A Stranger's Touch

The Part Where I Left

There is this tree not too far from the bookstore, it was everyone's favourite. People would come into the bookstore, buy books, then go under the shade of this big tree, sit on the park chairs and read their books.

I never knew I was going to experience sitting under the tree, only that I wasn't there to read.

Dante and I were sitting side by side. It was quite empty out there, making the thick silence between us so obvious.

It was really cold. I wanted to find something to say, anything at all, to get rid of the silence.

My eyes followed his movement the moment I saw him get on his feet. He stood tall in front of me, removing his suit jacket only to cover me with it.

Getting down on one knee, he took my hands in his, blowing on them to warm my hands.

Tears rolled down slowly and a sob threatened to break. He looked up and saw as I cried silently.

"Dante I-"

He sat down beside me and wiped away my tears with his hands. It felt so comforting, to feel his touch after all this time. His hand moved from my eyes, to my cheek, palming my face and my eyes drifted close. I relaxed in his touch.

"Why did you do it?"

His voice was heavy, pain lacing each word that left his mouth. It only broke my heart further.

"Why did you leave me?"

His hand slipped from my face and I wanted to grab onto his hand badly- I was desperate to feel his touch again. I suddenly felt cold, even with his jacket covering my body.

"I was scared." My voice broke.

"Dante, you took a bullet for me. I blamed myself for it and God knows, I still blame myself for every hurt you went through. I left because it was all too much. Dante, I'm so sorry."

I started to cry, meeting him and seeing him again was harder than I thought. I held my chest, feeling a new pain there. My heart was breaking all over again. 

Silence hit us again, and I thought he was going to leave. I cried, knowing I deserved every pain I was going through.

Still, it hurts so bad.

He pulled me into his arms, hugging me and I felt warm again. It only made me cry harder, especially when I heard him speak again.

"You would have done the same. You would have taken a bullet for me in a heartbeat, so why did you have to put so much blame on yourself? Why did you have to bear the pain all alone?"

"I was scared." I cried.

"I was so scared."

"Ssh, I know." His hand was patting my back, comforting me.

"Dante, I love you. I've always loved you. I didn't mean to leave-"

He released his hold on me, looking into my eyes as he muttered his next words.

"I know."

A YEAR AGO

I watched as he was rushed to the ER, my hands were covered in blood.

His blood.

It felt like a nightmare. Cici fired the gun and Dante had taken the bullet for me. He was shot right on the chest.

I stood still, my body trembling on the spot. I couldn't speak, I couldn't move. I was in shock.

The doctor came out moments later, speaking to me in whatever language he was. I hardly heard him because I was lost. My heart was anywhere but here.