Charles’ POV
To think that all of this, every second of hardship and effort gone and obliterated as soon as he turned the wheel. The very moment of that turn, not even any hesitation to save his life, but to make sure that Bonita was safe.
Now his life was on the line.
And so was hers.
As soon as Parker lied unconscious on my lap, his head continuously spilling maroon on my pants, the outcome of my actions and decisions have finally dawned to me.
This was all my doing.
If it wasn’t for me, Bonita would never have been kidnapped, she would be awake and safe as Cliff held onto her, their eyes locked to each other with deep affection and longing.
If it wasn’t for me, if it wasn’t for my need in money at that time, I wouldn’t have worked for Frederick to kidnap a lady who had no intention of harming others.
And yet here she was, her breathing slow and her will to live struggling on the line, her bloody wound still bleeding and staining and aching. I had no other thought besides her, she was someone I needed to pay my debt to, one horrible debt I needed to repay.
The ride to the hospital was dreadful, every limb of my body shaking and trembling as I sat beside her, the paramedics cleaning up the wound that had carelessly soaked her brown locks. I yearned to reach in and graze my fingertips on the strands of hair covering her cheek, but the nurse was blocking my way.
The door flew open and she was rushed out to the emergency room, where Parker was also headed. Cliff had been carried to the operating room since his injuries were far more deadly and severe than a concussion.
The nurse kept asking me questions, her voice high and sharp as she talked to me. I merely shook my head and told her to give me some time to rest.
I watched as they wrapped her wounded head on white gauze, apparently it was so deep that they needed to stitch it to keep the wound from bleeding, as she would die from too much blood loss.
My mind was swept away to the dimly lit road, seeing a small puddle of blood next to her head, she lied still and unconscious, but what haunted me even more was that her eyes were closed, and she was barely breathing.
But then fear rose on my throat, seeing Cliff inside the shattered car, he was unrecognizable as his head was coated with fresh blood and shards of glass, but it was enough for me to recognize him. Three deep cuts of buried glass were on his stomach and chest, fresh and raw as blood trickled and stained the clothes he wore.
I was awoken from my thoughts as another nurse snapped her fingers in front of me.
“Excuse me, but can you fill in her forms? She has no one else in company besides you, Are you her family?”
And then there was her family, had they abandoned her? Weren’t they worried for their daughter?
I took the papers and pen from her hands, giving her a nod of approval. “We’re not family but I am her friend, so I can fill it up for her”
She smiled and nodded before turning to walk away, but I grabbed her by the arm, and she turned to me with raised brows.
“Uhm, I know I shouldn’t be asking but, how is Cliff Brooklyn doing in the operating room?”
Her lips were in a thin line as she asked me. “The man who had a car crash?”
I slowly nodded.
She looked down to her white shoes, hesitating before answering. “He’s not doing so good, all I know is that the glass that had penetrated near his chest caused a fatal injury to his heart”
She quickly bid me her goodbyes as someone called for her, and she was gone before I could even ask her any further questions.
As I sunk into my chair, staring at Bonita lying unconscious on the bed, fear dwelled in my stomach.
While I filled in her forms, I stared at my hands, the hands that were soon to be blamed for the actions I’ve caused.
********
Bonita’s POV
I was greeted by the pounding of my head, the cracking of my skull as my eyes fluttered open.
A gasp tore through my lungs as I found it difficult to breathe, like wind was knocked out from my chest, feeling like I was being drowned under water.
Warm hands found my numb and cold ones, hazel eyes looking down at me in worry.
The face was a blur, and so was the lips that kept murmuring muted words to me. Until suddenly a ringing caught up in my ears, and I heard words of comfort and whisper.
“Water” I stiffened as I spoke, hearing my rasp and wheezing voice. A bottle of water was lifted to my cracked lips before I drank my salvation.
Relief hummed in my dry throat, liquid cooling it slowly. I licked my rough lips after finishing its contents, sitting upright slowly.
My stomach churned in hunger, how long have I been out? My vision finally cleared, and Charles’ face appeared before me.
His hand found mine again before he spoke, his eyes glistening with fresh tears. “I’m so glad you’re awake, you don’t know how long I’ve been worrying and waiting”
I fought the urge to smile back, a distinct memory of his fight with Cliff made me want to scowl at him.
My breath hitched in my throat as the memories of Charles’ brother chasing me down the dark street came flowing to my fuzzy thoughts.
Panic over took me, and I found myself gripping Charles’ shoulder. “What happened? Where am I? Where’s your brother?”
He looked away for a moment before he found my worried face. “He’s in the police station, we caught him before he could kill you”
I stood up from the bed, feeling the world tilt around me as I gripped on the table near me. “How long have I been sleeping?” I asked before attempting to walk slowly.
He was suddenly in front of me, his hand on my waist while the other was held in my arm. “You were asleep for two months”
I would have fallen back if it weren’t for the firm hold he had on my waist, my lips trembling as I met his tired eyes, dark circles showed faintly underneath them, I can’t help but feel guilt gnawing my insides, he really did wait for me. “Where’s Parker? Does he know?”
He pressed his lips together before placing me back on the bed, his hand leaving mine before he walked to the curtain on the other side of the room that I hadn’t noticed before.
He pulled the curtain aside and there laid Parker, a white gauze on his head as he slept soundly.
I touched my forehead, expecting to feel my skin on my fingertips, only to feel the rough texture of the same gauze that was on Parkers head.
Charles carried me to Parkers bed, both of his hand underneath me as he carried me slowly to the sleeping figure.
I held onto his hand, staring at him as he slept, I glanced at Charles, aware that he was looking at me. “Has he been unconscious like me?”
“Yes, but his hit to the head had more force than yours, that’s why he might not to wake up easily”
A tear rolled down my cheeks, leaning my head on his faint heartbeat. “Oh god, Parker I’m so sorry”
I closed my eyes for a moment, only to feel the burn of Charles’ stare on my face. “Did he find me, when I was unconscious on the street?”
I peeked one eye open, seeing him nod his head in response.
I stood upright, my chest feeling heavy and tight as I asked. “Does Cliff know about this?”
My heart was pounding, the silence coming from him made my sweat feel cold on my burning skin.
But then he was suddenly sitting next to me, his hands atop of mine as he spoke. “There’s something I need to tell you Bonita”
I stopped breathing, my lungs burning in anticipation as I waited for him to continue.
“Something happened to Cliff while you were in coma”
My grip on the bed sheets tightened, trying not to glare at Charles, I pressed my lips together as not to scream.
I stood up from the bed, ignoring the way my heart pounded more rapidly. “I’m going to go find him”
I was merely an inch away from the door, the knob almost in my grasp when he stepped in front of me, his hand clasping mine as I sent him a death glare.
“Step aside”
I grounded my teeth together, flinching as his hand touched mine gently.
His voice was barely a whisper, but his words were clear as water as I heard him speak.
“He’s gone Bonita, he left the country while you were asleep”
The cool air of the room pricked my skin, and yet it feels like I too, was very cold. My eyes were burning and blurring, only to discover that hot tears had streamed down my face.
“His injuries were far too severe, he had to be transferred to higher professionals who were residing in London”
I heard a gasp, knowing it was from Charles, but only to find that it was I who was weeping silently.
He left me again, not only for the first time, but in his second chance that I gave him, he let it slip by, destroying me for the second time.
And then my heart ached, my lungs burned, and with every second I wept, I knew that him leaving me, had scarred me for the rest of my life.