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We need your statement miss, he pressed, taking a step forward.
Wrapping my arms around myself, I took a step back and looked at the floor. He sensed what he had done and stepped back, an apologetic look in his eyes. Being so close to a stranger was something I couldn’t do anymore, at least not yet. Everytime someone got too close, fear gripped me. And I hated Pete for it. I hated him for everything. We have enough evidence already, he said, Although your statement is vital.
What evidence ? I whispered, looking up at him.
He frowned at me and bit his lip, wondering if he should tell me. But his partner stepped forward slightly and sighed. The locker at his place of work was filled with pictures of you. There was a digital camera in the locker and that also filled with hundreds of pictures. But it was his apartment that was the most disturbing. An entire wall was covered with pictures of you, going back for months. We found a receipt which shows he purchased rope and a hunting knife two days ago, the same rope he tied your hands together with and the same knife your boyfriend was stabbed with. We think he’s been following you for a while…
His voice faded away as I took in everything. I could feel the tears falling down my face but I didn’t even try to wipe them away. At that point, I didn’t even know what I was feeling. The only thing I knew was that the only way I could feel safe was with Noah. I had to get back to him. So taking a deep breath and wiping away the tears, I told them what happened.
I told them everything.
After they took the statement, I turned and walked back in to Noah’s room, not willing to be away from him any longer. As my eyes scanned the room, I realised that the doctor was gone, and Noah and I were alone. Outside, the night was coming and the darkness penetrated the room, making it seem even more empty. Walking over, I took the seat facing the door and sat down, reaching out to brush the hair away from Noah’s forehead.
You know, it’s about you wake up now college boy, I whispered, trying to hold back the tears and the feeling of hopelessness. I don’t know how to be without you.
And just like that, the damn broke and I was back exactly where I had been hours ago. Sobbing at his bedside as the machines echoed through the empty space and the darkening room. Remember we promised to take JJ swimming, I sobbed, closing my eyes as I pressed my forehead against the bed. We can’t lose you. Just wake up Noah. Please.
Nothing. He didn’t move. It was then that I was truly afraid, sitting alone in the room as the memories came flooding back. The only thing I could see was Noah’s eyes closing as I held him.
And I prayed that wouldn’t be the last time that I would see them.
………………………………………………….
*5 hours later*
I was curled up in the chair under a blanket. A nurse had come in to the room a while ago and handed it to me, saying that she was sorry about Noah, like he was already gone. I wanted to climb on to the bed and curl up against him, just be close to him but I knew I couldn’t. So I settled for just being near him, to be there when he opened his eyes and looked at me. Sighing, I turned over and threw the blanket to the floor. My eyes felt like sand, but there was no way I could fall asleep. I was too afraid to close my eyes.
My head snapped up to the closed door when I heard frantic voices outside. We’re going in ! Someone shouted loudly.
Getting up, I started to walk over to it but the door suddenly flew open and my eyes widened when I saw Noah’s mother run in to the room, with Pierce and JJ following behind. I stepped back until I was against the far wall and put my hand over my mouth, trying to stop the sobs as I watched them all. Julie was crying as she took hold of his hand, a look of confusion in her eyes. I could see Noah’s father trying to hold back the tears. But it wasn’t working, they streamed down his face as he clung on to JJ.
Not my beautiful boy, Julie whispered, taking hold of Pierce’s hand as he reached out to her. She clung on to him desperately and wiped her eyes. I can’t lose him. A parent isn’t supposed to live beyond their child.
I just stood there as Pierce lowered JJ to the floor. It broke my heart as JJ stood on tiptoes and reached out, shaking Noah’s arm. Wake up, he cried, tears streaming down his face. You have to wake up. I told Sammy you’d be okay. And we have to stick stars in my bedroom. You promised.
Why isn’t he waking up ? JJ sobbed, looking up at his father.
He knelt in front of JJ, cupping his face in his hands tenderly. He’s just dreaming son. He’ll wake up soon.
Taking a deep breath, I wiped my eyes and took a small step out of the shadows, willing myself to talk to them. To tell them how sorry I was. How it was all my fault and how I’d give anything to be able to switch places with him. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t say anything as they looked towards me, just realising that I was in the room. The tears dampened my cheeks as I met Julie’s eyes and I shook my head, wiping the tears away. I blamed myself, so I expected them too. Noah was in the hospital because of me, and he was fighting for his life because he chose to save me.
I’m I’m so, s-sorry, I cried, sobs wracking my entire body as they all stared at me.
There was a deafening silence in the room but all of a sudden JJ bolted from next to his father and launched himself at me. I scooped him in to my arms and held him as close as I could as he cried in to my shoulder, his tears dampening my shirt. I placed my hand on the back of his head, stoking his hair gently as he sobbed. I’m sorry JJ, I whispered, looking over his shoulder.
My eyes never left Noah’s parents as they both stepped towards me. I was afraid, that they’d blame me for Noah. But I was caught off guard when Julie wrapped her arms JJ and I. And I was lost for words as Pierce came over and put his hand on my shoulder, squeezing it lightly.
I’m sorry, I whispered again, looking at Julie. I told him not to come for me. I didn’t want him to. It’s all my fault. But he came anyway. He got in the way and
I couldn’t finish my sentence as more tears started to flow, and I hugged JJ tightly, trying to find some comfort at being surrounded by Noah’s family. Julie looked at me and smiled sadly, her eyes brimming with tears.
It’s not your fault Lily, she said gently. Dean told us what happened. Noah chose to save you, and I’m glad you’re ok. Don’t ever blame yourself. I’m sure if Noah got a second chance, he would make the same choice again.
I blinked away the tears as Julie took JJ from my arms and walked over to Noah’s bedside without saying another thing. Her words ran through my mind and I realised that they didn’t blame me. I wiped my eyes again when a hand suddenly went on my shoulder. Crying out, I span around and came face to face with Noah’s father. He saw the panic in my eyes and took his hand away.
I’m sorry, Lily, he muttered, putting his hand down by his side. I didn’t mean to frighten you. But I wanted to ask about the man who did this. What’s his name ?
I don’t think
What’s his damned name ? He growled, running his hand through his hair as his eyes welled up. I took a step back, the rage in his voice scaring me. I had never heard such anger before, from such a gentle man. Oh God Lily, I’m sorry, he said again. I just need to understand why my son is lying in a hospital bed in a coma. I can’t even… He trailed off, seemingly at a loss for words.
You’re son saved me. I owe him my life, I said quietly.
Before I could say anything else, Noah’s father stepped forward and embraced me, hugging me hard. Feeling myself welling up again, I clung on to him. He smelled like Noah, and I breathed in the scent. It sent an ache through my heart. After a minute, I stepped back and he dropped his arms. I watched as he smiled sadly at me and went back over to his wife and son, who were sat beside Noah’s bed, holding his hand like I had been doing only moments before.
I’ll be back in a minute, I said, walking over to the door before they had a chance to say anything else.
Slowly, I walked through the hospital and out in to the courtyard. It was a place for visitors and patients to sit together outside. But it was empty now, the night coming. I walked over to one of the benches and sat down, ignoring the breeze that fluttered by, sending goosebumps up my skin. The leaves of the bushes rustled but apart from that, it was quiet. Silent. I leant back and looked up at the sky, my eyes finding the stars. It was like being on the rooftop, when Noah had pulled me on to his lap after I had sung to him for the first time. I remembered telling him about my father and he didn’t judge me. He just held me as I cried. Glancing over I stared at the space beside me, where Noah should have been but it was empty, just like I was.
I knew it though. He had to wake up. But in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but think of the possibilty that he could just slip away. Closing my eyes, I fought the tears and hugged myself as the wind whipped around me.
All I could do, was hope. And wait.
A week had gone by and Noah had shown no signs of improvement. Even with my Aunt arriving, along with Jackie and Rich, it hadn’t been enough to stop me from breaking down. I asked Noah everyday to open his eyes and look at me, but he never did. Maybe it was too much, so I’d started asking him to just squeeze my hand, but he never did that either. It was like he was an empty shell. And I was starting to become one too.
It was late in the afternoon and everyone was sat around his bedside, all nine of us. There was hardly any room but we were too scared to leave. He could never be left on his own. I sat forward in my chair and held on to his hand. I had barely gotten any sleep and neither had anyone else, especially his father. Pierce was looking haggard, his grey hair limp and his eyes bloodshot. He hadn’t left Noah’s side since he’d arrived, so I’d spent a lot of time with him.
A small smile came to my face as I remembered all the stories he’d shared about Noah. Everytime he told one, I could see that he was barely holding it together. Tears would form in his eyes and he’d look at me, as if he couldn’t understand. There was one story he told me everyday, that caused his tears to flow, one’s he had been trying hard to stop.
It was a simple story, one of insignificance to everyone else but to him it was one of his proudest moments as a father. Something as simple as teaching his son to ride his first bike, and the day he graduated from high school.
And hearing the stories about the boy I loved, I wept with him too. We cried together.