Together forever

Chapter-5

Althea.

May 2010.

A gentle pitter-patter of rain hitting my bedroom window made me look up from my homework. I wonder why people call it gentle though. There is nothing gentle about the way it kept battering the roof like a hail of bullets, never failing to bring intense anxiety along with it. It's as if, between the tumbling cloud and the earth, it is afraid of never reaching its destiny, inducing a similar kind of anxiety in me.

It wasn't like this always. I remembered the times I loved the rain. I remember jumping into shallow puddles and see water splash all around me. I remember watching in awe as the rain turned dusty brown lands into a rich shade of mahogany. However, those memories seemed so distant that they felt like another lifetime.

However, the only thing rain brings now is anxiety and a sense of loss. I don't remember anything from my parent's death except bits and pieces. However, a clear picture of rain hitting the window as I waited for my parents to return is imprinted in my memory changing everything.

But today, the reason for my anxiety isn't just rain. It's Aaron. He ditched our homework session, and that means he is at rings again.

"Ali. What's wrong?" Rays asked breaking through my train of thoughts.

"What? Nothing is wrong. Why do you ask?" I asked back.

"You have been reading that same line since an hour girl," he said with a roll of eyes.

"Umm... I am a bit out of it," I replied.

"It's about Aaron. Isn't it?" He asked again making me drop my head. How should I explain to him that I am dead worried about Aaron without sounding like the freak I am?

So instead, I simply nodded my head.

"Ali... he isn't a kid. He has been doing this for a long time now and he always comes back perfectly in shape. He needs this for his sanity Ali. Stop worrying princess," Ray said, taking sides with his friend like he always did.

"I know Ray. It's just... You know... rain brings this out of me," I said knowing he would understand. Ray is one of the few people who knows everything about my parent's death. Well, everything except my nightmares.

"Umm then how does a game of Mariokart with a hell load of chocolate ice cream sound," he asked walking towards the door making me jump up with excitement.

"You are the best Ray. Get that big tub," I ordered making my way towards play station.

After almost 2 hours, he reluctantly left as his mother wouldn't stop calling him.

Now that I am lying on my bed with nothing to do, all my early worries returned with a force.

The first time I saw Aaron bruised and beaten, I panicked beyond control which happened almost a month after the weekend during which Aaron got to witness my nightmares for the first time.

After that weekend, Aaron spent nearly every night at our place. I know it sounds stupid, but Aaron became the cure for my nightmares. With him beside me, I never had a nightmare.

Kay was worried in the beginning. We even talked about it with Dr. Beth, my therapist. She indeed comfirmed that though rare, it is quite possible for nightmares to stop when we are with someone who our mind believes to keep us safe. Once Kay realised the effect he had on me, she was more than happy to have him home.

Soon, it became a habit. Aaron's mom, Lydia, loved me as much as she does Aaron. He said she was more than happy to let him sleep in my place but made us promise to spend atleast 2 nights every week at her place. I was more than happy to accept her offer as it would mean leaving house to Kay all by herself. After taking me in, Kay rarely had late night dates and even if she did, she never brought the men she dated home. Probably for my comfort and safety. This way, we could kill two birds with one stone.

A gentle tap on the window made me jump in my place slightly with both apprehension and joy. I slowly made my way towards the window and opened it to let him in.

This is how Aaron entered every time he fought. Kay doesn't know about his fighting obsession, and we decided to keep it that way. She gets too possessive of everyone she cares about and she definitely cares about Aaron.

I felt my breath hitch as soon as I looked at him under the brightness of my room. He had his lower lip burst open and a big bruise started forming on the right side of his chin.

With his eyes fixed on the floor, he started walking around me but doubled over in pain after taking a few steps. Running towards him, I helped him to his feet and took him to my bed.

"It's worst this time. You need a doctor," I said helping him sit on my bed. He groaned, not happy with my idea.

"You know I can't Thea," he said making me glare at him. Yes, I knew he can't. These rings which held the fights were illegal, so hospitals and police were totally out of question.

"Then be still while I help you," I said and made my way towards the bathroom to grab a first-aid kit. I opened it to reveal various sized band-aids and other materials.

His lower lip was split open, and he had a small cut above his eyebrow. A bruise started showing on his chin.

"This is going to hurt," I said as I took out a sterile wipe to clean his cuts. After cleaning it, I plastered it up with a band-aid to let it heal. I rushed down the hallway to get an ice bag and gave it to him to hold against his chin.

"Your ribs?"I said pointing towards the side that made him wince with every touch.

"They are good," he answered.

"The hell they are Aaron. You are wincing with every small movement. Let me see," I whisper shouted at him. If he had a broken rib, it would get worse if not treated properly.

He pulled off his shirt slowly revealing various bruises and cuts making me gasp. I felt a tear fall out of my eyes against my efforts, making him groan.

"Thea... I am sorry. Please don't cry muneca," he said in a small voice.

"You promised to be careful Aaron. This... this," I said shaking my head as words refused to leave my throat.

I brushed my fingers over his bruise gently to feel any bone pushing out, which signals a broken rib. My uncle Jake is a doctor, and he took pleasure in teaching me a few basic things about emergency medicine. I am glad he did now.

"Your rib is bruised. I don't think it's broken," I said getting back to work. I fetched another pack of frozen peas and placed them over his bruise.

He said he already took pain medication on his way, so I closed the kit and helped him to a more comfortable position.

"Thea, I...." he started saying something once I lied down beside him.

"Don't Aaron." I cut him off. I don't think I am ready to listen to whatever he is going to say. The pain and worry are still raw in my head.

"Thea. Please listen to me once. Some mixing up happened in the lists, and I was paired against someone above my cadre. It doesn't happen all the time muneca. You know that right?" he said.

Yes, I knew it. He already explained to me how it works but no explanation in this world can curb the anxiety I experience every time he goes to a fight.

"It happened now though. Didn't it? And that means it can happen again too. Why can't you just stop doing this Aaron?" I tried to make him see the logic.

"I can't Thea. You know that. It helps me silence my internal demons," he said effectively silencing me.

His answers always remained a puzzle for me. What are the demons he keeps fighting against? What could be the cause of his pain? I met his mom already. She is a bubbly lady with a charming smile and motherly affection radiating from her. However, under all the facade, I could sense sadness lurking in her eyes leaving only one possibility. A possibility thats been bothering me for a while now. The question kept dancing over my lips but the worry of poking my head where it didnt belong made me hesitate. I know Aaron will never be angry but I am more afraid of hurting him with the memories. However, tonight, the need to know is unbearable. To understand his demons. To stand beside him while he wins over them and thus I ask the question thats been bothering for a while now.