Page 11 of Vexed
Panic surged within me, and my gaze darted around the room. Then, my attention fixated on the window. There was someone in here last night. Or was I dreaming again? God, I’m so confused and to top it off, my head feels like it wants to explode.
Austin’s voice brought me back to reality, reminding me that he was still on the line.
“Um, sorry, I was feeling a little sick yesterday, so I wanted to sleep it off. I’ll call you later, okay?” Without waiting for his response, I hastily end the call.
Getting out of bed, I slowly walk over to the window and open the blinds. And that’s when I see it. A white daisy sitting on the window frame, barely. I open the window and snatch it before it falls. Twirling it in my fingers, I bring it to my nose and sniff it. Vex.
That is something he used to do. Leave me flowers at my window that I would find every morning when I woke up. Without realizing it, a smile creeps on my face as the memories flood my mind.
Wait. Was he here? I throw the flower on my bed and run to the bathroom, quickly brushing my teeth and combing my hair.I pull on some short jeans and a white tank top, along with a pair of white Vans before rushing out towards the front door. I don’t see mom anywhere. She must still be at work.
Stepping outside, I make my way to the playground. If he really is here, this is the place where he’ll be. I open the worn gate and walk into the playground. My eyes searched for any sign that he may be here. But it’s silent. No one is around. The neighborhood kids no longer come here to play.
I walk over to the swings, the rocks crunching under my feet as I take a seat on one of them. I want to push myself forward and swing, but I’m scared the whole thing might break and come crashing down with how rusted the poles are.
Before I can stop myself, the words spill out barely above a whisper, “Vex?”
Stupid. He won’t be able to hear me even if he was close.
“Vex?” I say a little louder, looking around me to see if he comes out. But nothing. I think I finally proved that I am in fact, fucking insane. Blowing out a breath, I close my eyes, enjoying the silence and the warmth of the sun on my face.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Vex
I can barely hear myself think amidst the constant beeping of machines and the sorrowful sobs of the family members in the room. I always preferred going to the homes of people instead of hospitals. It feels calmer. More personal.
But if I’m brutally honest, the worst places I have gone to have to be accidents and suicides. They make me sick to my stomach. Funny, being the angel of death and all that, it shouldn’t bother me—but it does.
As I lean against the cool, rough wall beside the hospital bed, I take in the sight before me. The old man lying in the bed, his frail body fighting against the grip of brain cancer, appears almost translucent under the harsh fluorescent lights.
The old man’s family surrounds him, their presence a mixture of solace and heartache. His wife, with trembling hands, clasps his frail fingers tightly, her voice quivering as she whispers words of comfort. Telling him about how he can finally be healed and free of his pain and that he no longer has to worry about them.
The sounds of her gentle reassurances blend with the faint rustling of tissue papers and the stifled sobs of his children.
In a corner of the room, the grandchildren sit on chairs, their faces etched with a mixture of confusion and sadness. A little girl, oblivious to the gravity of the moment, occupies herself with a stuffed animal, her laughter echoing faintly against the sterile walls.
The poor girl has no idea what’s going on or why everyone is crying. She will never get to make memories with her great-grandfather. The only thing to remember him by will be pictures and stories.
This is always the hardest. Taking away an important person from someone so young. I have no choice, but it still sucks. I tried doing something right by Lily when I gave her more time with her father, I couldn't bare breaking her fragile little heart.
But I got into a lot of shit because of it, now, all I can do is stand back and watch as people's lives get turned upside down.
I have to stop myself from going to her and hugging her, telling her that everything is going to be okay. But if I suddenly materialize in the middle of the room, there will be more than one soul to take with me.
I reach inside my robe and retrieve the hourglass, a tangible representation of the old man’s dwindling time. The grains ofsand, slipping silently through the narrow passage, mark the closing chapter of his life. With a heavy heart, I approach the bed, prepared to guide his departing soul.
But just as I was about to place the hourglass beside him, a soft, distant sound captured my attention.
Turning my head, I strain my ears.
“Vex.” I hear it. Loud and clear.Lily.
I can’t help the smirk as I realize she must have found the flower I left at her window. What makes me even happier is the fact that she knows it was me.
I look back at the old man still clinging to life and carefully place the hourglass next to his bed. Watching it. Waiting for the last grain of sand to hit the bottom.
I think this hourglass is broken. They should call it the eternity-glass with how fucking long it takes to run out.
