It's a Small World

Chapter Twenty Three - An End Has a Start

 I walked into the hospital with Michael right behind me. It had been a week since my father's henchman had tried to kidnap me. A week of hiding at Michael's house until he finally thought it was okay for me to go out into the world again. A week of mental torment, anguish and guilt at not being able to go to the hospital and check on Devin, along with everything else going on in my wreck of a life. 

Michael had destroyed my phone so no one could contact me - I'd given him some money to buy me a new one, but I couldn't remember anyone's number so it was rendered useless pretty quickly. He'd downloaded an app that would ping him my live location so that he would always know where I was if we were separated again. I kept quiet about my opinion on the matter. 

His wife was shocked when he returned home with me in tow. I say in tow, he was basically carrying me as I'd done way more damage to my knee in my haste to escape. It wasn't even something I had considered, the pain was constant but that fueled my hatred and anger at the whole situation and ensured I would never forget what had happened. Not that I would ever forget. Thankfully his wife was understanding, she knew that Michael worked for the Blake family and had accepted any circumstance that came with the job and I was forever grateful for her compassion and warm welcome. She had fed me and housed me without question, often offering to go and get me anything that would make the pain easier to cope with. But the pain wasn't just physical. Pain meds were good for the constant agony of my mangled leg, but did nothing for the pain in my heart. I didn't think anything would wholly repair that. 

I felt so lost. Every day was a constant battle with my own emotions and the darkness in my soul grew and grew with every damaging, toxic thought that entered my head uninvited. I knew Michael knew that I wasn't okay, but thankfully he never said anything; simply offered me home comforts and conversation that he hoped would bring me back into my own body. 

By the time the week was over, the recuperation at Michael's house had helped slightly. The rest had meant that my leg wasn't so swollen, and I was able to walk on it much easier and without much assistance. I refused to go to the hospital and seek medical attention simply out of my own stupid pride. I knew that going into hospital would mean Devin's family finding out about what happened and I didn't want them to know. I wasn't entirely certain what their relationship to my father was, and simply put, what was between me and my father was none of their concern. 

I rounded a familiar corner in the hospital and saw Devin's door was open slightly, a gentle glow of daylight illuminating the bottom of the bed. My heart skipped a beat. I was nervous to see Devin again after what had felt like an eternity, but I was also so excited just to see his face again. Michael wasn't able to give me many updates about his situation due to him never leaving my side at his house. All he ever told me was that he was improving, and that was all I needed to know really. 

I gently pushed the door open, Michael waiting outside, and I could have dropped to the floor. Devin was sat up in bed, awake. Instantly a smile spread across my face as he looked at me with those familiar molten eyes. I could've sworn my heart stopped for a brief moment as we locked eyes. I stumbled a step forward but stopped once I realised he wasn't smiling. My momentum faltered and I stopped mid stride. 

He looked tired, but the sallowness of his cheeks had dissipated and the colour had returned to his skin. His hair was tousled and a short beard now graced his devastatingly handsome face. He sat propped up with pillows behind his back, and his leg elevated on the bed. He was still hooked up to different monitors and drips, but he was alert as ever. He pierced me with his gaze.

"What are you doing here." A statement, not a question. The iciness of his voice caught me completely off guard. I scoffed and smiled nervously. 

"Its- it's good to see you're awake!" I spoke in a small voice. Devin's demeanor didn't change, his brow simply furrowed deeper. "How are you feeling?"