Feel Again (Blake Griffin)

1. Lifeless Eyes

Blake's POV

November 9, 2015

I was in the locker room getting ready for our game against Toronto, when I got a call from my mom.

"Hey momma." Expecting her to be calling to wish me good luck.

"Blake, are you sitting down?" She said in a serious tone.

"Yes, mom. What is it?" I asked worried.

"Remember how a month ago Ash lost her son, due to the car accident? Yes? Okay. After the funeral she shut down. She has night terrors that just won't stop. She won't talk to anyone. Not a word. She stays locked up in her house, she rarely ever comes out." I listened carefully, waiting for her to continue. "Due to all of this the therapist said it would be best if she doesn't stay in Oklahoma where all of this happened. So I told her parents you could take her in. I know, I know, I need to let you know this stuff."

"Mom!" I said frustrated, this sounds like as full time babysitting job that I can't handle. "When is she coming?"

"Here's the thing, she's in the arena now. She just flew in a few hours ago. She's got floor seats so you can keep an I on her." She went on.

"Are there any other catches, mother?" I asked sarcastically.

"Well, yes," oh great, buckle up Blake. "She can't be left alone, at all. That means she has to sleep in your room. Her night terrors," Deandre came in the room to tell me let's go but saw my look of concern while on the phone and walked out, "when she has them you have to hold her. She'll thrash around in your arms but you can't let go until she 100% is calm. Oh, and try to get her to talk. Her parents miss her laugh and her smile. Blake, I love you, go kick some ass." She said before hanging up.

I ran out of the locker room like I was a robot just going through the motions. I reached my destination, the court. I looked for her, and found what my eyes were searching for. She looked dead, emotionless, like she didn't want I be here. Not here, as in the arena, but here as on earth. She was paled and her eyes were lifeless. Tears brimmed her eyes but it looked as though they'd been resting there for quite some time and had forgotten how to fall out. Looking at her made me sick to my stomach. I suddenly had the desire to make the life in her rise, again.

As the game got started I looked at her again. She stared straight ahead. She stared at the same spot when my eyes left her. She wasn't even watching the game, just staring, at nothing. I continued to watch her throughout the game. She was still staring at the same spot. Her eyes had not left that spot. The buzzard went off signaling the end of the game. I played awful, I couldn't keep my eyes off her. I called the security guard over to go get her and bring her back to the locker room. Meanwhile, I ran back to the locker room.

Ash walked into the locker room shortly after me. She didn't sway her hips like usual, she looked as I did after I got the call, just going through the motions, robotic, still staring straight ahead.

I went to the post game press conference. Ash waited for me in the locker room. When I was finished I went to get her.

"Come on, Ash." Her name had become unfamiliar to my tongue. She didn't respond, just started walking robotically behind me. I opened the door to the passenger seat for her. Still not a single word leaving those amazing lips.

"You will be staying in my room. There are towels in the bathroom closet, if you want to take a shower." I said as we arrived at my house. Her bags were right inside the door of my house. She grabbed them and found her way to my room. She looked so robotic, it scared me. I'd never seen anyone so emotionless. I wanted to hear her voice. I wanted to watch her hips sway just like old times. I walked upstairs bringing her and I some left over pasta from the other night.

"Here you go." I set the plate in front of her, on the bed. She was silent. The silence lasted for about 10 minutes before I broke it. "Come on, Ash, talk to me. I need you to talk to me. I need to hear your voice, I haven't heard it in eight years for Heaven's sake."

"And whose fault is that, Blake Austin, because it surely isn't mine." She finally looked me in the eyes and spoke. She hasn't talked since September 10th and she talks to me the first day I see her. Her eyes you don't realize how dead they really are until she looks you in the eyes.

"Dear god, you look like you haven't slept in months."

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