My Only Hope

Guardian Angel

My eyes fluttered open and I looked around. I was still on the bench but it was later in the day then I remembered it being. I struggled up into a sitting position and looked around. I guessed I must have fainted or fallen asleep or something like that; it was the only explanation I could think of as to why I lost all of this time without knowing exactly why.

I was freezing cold and my head felt foggier than it had before. I had to find somewhere to stay and I had to find that place quickly. My earlier thoughts of completely giving up and allowing myself to die had faded away and I was left with the primal instinct of saving myself. I had a little bit of money, that could buy me one night in a B&B, I hoped. Just one night of unbroken rest and a small meal would give me the strength and hope I needed to get myself together and try and sort my life out.

I tried to get up but my legs gave way immediately and I fell backwards. I didn’t even bother to try and right myself. I just waited for my body to impact with either the bench or the ground. At least if I hit my head and passed out again I may not wake up and then I wouldn’t have to worry about anything anymore. Maybe that earlier thought of death hadn’t quite abandoned me. I waited for the impact but instead of landing against the bench or on the floor a strong pair of hands came out of nowhere and caught me, mid fall. I jerked a little and started to panic.

"I'm glad you're awake. I was starting to get very worried about you" said my catcher before I could utter a single word. I turned to face him, to thank him, to question him, to see his face. Once I turned around I saw it was the boy from Ray's house.

He helped me back onto the bench and sat down beside me. Before I could even think of something to say he spoke again, "I ran straight out after you, you know. But you were already at the end of the road and gone before I could catch up. You run so fast!” he chuckled then continued, “I’ve been looking for you for almost three days. I'm glad I've finally found you. You sure know how to choose your hiding places" he added then grinned that charming smile of his and I felt myself melt inside.

"You were looking for me?" I asked, blushing again. That probably wasn’t the most intelligent thing I could have said. It was obvious he’d been looking for me he’d found me so he must have been looking. But, I guessed, saying something dumb was better than saying nothing at all.

"Of course I was looking. I was so worried about you. Did you know that you've been out for hours? I was getting so worried. I tried to wake you several times but I couldn’t get you to open your eyes for more than a few seconds. I was going to call you an ambulance if you hadn’t woken up soon. I’m glad you’re awake now though. You must have been in and out of consciousness long before I found you"

"I’m sorry I worried you. I meant to get up and find food and shelter but didn’t really get around to it…as you can tell”

"Don’t be sorry, it wasn’t your fault. You're very handsome when you sleep by the way. All these worry lines disappear and you look young and totally at peace" he said gently tracing lines over my face being careful not to touch my cheek. His touch sent electrifying shocks of warmth all through my body.

"You've been with me the whole time I was out?" I asked. I didn’t know why I wanted to know that? How was that even slightly relevant? It was more creepy than anything else to be honest. But I wanted to know.

"Yes. The moment you fainted for real I came and sat with you, I didn’t want you to wake alone. I actually found you quite early this morning. I was going to approach you but I thought it best to let you have some time alone. I sat over there” he said, pointing to a bench over the road, “I could see you and keep an eye on you from that distance but wouldn't have been obvious enough to disturb you. You’re very good at playing guitar, by the way. You’re very talented. What was that song you kept playing over and over? It was so good!"

Gosh, he spoke in such a rush! I barely had time to process one thing before he was talking about something completely different!

"Thank you" I said. I’d registered that he’d complimented my guitar skills so focused on responding to that before all conversation stopped. I said my thanks calmly but I was thrilled that he thought I was talented and that he thought I was handsome and that he liked the song I had made for him. It also made me happy that he'd stayed and watched over me. He was almost like my guardian angel.

We sat in silence for a while. I was content to sit here forever as long as this angel stayed by my side. I felt safe with him. When I looked at him I forgot all my worries. He seemed to be the antidote to all my pain.

"Come on then, let’s go" the boy said suddenly, disturbing the peace and jumping up. He leant down and picked my bags and Pansy from the damp ground.

"Hey! What are you doing?" I protested weakly, going to grab my bags back.

"You said you needed a place to stay so you can come and stay with me, at my house" he replied with a smile, “You’re exhausted so I don’t really think you’re in a fit state to argue with me. Nor do you have any other options at this precise moment in time. So come along, let’s go”

I gaped at him. That was astonishingly rude. And had he gone mad!?

"I don't even know your name! How could I come and live with you? We know absolutely nothing about each other! How is this even a remotely good idea!? How do I know I can trust you!? You could be a murderer for all I know!" I gabbled.

The boy sighed impatiently and rolled his eyes. "My name is Gerard Way, my friends and family call me Gee for short. I love to sing and play a little guitar; I’m not that good at guitar though. I love art and, forgive my boasting but, I am very good at that. I have a younger brother called Mikey who is a superb bassist and a good guitarist. I’m sure you two will get along great. This is a very good idea because you have nowhere else to go and you have nobody else to trust. So you might as well trust me and follow me considering I ran out on my friends to try and find you. Also, if I were a murderer I would have killed you whilst you were asleep. Murder would be much less trouble if the victim is already asleep, wouldn’t you say?"

I wasn’t quite sure what to say to any of that. He was right about everything he’d said. I really had no other choice but to trust him. I stood up and looked at Gerard, “I'm Frank, Frank Iero. I can play guitar and I can sing. My family hates me and I don’t really have any friends left. I’m going to trust and follow you because I really have no other options and, right now, my life sucks"

Gerard laughed as if I’d just told him the funniest joke he’d ever heard, "I thought as much. Come on then Frankie, let’s get going. It won’t take us too long to get home"

I stared at him. I didn’t listen to any other part of the sentence. He’d called me Frankie. Hearing such a familiar nickname being spoken by such a perfect stranger was lovely. Gerard sounded so comfortable with me, like he really cared about me. He knew barely anything about me and yet he seemed adamant to help me. I knew from that moment on I would follow him to the ends of the earth.