Page 27 of Stained Hearts
His lip curled up as reached for a bottle of white pills. His hands shook when he tried to take the top off, so I reached out and took it from him.
“How many?”
“Just one, please.” He frowned. “Usually that takes care of it, but not today. I took two earlier, and it still hurts.”
I shook the tiny tablet into my hand and held it out. He snatched it and popped it in his mouth, then swallowed. He reached for the water, drained the glass. I took it from him an put it back on the table.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
His eyes glistened. “So many things. Not calling you back. Thinking bad things about you. Treating you like dirt.”
“Is that all?” I reached out and rubbed his arm. “Trust me. I’ve been treated bad by far better people.” I gave him a wink to let him know I was teasing.
He smirked. “I really am sorry. It’s just… I don’t even know how to justify myself. I thought…. You know what? It doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me. What did you think?”
His eyes fluttered, and he yawned. “Sorry. The pills make me tired.”
“Okay, we should get you to bed, then.”
“No!” His cheeks pinked. “Can I stay out here with you?”
His pleading tore at my heart. He was in a lot of pain, that was evident. I reached out and pulled him close to me, wrapping my arms around him. He stiffened for a moment before he relaxed into my embrace. We sat there quietly for a bit, Aiden’s head bobbing as he drifted off.
“You smell good.”
I chuckled. “Thanks.”
“No, I mean it. I like your cologne.”
He snuggled in closer, and I held him tighter.
“Sleep, Aiden.”
He shook his head. “I don’t want to. Can’t we talk?”
I put my chin on top of his silky hair. “Sure. What do you want to talk about?”
“I don’t know.” He yawned again, and his words came out slow and slurred. “Just tell me something.”
“How about a story?”
He nodded, his head lolling forward.
“Once upon a time, there was a very strong young man named Aiden….”
“Hey, that’s my name.” His voice was filled with sleep, and he slumped down, boneless.
“It is. Anyway, Aiden thought he had to be strong for the world, but one day he met someone who wanted to take his pain away and make him happy.”
He snored, a loud sound in such a small room. I pulled him a little closer, smiling when he gave a tiny whimper. Having him close to me seemed so natural.
“What have you done to me, Aiden?”
He murmured something, but I couldn’t hear it. Whatever it was didn’t matter. Right now he needed me, and it seemed right.
