Broken Strings

C H A P T E R T H I R T Y - F O U R

Andrew opened his eyes, grabbing Anisha's hand, holding onto it dearly. His vision blurry, hazy from the tears that clouded his vision.

"Anisha, I'm so....sor...sorry." He hiccupped.

"I know I fucked up. But please, Anisha. You can't. I can't do this. I can't live without you." He froze as she stirred a little, staring at her pale face, a pale deathly color. "I'm so sorry, Anisha. Please. I'm so...sorry." 

Everything, he could see it clear. The toll his mistakes, their marriage, his doings, how it'd all affected her was obvious. And for years, he'd ignored it, paying no mind to the hurt he was causing her.

He wanted nothing more than to see her smile, like she used when he was around. Hell, now whenever he was around, she always looked away. Yet, he could still remember.

The way her eyes would sparkle and she'd bite her lower lip, almost shyly, whenever he was around. And the way she'd look at him, like he was actually worth something, everything. 

She was the one who'd ever made him feel like that. Like he gave her the entire world. Like he was the entire world. It was obvious from the way she'd once looked at him. No one else ever had. 

But Anisha had. She had. 

She'd always looked at him like he was worth something. Something, everything. To her. 

"I'm the fuck-up. I always mess everything up." His heart heavy and throat tight. "But I'm sorry. Anisha, please. I'm so sorry. You...you're all I have left. I don't have anything. I only have you. Anisha, please..."

A harsh cry escaped his lips, his heart shattering.

He couldn't do it. He couldn't lose her.

Without another word, he nuzzled his face against her stomach, pressing his face against her, sobbing.

It wasn't fair.

Sure, he knew he's mistakes were many. And he hadn't ever even deserved a second chance. But now that he was actually losing her, everything was different.

To say that he'd ruined his own marriage was not far from the truth, that he understood. Yet, when Cassie had died, he'd blamed himself. In a way, he felt as though he was responsible. And more than anything, it was just easier to shut everyone out.

But Anisha, she was the only reason he had to live. Even if he'd done things that proved otherwise, Anisha was all he had.

She was always what he had. Because every night he came home drunk, she was there. Because every single time he needed a shoulder to cry on, she was there.

Maybe that's all it was. Whenever he needed her, she was always there. 

His soft cries, muffled. Small tear drops, moistening the light blue hospital gown.

His arms wrapped around her as she stirred again, awake this time. 

Anisha squirmed a little, hesitating as he continued crying, for her and the mistakes he'd made, before entangling her hands in his hair. Running her hand through his hair, repeatedly, playing with the soft brown locks.

She didn't say anything, the only sound of his cries.

She gave him a soft smile as he sat up and looked at her, swollen eyes. And her smile, it was all she could offer.

She'd already given him everything else. There was nothing more left that she could offer.

She froze as he moved closer to her, her lips inching closer to her.