My Life With Him

Him (Part 1)

The last time I had been here, in this hospital, was when my mother died. I had always hated hospitals, just the thought of... losing someone from my family always terrified me; and it wasn't until my mother died that I understood grief. What it means, what it does to you... And now, sitting here in the hospital corridor, unanswered, the gut wretching feeling returns. I hadn't felt that in a year, bile in my throat, dazed, muffled voices. And that recurring doubt in my mind. Would she wake up? Would I ever see her beautiful eyes again?

I had made a promise to my mother; that I would take care of Avery, protect her from any harm that may come to her, be there for her. I failed her. I failed my mother. She would be so dissapointed in me, I just know it.

I hadn't cried since my mother died, but seeing Avery fall down the stairs and the sound of her body hitting the hard wood floors woke something in me, that panic I felt when I heard the heart monitor in my mother's hospital room flatline, looking at her lifeless body as the paramedics tried to resuscitate her, but failed.

-TWO HOURS AGO-

"Are you excited?" Aunt Jess said as she adjusted my tie, while I fidjeted with Eleanor's corsage I had in my hand, it was light purple, like her dress. She hadn't showed it to me, only told me to get a light purple corsage, so it would match her dress. "Your last prom." she said with an excited smile as I glanced at Avery who looked at me with a sweet smile, I winked at her, causing her to giggle "Please have fun tonight, okay?" she whispered as she looked at me seriously "Just... forget everything and live your life for once. Be a teenager for tonight." she said as she smiled up at me softly "I'll even let it slide if you come home a little tipsy." she said as she nudged my shoulder "But don't take too much advantage of the slight freedom I'm giving you tonight." she warned and I nodded slightly before wrapping an arm around her neck, pulling her in for a hug

"Thank you." I whispered "For everything."

"I was going to wait to give you this, until graduation." she said as she fidgeted with something in her pocket and then pulled it out so I could look at it. A key? "It's grandfather's cottage upstate. He left it to your mother and it is now yours. Your father doesn't know anything about this, so it's perfect." she said, smiling softly at me as she handed me the key "Now you have someplace safe, far away from him, to start again." she whispered and I pulled her into another tight hug. I Heard the door slam downstairs, causing me to frown as I stepped out of the room

"Stay here." I said, directing my gaze to Avery, and then to my aunt, who nodded as she pulled Avery in her arms and carried her to her room "What are you doing here?" I asked, arms crosse over my chest as I directed my gaze to him "You're supposed to be in Chicago."

"Yes, Lucas, I am." he snapped "I just happened to forget a couple things here, I'll be out of your stupid hair in no time."

"Well I have to leave soon, so hurry." I said and he chuckled deeply

"What the fuck are you wearing?!" he laughed as he made his way towards me, my posture rigid "Oh, are you going to prom?" he laughed in my face as I kept my gaze ahead, anywhere but his eyes "Look at me, you ungrateful bastard." he hissed, slapping my cheek slightly, my eyes shut and then I slowly opened them and met his hateful eyes "You really think you're so much better than me, don't you?" he spat and I shut my eyes again, casting my gaze downwards "You think that petty little slut really loves you? How could anyone love you?" he whispered harshly, "You're nothing." I heard the door open, and panic flooded through me as I saw Avery poke her head out and stalk towards us, aunt Jess trailing behind her with a panicked gaze

"Avery, go back to your room." I said as I stood in front of her, so she couldn't look at him. "Go." I said

"No." he said, and my head snapped towards his, forwning "She needs to hear the truth." he said as he extended his hand out to her, she slowly started making her way towards him, but I grabbed her shoulder, shaking my head at her "Let her go, Lucas." he said and my gaze hardened as I looked at him, his stare hard and cold as he looked at me too "I said, LET HER GO!" He bellowed as he ripped her from me, but his pull was too hard, causing her to stumble and loose her footing.

Everything felt like it went in slow motion, my heartbeat sped up erratically as I saw her small body slip through his fingers as it slowly made it's way down, descending the stairs; each time her body hit the floor, an echo ringing in my ears. Aunt Jess' ear piercing scream echoed in my ears as I reached out for her, but it was too late. I couldn't save her.