Page 4 of Vexed
Quietly unlocking the door, I open it to see Vex already standing on the porch with his back facing me.
“Vex!”
He swiftly turns and peers down at me with a wide smile. “Hello, little one.” I can barely contain myself as I lunge forward and wrap my little arms around his waist. A low chuckle rumbles through his chest as he wraps an arm around me, giving me a tight squeeze.
I loosen my hold on him and look up at him, my smile falling as I remember I’m not allowed to go to the playground for a while. He frowns as he looks down at me before kneeling on one knee so I can look him in the eyes.
“What’s wrong, Lily?”
“Something bad happened at school today and I got punished for it,” I say, folding my arms over my chest. “It’s not even my fault. I didn’t do anything. And now I’m not allowed to go to the playground for two weeks.” I say, pouting my lip.
His silver eyes soften as he tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. “It’s okay. Two weeks isn't that long.”
A smile finds its way back onto my lips and I wrap my arms around his neck giving him another hug and he hugs me back even tighter. Almost squeezing the air out of me.
“Now, be a good girl and stay out of trouble, okay?” He says, flashing me a bright smile, his sharp canines shining under the porch light.
Nodding quickly, I turn and head back into the house, giving him one last wave, “You’re my best friend, Vex.” His eyes soften as he stares at me, warmly smiling, “And you are mine, Lily.”
Before I head back into the house, I turn back to him, “I have always wanted to ask you this—your sharp teeth… are you a vampire?” My question ignites a deep chuckle from him.
“No, I’m not a vampire.” He gives me one last smile before I give a slight wave and head inside.
“Sweet dreams, little one.” He softly says before I close the door. I need to get back to bed. I glance up at the clock hanging above the kitchen counter next to the sink.
I’ve been learning about time in class. The long arm points to the three and the short arm points to the twelve. It’s already past midnight. If mommy finds me here, I’ll be in big trouble.
CHAPTER THREE
Lily
* Aged 12 *
Things have been really rough the last couple of months. Daddy has gotten worse. A few weeks ago he could barely get out of bed. And Mommy had to help him out of bed, help him eat, brush his teeth. Everything.
And now, he doesn’t get out of bed anymore. He doesn’t have hair anymore, the sparkle in his eyes is gone. He lost so much weight, it’s like a skeleton with only one layer of skin that lays in that bed.
I’m too scared to go into the room. Not because of how he looks, but because I can see him slowly dying. I don’t want to remember my dad like that.
I want to remember him as the big and strong man who always carried me on his shoulders. The dad who always chased me through the house and played hide-and-seek with me. Not this.
It’s unfair. Life is so unfair.
“Lily! Lily, call the ambulance. Now!” Mommy’s voice echoes through the house. The tone in her voice tells me there’s something wrong.Oh no. I run through the hallway from my room to theirs and as I enter, I see her slumped over Daddy, sobbing. He’s not moving.
Tears brim my eyes and my heart beats like a drum against my chest as I slowly step forward and then I see him. His eyes are open like he is staring at something in the far corner of the room. His skin is already turning pale, a white-yellowish color and his eyes look like glass.
“Mommy?” I softly say and she whips around, her face wet with tears as she looks at me before grabbing me and holding me tightly against her.
“He’s gone, baby.” An uncontrollable sob rips through me as I collapse in her arms. Tears stream down my little face as I stare at Daddy over Mommy’s shoulder.
I’m so sorry Daddy. I’m so sorry that I couldn’t help you. I love you so much.
After Mommy held me tight for what felt like an eternity, she slowly let go of me and headed to call the police and ambulance. The silence that followed her was deafening, punctuated only by the ragged breaths I tried to take. I was alone with Daddy.
I carefully crawled beside him on the bed. His face was so peaceful, but so unfamiliar without the usual sparkle in his eyes. With trembling fingers, I reached out and gently closed his eyelids.
As the light vanished from his face, a heavy weight settled in my chest. Before his eyes were completely shut, before the reality of the moment crashed over me completely, I whispered a promise.
