One month later.
Rory's point of view.
Autumn slowly turned into winter. The weeks that went by felt like an eternity. Each day was painful for me,like a stab wound to the chest. Even the sun seemed to dim and fade.
I felt like I was losing my mind. It was like a darkness crept into every corner of my heart. If I were to lose her,I'd go crazy. I'd lock myself in a dark room and never leave it. This is all our fault to begin with.
Today was my turn to visit her,yesterday was Emil's turn. I walk down the quiet corridor with my hands in my pockets. My mind was lost in thought about her almost everyday.
As quiet as possible I open the door to her room. The room is dark and the lights of the equipment glow green and red in the corner.
I pulled the chair closer and sat down next to her. I watch closely as she gently breaths,her chest moving up and down. I glance over at the dying flowers in the vase next to her bedside.
Standing up I throw them away and empty the vase. To my surprise Lauren shows up with a bouquet of flowers in her hand.
"Hi,Rory," she hugs me,"I'm sorry to hear about Ellie."
"Hello,Lauren and it's okay at least she is slowly recovering."
"We all miss her very much," she sighs.
"That's true," I admit guilty.
"These are for her," Lauren hands me the flowers.
"I'm sure she would love them," I try to smile.
"Well,I've to get back to work," she turns to Ellie,"get well soon,okay?"
I clutch the flowers as I watch Lauren walk out. After she left,I fill up the vase with water and place the flowers inside. I sit down once again.
A few hours later ...
I lazily open my eyes with a groan. I must have fallen asleep? Glancing down at my watch I notice I've been here for hours and it was almost aunt Meredith's turn to watch Ellie.
Adjusting my glasses I get up and rake my fingers through my hair. Sighing,I head for the door but I abruptly stop and walk over to Ellie.
"Please wake up soon," I whisper and kiss her forehead.
A few days later.
Emil's point of view.
For a little more than a month now,Rory,aunt Meredith and I have been taking turns to watch Ellie. The bruise on the side of her face had disappeared. Her broken wrist was almost fully healed as was her fractured rips.
Ellie's brain however is still swollen and it was taking its time to heal. I noted that she looks so peaceful, just laying there. But the guilt was gnawing on my heart everyday.
If we hadn't ignored her then maybe she wouldn't have run outside. But my question is:how did she not notice the red pickup truck or did she purposely run in front of it?
I feel like such a fool for everything I've done to her. I've caused so many heartaches in her life and now this. But to be honest secretly Rory and I continue to blame each other,knowing full well we both are to blame.
I don't want to make this about me,but ever since her accident I've been struggling to sleep and concentrating on my work.
Rory seems to be going through something similar, only he looks worse off than me. I glance over at Ellie who has become thin and a former shell of herself.
After a few hours of spending time with her,telling her how worried we all are,I pack up my things and leave. Outside I bump into her mother,who had come early.
"Greetings aunt Meredith," I greet as friendly as possible.
"Hello,Emil."
"You're early today," I point out.
"Yes,I was called to the police station. They gave me extra information on what happened the night of the incident," she explains.
"May I ask what it is?"
"The elderly man who hit her is clean. He wasn't driving under the influence of alcohol. He said she was running across the street with her hands over her eyes. He tried to swerve out of the way,but it was too late," she sighs.
"I am sorry to hear that," I try to sound sincere.
"Well,see you around."
I took my jacket and I left the hospital building. The future suddenly seems so bleak without her.
I smell the aroma of fresh flowers as I walk by the flower shop. For a moment I stare at my reflection and started regretting something. You should've told her you love her,you fool!
Another 3 weeks later ...
Rory's point of view.
I am lying on my bed,I haven't even bothered to make it. It's 11:00 am on a Saturday morning and I feel like the walking dead.
My life was such a mess, until she came along and made it worth the while.
Flashback ~
I am the only child of James and Nora. As a child they spoiled me rotten because I was all they had. At the age of seven my father's businesses started thriving and before long the money started to roll in.
He hired my mother to assist him and soon the workload consumed them. I never got to see them much only now and then like on my birthdays.
They kept trying to fill the empty gap in my heart with money and presents. But none of those things could truly replace love. No matter how many toy trains they bought it was never enough.
Growing up I had little or no friends at all. I didn't want my mother and father to buy me a life, I wanted to work for it. So,in middle school, I hid the fact that I came from a rich family from everyone.
I devoted my time to studying and learning new things,of course my parents were never there to celebrate in my accomplishments.
At the age of sixteen he came to speak to me and told me that he wanted me to take over his business one day. Initially i didn't want to,but later on I became interested.
But my parents moved me from school to school,throughout my high school life. No school was ever good enough for them. In fact no one was, sometimes even me.
That's when they enrolled me into Jameson High school,where I met Ellie. I was a loner of course and minded my own business.
We had almost every class together but she never really seemed to notice. She was quiet and sitting at the back of every class,somewhat sad.
Until the day we met. I realised that she was the kindest person in the universe. I only knew her for two years,but we became close friends.
Until one day,she disappeared. For two years I did not see her until I moved to the city. I started studying at the State City university and working part time for my father.
Until one day I saw a beautiful woman sitting in the rain. She seemed so unhappy that I went over and held my umbrella over her head. When she looked up,it was Ellie.
End of flashback ~
That's why you have to wake up,Ellie. You showed me what love looks like. You made me feel it with you. You filled that gap in my heart with love and friendship.