't want to live in the loft and be attached to anything that reminded me of Paul. Lola had packed my bags and brought them to the rehabilitation centre. She had gone back to Spain to pack up her things so she could come back permanently. Lee looked a little lost without her. 

"Do you want to lie down? I'll show you to your room," she said and I trailed after her, trying to ignore the pain in my leg.

We walked into a room with a large white bed frame. The walls were blue and the large windows let in lots of light and fresh air. I sank onto the mattress and sighed, Rosa frowned slightly and knelt down next to me.

"Are you alright?" she asked, touching my leg gently. 

"Just tired, it's been a long day," I said, ignoring the pain from my leg. 

"Lie down, I'll get you some water and painkillers," she said and straightened up. She smiled at me then left the room. 

I looked around my room and tried to fight the feeling of discomfort in my chest. Why weren't we sharing a room? I wanted Rosa in my bed, I wanted to smell her hair and burrow my face into the crook of her neck as we fell asleep. I wanted to touch her and have her touch me. I pushed those thoughts away. Maybe she wasn't ready for that, I mean, was I? Would I even be able to..

I reached down, rolled up my trouser leg and removed my prosthesis. I pulled the liner off and rubbed the end of my leg and grimaced, it was red and swollen. I swung my legs into bed and rested against the pillows. My eyes fell shut.

"Here you are," Rosa said softly, placing a bottle of water and couple of tablets onto the bedside table. She paused and then put a photo frame beside them. I sat up and shoved my trouser leg down.I didn't want Rosa to see.. I swallowed the tablets and sipped at the water. I glanced at the photo frame and smiled, it was one that Lola had picked up from the loft. After Rosa had left, I had the pictures I'd taken of her printed, framed and I put one next to my bed so I'd see her when I woke up in the morning. 

In the picture, Rosa was laughing at something I'd said. Her head was tilted back and her red lips were pulled into a large smile. Her eyes were fixed directly at the camera. I remembered that night and the morning after...

I glanced at Rosa and she smiled at me. 

"Lola told me, it was on your bedside table at the loft so I thought.."

"It's perfect, thanks," I interrupted. 

She grinned and my breath caught in my throat. Rosa sat on the bed next to me.

"Can I get you anything else?"

"No, thank you, "I said, falling back onto the pillows. I wanted to look at her but I felt my eyes starting to close. Rosa stood up and I reached out my hand to her.

"Would you stay?" I mumbled. 

Rosa sat back down and held my hand, "I'll stay."