As the morning sun cast a warm glow through the hospital room window, I stirred in my bed, slowly regaining consciousness. I blinked a few times, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The soft hum of machines and the faint scent of antiseptic told me that I was in a hospital. But, what for? My head throbbed with a dull ache as I tried to remember how I had ended up here.
"Daisy, can you hear me?" A gentle voice cut through the fog in my mind.
Turning my head slightly, my eyes met my mother's concerned gaze. She sat beside the bed, her eyes brimming with tears. "Mom?" I croaked, my voice hoarse.
A smile quivered on her lips as she reached for my hand. "Oh, thank God, you're finally awake!"
"You're... happy?" I repeated, perplexed. After all, this was my mother we were talking about here.
"Of course I'm happy," she exclaimed, wiping away her tears. "Do you even remember what happened?"
A rush of memories flooded back into my mind. The car accident, the searing pain, the screeching tiresâeverything came back in a horrifying flash. I remembered the panic, the darkness, and then... nothing. "Yes, I do. We were on the way to visit Pamela in the hospital, but then this massive truck came out of nowhere, andâ" I suddenly sat up straight and gasped in terror. "Elias! Is he okay?"
"Relax," my mom said, ushering me to lay back down. I reluctantly did so while she continued speaking. "Don't worry about anything else right now, just focus on yourself. You could've died from that accident."
"I know that," I replied, slightly irritated that she hadn't answered my question. However, another one came to mind. "How long have I been unconscious for?"
"Three days."
"What?" I squeaked. "Three whole days?"
"Yes, and Elias came to visit you every single day," she said. I immediately perked up at his name. He came to visit me? That must mean he's okay! A smile graced my lips, although it fell at my mother's next words. "He almost reminds me of your father."
"Elias is nothing like dad," I sharply disagreed.
Mom froze for a moment, surprised by my tone. Then, she sighed. "The world's not black and white, Daisy."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means, you may have known your dad to be this horrible monster. But, there was a time when he was sweet, and loving, and everything you'd look for in a man. I guess that's why I could never really find the courage to leave him. A part of me just hoped I'd get the old him back."
"If you're only here to get me to sympathize with that monster, then you might as well leave," I said firmly, causing my mother to recoil.
"What? Daisy, that's not why I'm here."
"Well, then, why are you here?" I asked, genuinely confused. "It's not like you would've cared if I died."
While my mother looked stunned by my accusation, I was merely being honest. She had acted like I was a burden for as long as I could remember, and frankly, I was surprised she had even bothered visiting me.
"How could you even say that? I'm your mother," she frowned. "You know what? This isn't you. It's those meds they've put you onâ"
"Stop it," I weakly shook my head. "Let's face the facts. You've pretty much neglected my entire existence since that night."
We both knew exactly which night I was talking about. The night I'd walked in on my father viciously attacking my mother. The night I'd killed him.
My mother opened her lip to deny the accusation, but at last, she slouched in defeat. "You're right."
I looked up in surprise. She was actually admitting it?
"But I've only avoided you because I was ashamed. Ashamed that I failed you. All those years, I was supposed to protect you from him. And instead, I... I let it all happen. I let the cycle continue, when I promised myself I wouldn't."
It took me a second to piece two and two together. "You mean, your parents...?"
"My father," she quietly corrected. "He hurt me and my mother. The exact same way your father did to me and you."
My mouth dropped open in shock. I'd always known that my mother wasn't close with her parents, but I never knew why, up until this very moment.
"Growing up, I hated my mom for putting us in that position. I thought she was weak... selfish... and I just wished that she would leave him. I never would've imagined that I'd let myself be in an abusive relationship in the future," a lonesome tear slipped down her cheek. "I know that I was always tough on you, Daisy, but in a way, I thought I was protecting you. If you didn't step a toe out of line, then he wouldn't have a reason to hurt you."
I remained silent, so she continued.
"When I found out you'd been in an accident, it suddenly hit me that I could've lost you. That you could've died, thinking that I didn't care about you," she said. "So, I got rid of all my beer, and I reapplied to my old job. They're willing to take me back, so long as I don't show up drunk again."
"Mom, that's amazing," I blinked, stunned.
She smiled, although it looked sad. "I know there's no making up for all the years I neglected you, but I hope you know how sorry I am."
There was a brief silence as I took in her words. Wow. My first thought was that my mom needed therapy.
My second thought was, well, I never quite got the chance to form a second thought, because the door to the hospital room suddenly swung open, and a surprised nurse walked in. Her eyes widened when she saw that I was conscious.
"Ms. Johnson, you're awake!" she exclaimed, rushing to check my vital signs.
My mother promptly rose from her seat. "I'll give you two some privacy," she murmured, before exiting the room.
I watched my mother leave, my heart pounding at everything she'd just told me. Although, now that she was gone, my mind couldn't help but shift back to Elias. I knew I needed to ask about him, but the fear of what I might hear was paralyzing.
Once the nurse had finished her brief examination, she smiled at me. "You gave us quite a scare, young lady. But you're a fighter, that's for sure."
I nodded, my voice unusually timid. "Thank you. But, um, can you tell me if Elias is here?"
I knew I had to talk to Elias, to let him know how much he meant to me and how much I wanted to put the past behind us. The nurse cast me a knowing look, as if she had been expecting this question. "Yes, he's here. He's come to visit you every day, actually, waiting for you to wake up."
Relief washed over me. While my mother had already informed me that Elias had visited me every day, the nurse's words were a much needed reminder that he was still here.
As if on queue, the door burst open, and there he wasâElias, standing in the doorway, his brown eyes filled with a mixture of relief and anxiety. With his chest rapidly rising up and down, it appeared as though he'd been running. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. His dark hair was more disheveled than ever, and there was faint stubble lining his chin, giving him a more rugged look. Even so, the sight of him was like a breath of fresh air. I was certain that if I hadn't already been lying down, my knees would've given out.
"Elias."
His gaze locked on me as if he couldn't believe his eyes. "Daisy," he shakily whispered, swiftly rushing to my bedside. The nurse quietly left the room with a fond smile on her face, although neither of us even noticed. "Your mom told me that you woke up, but I had to see for myself. I couldn't believe it. I... I thought I'd lost you."
"Can't get rid of me that easy," I grinned, however Elias had never looked more serious.
"It's not funny," he harshly replied.
My eyes softened at his tone. He was upset, I realized. Not at me, but at himself. "Ellie..."
"You almost died," his voice was strained. "You almost died, and itâit's all my fault! I never should've let you get in that car with me."
"Oh, would you shut up?" I exclaimed.
He was completely taken aback and clenched his jaw. "Excuse me?"
"I said shut up," I repeated, loud and clear. "Enough with the self blame. I'm the one that chose to get in that car with you. But, that doesn't mean it's my fault either."
"You're right. I'm sorry," Elias looked down. "If anything, it's that stupid truck driver's fault. He's been arrested for driving under the influence. The moron already has two DUIs, so police are making sure he's not getting off easy."
"Oh, that's good," I muttered, before adding, "you don't have to apologize."
"Yes, I do, D," he said intently. "For lying to you. For keeping my dad a secret. I only did it becauseâ"
"You don't have to explain anything," I quickly interrupted. "Look, I get it, Ellie. It's hard to open up sometimes. And, I should've thought about that before breaking up with you."
A sly smirk crept its way onto his face. "So, does this mean we're back together?"
"Oh, Ellie," I giggled before saying what we both already knew deep down. "We were never really over in the first place."
He chuckled in agreement at my words. With that, I scooted over, a gesture for him to join me on the comfortable hospital bed. He immediately obliged, and for a moment, we silently lay side by side, his eyes focused on the ceiling while my gaze remained fixed on him. My fingers, cool and gentle, started to dance through his fluffy hair. Elias closed his eyes, letting out a sigh of relief. It was then, that I noticed the thin line of stitches just above his left temple.
"What happened to your head?" I asked, my voice laced in worry.
"Just a little souvenir from the accident," Elias casually brushed it off. I wasn't convinced and gazed at him skeptically, to which he slightly scoffed. "It's nothing compared to what you went through. You were in a coma for days, D."
I suppose I'd stopped playing with his hair, because suddenly, he demanded me, "don't stop."
"What?" I asked, confused.
"Don't stop playing with my hair," Elias muttered, the tips of his ears turning pink with embarrassment. "It feels good."
"Oh," I softly smiled and resumed my gentle caress. "Okay."
Elias' body relaxed. We rested in a comfortable silence for a moment, basking in each other's presence. For a moment, I thought Elias had fallen asleep. Soon, though, I realized that his eyes were just closed.
"My father," he began, his eyes still closed. "He didn't just abandon my mom during her chemo and run off with another woman. He did something far worse."
My breath caught in my throat, as I realized that he was finally telling me the truth about his father.
"When I was sixteen," he said, "my mom's health had deteriorated so much that she needed constant care. I became her primary caregiver, and it was the hardest thing I've ever done. My dad was long gone by then, with his new family. Only, things weren't as perfect as he hoped."
"What do you mean?"
"In order to support his new family, he needed money. I don't know how, but he got involved in some shady shit. He owed money to dangerous people, and he was desperate to get out of it. I made easy cash as an illegal boxer. Even though my father didn't know that, he sure as hell knew we were getting money somehowâthe new house and cars told him enough. So, one day, he came to me and asked me for moneyâa large sum."
I frowned. "And what did you say?"
"I refused," Elias answered coldly. "The money I earned was for my family, and by then, he'd made it clear that he wasn't a part of it anymore."
"That's good, isn't it?" I said uncertainly.
"Yeah, only, my father didn't take the rejection very well," Elias said bitterly, his jaw clenched. His voice turned distant as he recalled the following series of events. "There was this small convenience store near our old house. My dad knew the owner, Mr. Chang, because he used to buy cigarettes there regularly. Dad must've thought it would be an easy target."
I listened intently, my eyes locked on Elias as he continued.
"One night, my dad entered the store wearing a mask, carrying a gun, and demanded all the cash in the register," Elias recounted. "Mr. Chang was terrified and complied. He even recognized my dad's voice but couldn't see his face because of the mask."
My brows furrowed in confusion. "But if Mr. Chang knew your dad, why didn't he recognize him?"
Elias sighed, a mixture of anger and frustration washing over him. "That's where the framing comes in. My dad had this old jacket of mine, one I hadn't seen in ages. He left it at the crime scene. That jacket had my name stitched inside it."
My eyes widened in shock. "He deliberately left your jacket there to make it look like you were involved?"
Elias nodded grimly. "Exactly. When the police arrived, Mr. Chang told them he recognized the voice but couldn't see the robber's face. They found the jacket with my name, and that was all they needed."
I couldn't hide my outrage. "And they arrested you solely based on that?"
Elias clenched his fists, the memory of that injustice likely burning within him. "Yes. They arrested me, thinking I was the one who robbed the store. It was a nightmare, D. I kept telling them I had nothing to do with it, but they wouldn't listen. And Malcolm and Andre... they took the fall with me."
"What?" I momentarily froze. "Why would they do that?"
"They had been with me the night of the robbery, and they tried to help prove my innocence," he explained. "But my dad's lawyer, some sleazy piece of shit, convinced the judge that they were in on it too, and that they were just trying to protect me."
"My goodness," I whispered in realization. "So that's how the three of you wound up in juvie."
"Yup," Elias grimaced. "As you already know, Andre's parents are these hotshot lawyers, so they got us out within a few months."
"How'd they manage that?"
"They found a piece of evidence that suggested we were nowhere near the convenience store that night. It was a security camera footage from a gas station a few blocks away, and it showed us at the gym during the robbery."
My face lit up. "That's incredible! So, they were able to prove your innocence?"
Elias lips slightly upturned at my excitement. "Yeah, they were. But, I never would've been in that situation if that bastard hadn't set me up in the first place. I hate my father for what he did. For leaving me to rot while he got away with the money. And still, he has the nerve to show his face at my house. To ask for money and act like he never did anything wrong, when he... he...."
He could hardly complete the sentence, his shoulders trembling in anger as a singular tear slipped down his cheek.
"Oh, Ellie," I sadly whispered, holding him tightly against me. "It's okay to let it out."
His muscular chest heaved with deep, ragged breaths as the tears began to flow freely. Behind his tough exterior, he was just a boy with pain and insecurities of his own. I cherished the vulnerability, as I knew he didn't share this side of him with anyone but me.
"This is the second time I've seen you cry," I said without even realizing it.
"When was the first?" Elias asked lowly.
"During the accident, when you were begging me to stay awake."
Elias dryly chuckled. "Great, before I met you, I hadn't cried in eight years. Now you've turned me into Cailou."
I laughed, although it slowly faded once his words soaked in. "Wait. You went eight years without crying? How is that even possible?"
"I haven't really got the time for it," Elias admitted. "I'm always busy putting on a brave face for my family, and trying to prove that I'm nothing like him."
I leaned in and kissed him softly on the cheek. "You're not like him, Ellie. You're strong, compassionate, and you've overcome so much. I'm proud of you... really."
As I offhandedly continued playing with his hair, I silently promised to be the sanctuary that he hadn't had as a child, a source of love and comfort in a world that had often been cruel.
"You, Daisy Johnson, are a hero," Elias muttered, his eyes roaming my features in wonder. I smiled in amusement at his dramatics, although his face remained stoic.
"I forgot to ask," I gasped, sitting upright. "How's Pamela doing?"
"She's alright," he answered truthfully. "Home on bedrest now."
"Thank God she's okay," my shoulders sagged in relief, and I let out a breathy chuckle.
"Yeah," Elias said, his eyes never once leaving my face. "Thank God she is."
I softly smiled. Something told me he wasn't only talking about his mom.
*****
QOTD: Rain or snow?
AOTD: Snow
They're finally back together!! Sorry about the crazy cliffhanger I left you guys on the last chapter! But y'all know I could never let our girl Daisy die LOL.
I just completed my first week of university! Lowkey loving it so far. When I'm on campus I feel like I'm Rory Gilmore.
A bit off topic, but I'd just like to remind everyone to please be nice in the comments. Even if I don't always reply, I see EVERY. SINGLE. COMMENT. And it really stings when people insult me and my work. It's just unnecessary and you WILL be blocked.
Anyways, thank you to the people that continue to support me by reading this book! You guys are actually the best and I love each and every one of you!
Love, Emmanuela
09/14/2023