Memory in a Bottle

Jace

Delilah fell into ma's arms after the nurse sedated her. I was heartbroken. She was afraid of the doctor... and me. She only allowed the one female nurse and ma near her. What really went down at the house? What happened to my Delilah the one that I knew so well? Why didn't she say anything or tell anyone anything? The nurses and Dexter brought Delilah back to her room and fixed her stitches. The nurses left while Dexter stayed.

"Why is she like this?" I blurt out.

"She suffered through a great deal of things and-" Dexter starts.

"No, I know that but I'm meaning her running away from.... from me and you. And not speaking or only allowing the one nurse or my mom near her? She wasn't like this before."

"You don't know?" He asks in disbelief.

"Know what?"

"She... um she was raped and almost killed. She probably doesn't trust men anymore or she just doesn't trust anyone anymore. Just only a select few people." He replies sadly. I inhale sharply, I didn't know that much of what happened. Anger rushed through me. Then sadness overwhelmed me. But would that mean she wouldn't want to be near me or around me? What would become of our relationship? Does she hate me? Is she mad at me? I look over at sleeping Delilah. She looks so peaceful sleeping and yet so fragile. I wanted to hold her and tell her that it's okay but I'm afraid she'll freak out if she wakes up. I sigh and sit down in the chair furthest from Delilah. I put my head in my hands, sighing from the pain in my heart. What if she doesn't love me anymore? If she chooses to not be with me, then I'll let her go. I'll leave her be, I'll move a-

"Jace?" A soft voice calls. I immediately look up at Delilah, my eyes don't meet hers instead they meet with her closed eyelids. Confused I get up and walk over to her bed. "Jace? Jace! Help! JACE!"

"Delilah? Hey, I'm here love. I'm here. It's just a dream." I say soothingly caressing her face. She flinched at my touch as tears stream down her face. She gasps as if she was in pain then out of nowhere, she starts screaming. Panicking I rush to the door and shouted for a nurse. Several nurses came rushing in with Dexter in tow.

"What happened?" Dexter asks urgently.

"I-I don't know! She said my name and then she gasped as if she was in pain and she stared screaming." Dexter nodded and started shouting random things in doctor-to-nurse language. My heart is racing hastily, as fear for Delilah rushes in. Then she goes quiet. She stops screaming, the sound of my heart fades away, the sound of Dexter shouting orders at the nurses stop and the only thing I hear is the calming rhythm of Delilah's heartbeat.

"Delilah? Can you tell me what hurts?" Asks Dexter.

"N-Nothing hurts. I'm fine." a soft voice whispers. Her voice sounds hoarse from all the screaming.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I am. Where's Jace? I want to see him." she says softly. She probably couldn't see where I was at. I step forward and cleared my throat.

"I'm here Lilah. I'm right here." I say as she looks at me and gives me a sad smile. I don't walk any further forward so that she doesn't get scared.

"Alright, Ms. Delilah, I will check in with you in a little bit." Dexter tells her as he and the nurses leave.

"Hey," I whisper.

"Hey," She whispers back.