Exclusively His

66: Cancer

He sat me down on the kitchen countertop, before grabbing a first aid kit. I watched as Ethan unclicked the medical kit, opening it.

"Look up." He commanded. I obeyed, as I looked up, stretching my neck and wincing slightly. My neck felt sore, and I know it would bruise. When Alex strangled me, his nails dug into my skin, creating scratches. Ethan ripped open an antiseptic wipe wrapper with his teeth, and then gently cleaned the scratches on my neck. I whimpered, hissing through my teeth.

"I know, I know." He muttured. "It'll be over soon."

He put little plasters on the scratches and grabbed a pack of frozen peas from the freezer, and then pressed it against my neck.

I gave a sigh of relief, as I immediately felt how the cold was soothing and numbing my sore neck. "Thank you."

"Let me run you a bath." He offered. "I'll leave spare towel in the bathroom by the sink for you."

I nodded. "Yeah, that would be great. Thank you, Ethan."

As he dissapeared through the door frame, I couldn't help but replay the violence that occurred in Ethan's office. Every punch that he threw at Alex, only increased in force and the only one that could stop him was me. Surely that meant something, did it not? Six years.

I jumped off the countertop, and placed the medical kit by the side, before making my way to the bathroom. Ethan had left the bathtub running, along with a white towel - as promised. I stepped out of the satin dress, ashamed that I would have to hand it back in shreds. Alex had taken extra effort in ripping it when he manhandled me. I stretched my arms to my upper back and unclipped my bra and slipped out of my panties. As soon as my leg touched the water, the hot temperature soothed me. I let my whole body sink into the water, feeling so comforted. After a few minutes, I brought my face above the water. Before opening my eyes, I rubbed the excess water drops off. I bit my lip, feeling somewhat victorious, and somewhat defeated. The truth was out. I had hoped to tell Ethan about cancer when I felt ready, but obviously that had been ruined. After a long soak in the bath, I climbed out and wrapped the towel around me. Looking around the room, all the mirrors had become misty and the boiling hot water had created a slight fog in the bathroom. It felt like a sauna in here. I stepped out of the bathroom, and found myself in the bedroom, along with one Ethan Calaway who laid on the bed, on his phone.

"Hey," He greeted. "Feeling better?"

I nodded. "Yes, I do."

"What are you doing here?" I blurted out.

He gave me a puzzled expression.

"You knew I would end up in the bathroom after I've bathed." I gave him a cheeky smirk. "Sly fox."

"How can you joke at a time like this? You're covered in bruises, you think I like seeing you covered in bruises?" He stared at the brand new bruises forming on my neck, as his warm honey eyes suddenly turned so black, dark and diluted. "He fucking touched you." He hissed, slamming his hands on the bedside table. I flinched, and squealed slightly at his sudden temper. And then he looked at me, with sorrowful eyes. "You're afraid of me."

"No." I shook my head. "No, of course not."

"You flinched." Ethan have me a week smile. "You're afraid of me." He walked over to me, placing his hands on both sides of my face. "You don't have to be, I'd never touch you like that."

I grabbed his hands and kissed them, tears brimming my eyes. "I know. I was taken aback, I've never seen you so angry."

He stood silently.

"Ethan if I hadn't stopped you, you would've killed him!" I recalled.

"But he deserved it," He responded. "He took you away from me, he took my daughter away from me." He took a deep breath. "He took six years from us. And I blatantly let him, it's my fault."

I shook my head. "No, we were all betrayed. Some of us just needed a little push to see it."

"Terminal cancer?" Ethan gritted his teeth. "You never came back for me, did you? You're not here to stay." He chuckled sadly. "You came back to say goodbye."

He ran both hands through his hair, and yelled. "Fuck!" And then I saw the tears in his eyes. "You came back because you're going to die?"

"No, Ethan." My voice cracked as I struggled to get the words out. My breath was shaky, and my heart ached. "I came back because I'm dying. Treatment didn't work."

"Which one?" He asked. "Which cancer is it?"

"Liver cancer." I murmured.

He looked back up at me, as his eyes looked into mine. "And how much time do I have?"

I began sobbing, as my walls broke down and I completely lost myself. I was breaking down.

"Zafrina, how much time do I have left?" He asked again, louder.

"I won't even make it for my birthday," I whispered. "I'll be lucky if I make it to September."

He pulled me into his chest. "You're going to be alright, I promise." He blabbered. "I'm going to take care of you, and I'll talk to a few doctors and they'll fix you right up. I'm not going to let you die."

I looked up and regained eye contact with him. "I'm not a five year old, Ethan." I shook my head, sniffling. "Don't try and convince me to stop thinking I'm going to die, because I am!" I pushed him off and started hitting him in the chest. "Why didn't you notice? You never noticed how little I eat since I've been back, you never noticed that I'm skinnier then I was six years ago!"

I pulled off my towel, shrieking. "Look at me!" I turned around and faced my fears: my own reflection. My sobs only increased when I saw the bruises on my body, given to me by Alex, and I couldn't help but feel disgusted as I traced the scar given to me when I had Nailea. I was almost too skinny. If I lost anymore weight, I would look malnourished. "I hate what I've become, who I've become."

Ethan spoke silence. As I stood there and cried, he picked up the towel and wrapped it back around me.

"You underestimate your beauty" He caressed my cheeks. "And I wouldn't change a thing about you: every stretch mark, every scar, every insecurity you have - I wouldn't change anything. You think I was with Gianna because I loved her? I wanted to hurt you, for hurting me. I realise now that you never hurt me at all, and maybe if I had just listened to you six years ago, yours would be a different fate."

"Maybe in the little time you have left, I can be the man you deserve." He kissed my forehead, before helping me into a loose shirt to sleep in and carrying me to bed. "I'll be in the living room if you need me."

"Don't go!" I caught his hand. "I don't want to be alone tonight."

"Zafrina, we can't-" He sighed.

I bit my lip. "I know, I didn't mean sex." I gave him a weak smile. "It's just- I've only just gotten you back after six long years, and I don't want you to stop holding me. Ever."

Ethan gazed at me for a few moments, before taking off his shirt and climbing into bed with me. As my back pressed against his chest, he rubbed small circles on my knuckles and I soon fell deep into slumber.