Page 54 of Waiting Game

I made the promise that no one would hurt her and I was determined to keep that promise. I would keep my vow to her no matter the consequence, no matter the lives lost. I was prepared to do whatever it took to keep her out of harms way.

Would she trust me to be able to keep her safe now?

Or would she simply fear me?

The thought of Valerie being scared of me made my stomach turn in a way that had nothing to do with the bullet wound or the drugs I was on.

It was a sickness, a repulsion directed at myself.

A few minutes passed as I watched her.

I could look at her forever and never get sick of the sight.

I could count the freckles scattered across her nose and never get bored.

She was everything that I have ever wanted, and I knew that no one else would do.

Ithadto be her.

I swallowed hard, and reached out and grazed her lightly on the knee with my fingers. Her eyes fluttered open. Her cheek was red from where she had been leaning on it for the past hours, and her usually blue eyes were a tired shade of grey.

“Morning,” I said.

She smiled, trying to keep her eyes open.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, leaning forward and taking my hand.

“Better,” I smiled, tracing my thumb up and down her palm.

Her hand was soft and delicately small, but it was comforting to touch.

To hold her in even a small way was everything to me.

“I mean physically,” she asked, standing up and checking the machine that I was still attached to.

“Like I got shot?”

I smiled as I watched her frowning and squinting at the screens. It was fun to watch her in nurse mode.

“Yeah,” she smirked, “that checks out.”

“Thank you for staying,” I said.

She shook her head, “I wasn’t going anywhere until I knew you were okay.”

“So,” I looked down at my legs still covered by sheets, “you’re still going? Back to him?”

“Ren,” she groaned my name, “let’s not talk about this right now, okay? You need rest.”

“I am resting,” I said as I tried to sit up, but she pushed me back down.

“Don’t, you’ll tear yourself open again,” she scolded.

“I don’t care, Val. I want to talk about this.”

“What’s there to say, Ren?” she sighed, “you knew all along that I was going back to Perth. I was never moving back here, I was never coming back.”

“But things changed. Haven’t they?” I shook my head, frowning at her.

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