𝑹𝑼𝑰𝑵 𝑴𝑬

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕿𝖜𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖞-𝕾𝖎𝖝

Clarence laid bare chested with a breathing mask on and tubes spewing from his wound.

I slowly walked over to him as the heart monitor beeped just as slowly in the background.

I crouched and carefully grabbed one of his fingers to hold. He felt cold to the touch, unnaturally cold.

I stared at his pale colored face as worry and guilt consumed me. His once full plump lips were now purple and dark, his golden skin now looked dim and bruised.

A sigh escaped my lips as I let go of his finger and took a seat in the near by couch.

I removed my blood stained tank top, sitting in only my shorts.

I got up and walked over to the sink to cleanse my hands of the blood.

I looked at my reflection In the mirror to see a weak, broken version of myself.

I shook my head and dried off my hands before walking back over to the couch

I stared at Clarence as if he'd magically wake up and be okay, As if this was all a nightmare I had yet to wake up from.

Like he'd send me another smirk and flirt just to see my reaction.

Or he'd say something smart to turn around the questions on me.

But I didn't get any of that, all I got was the sound of the heart monitor beeping and his light and weak breathing.

The door Suddenly opened revealing a distressed Andre.

He took a seat to my right as the silence and tension ate at both of us.

"I'm sorry." He said randomly.

"It wasn't right to blame you at that moment, especially when I know how you and my brother feel about each other, I know what you mean to him."

I nodded my head not really in the mood to speak.

He must've gotten the hint because he stayed silent as well.

A couple of minutes later he broke the dwelling silence again

"Here." He gestured a jacket towards me.

I looked between it and him giving him a confused look.

"I asked for Clarences things from the doctors at your facility , you look like you could use some clothes and I'm sure he wouldn't mind." He said motioning towards my bare upper body

I nodded and muttered a hoarse "thank you" before slipping the hoodie on.

As the hoodie covered me Clarences scent did the same. My nostrils flared as I was engulfed and I got that weird feeling in the pit of my stomach.

That feeling when your scared, nervous, hurt.

But also that feeling when your happy, excited, falling for someone.

I pulled my arms into the hoodie and leaned my head on the arm of the couch, staring at Clarence as I drifted off to sleep.

___________________________

I woke up Two hours later to the sound of my phone vibrating, A Message I received from Apunda telling me her and Alyssa left and locked my doors, A message from Nancy, even Gabriel. I closed them all and stood up with a stretch.

The space beside me was empty signaling André left. The box with Clarence's things was still there along with his notebook.

I sat back down and picked it up turning to the first page.

Anchor

You hold me down.

You See me for who I am, not the shit that I do

You look at me with admiration, not fear like everybody else, Why?

I'm gonna disappoint you, like My parents, Like André, Like my daughter.

I looked from the pages to Him, he still slept, the monitor still beeped, and I was still scared.

I closed the notebook and set it back on his things before bringing my knees to my chest.

I felt tears escape once again, only this time I wasn't just staring blankly.

I was balling, I was crying. All that hurt I couldn't feel before, it finally rushed in, that fear that I might lose the person I was starting to care about most hovered over me.

My cries became louder causing me to silence my self by slipping my hand over my mouth.

Memories began to cloud my head, making my cries worse, harder to mask.
_______________________________
"When I felt like I was bout' to lose somebody I cared about..."

"And does this person mean a lot to you." I asked curiously.

"Definitely." He nodded.

"Well how do they make you feel." I smiled

"Like I'm actually somebody who's worth savin'."

I stood up and walked back to his side,
"You are worth saving."

They make me feel like I'm not as fucked up as most people think

I looked down, staring at him.
"Your fine, better than fine, people are just afraid of what they don't understand."

I've never been one for mushy shit, but they make my day livable whenever I think bout' em'. He smirked.

"If that's true, then don't leave me—please don't leave me. Your not gonna Ruin Me, I don't care why anybody says." I said as I leant down and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

"If I'm the one thing your holding onto to survive, then hold on. I don't care if you have to pull me down with you, I'm your anchor."

"I'll always hold you down..."