Lily's P.O.V.
I'm awake, I know I am because I can hear everything, from the footsteps of people in my room to the beeping of machines surrounding me. The only problem is I cannot gather the strength to open my tired eyes and my body is to weak to move. The pain is still there, but it is more like a dull ache and it means I cannot wake from this sleep.
"Oh sweetie, look at you," I hear and know instantly who the voice belongs to. My mom then strokes my face, pushing hair from it and I feel a wet mark on my arm. At least I don't have to see her cry.
"The doctor says she's stable, that she will wake up soon, they just can't give a time when," Nathan adds and the familiar ache in my chest returns. I have been forced to listen to him cry over me, apologise over and over and I haven't been able to say anything back, not even squeeze his hand when he holds mine. I feel awful, because none of this is his fault, it's mine and he shouldn't feel that way but he does.
"Thank you Nathan, I don't know what we would have done without you." I'm thankful my mom shares my perspective, that she sees who the hero is here. "Lily, you're such a silly girl, brave, strong but still stupid," she jokes, but suddenly, there is the sound of a door bursting open, heavy footsteps and deep breathing.
"Lily, oh my God, Lily," a deep, masculine voice whispers and it is clear that my brother is the last to enter. He gets closer, until his hand is laced over the top of mine, and he is talking to me, softly.
"Hey Rosie," I wish I could reply, but instead I settle for just listening to them.
"Do you want to tell me what the hell happened to her this time? I thought you said you wouldn't let her get hurt again? Care to explain?" His hand is ripped from mine and the venom laced in his words makes me fearful of the next events.
"Let her get hurt again? This has happened before?" In my head I am slapping Ollie for saying that and praying to god that Nathan can deal with this, can take the questions and accusations.
"Tell me what happened to her!!" Ollie shouts, causing me to feel so guilty, all of this is my fault and Nathan is getting the blame.
"A few months ago, when I had barely even met her, I found her in the street after she was mugged by an unknown attacker, I was never able to find out who. Then, there was an argument between her and her new friends, and being the caring, honest woman she is, she went to her house, to sort everything out. She walked in on her friend being abused by her boyfriend, so she tried to help. He beat them both, and when Lily came home, she tried to hide it from me. The man who did it when to hospital, in intensive care for a while.
For weeks me and my team have been targeting a group of men, criminals, known for doing this type of thing. Then, they had somehow discovered my relationship with Lily, and so they used her to get to me. They threatened her family, meaning all of the people here, if she didn't agree to what they said. She called me, after work, and when I answered there was no reply to my hello. Then, I realised she had called me to listen in on their conversation, and so I did. I gathered my men and we left for her, but I was to late, as you can see. I am so sorry, I promised I would keep Lily safe and I didn't, I put her in more danger, and for that I don't expect to be forgiven. But if I could spend the rest of my life making it up to her," he says and if my eyes were open, I would be crying. The room is silent for a while, only the sounds of the beeping machines fill the tense atmosphere. How can he be so blind? It was my choice to go there, it was my decision and nobody would have changed my mind, not even Nathan.
"This isn't your fault Nathan, Lily would be telling you that. All of the decisions that brought her here were made by Lily, and so if anyone is to blame it's her, not you. You're the reason why she's getting help, why she's getting better. You've done a lot for this family, and I would never ask for more. Thank you," my mom says, breaking the silence. Every word she said is true, but I know Nathan the way she knows me, and I know he will not believe it.
"Mom, what are you talking about? If she wasn't with him in the first place this would never have happened, none of it would." I can almost feel the fire in my veins, the anger racing through my blood when I hear my brother say such cruel, untrue things.
"Stop Ollie," my mother says, but then a loud crash sounds and a voice booms through the room.
"Stop what?! Telling the truth? Before this Lily was fine, she was safe and happy, then he shows up and she's getting the shit beat out of her almost every week!" The truth in his words hurt, but he doesn't see.how could he? He doesn't know anything, not really.
"Do you know what else is the truth? Ever since Lily has been with Nathan, she has been happier, hasn't she? You can't deny that," my mom returns but it isn't enough to shut my idiot brother up for a second.
"Oh, she may have broken bones and a broozed body but at least she's smiling! That makes everything better!" He shouts, laughing but I hear no humour in his voice.
"This is not the time for jokes young man, remember who you are talking to," she finishes, her voice calm and deep, meaning her words will cause so much more fear.
"While you're sitting there, finding someone to blame for everything, remember something else. Nathan found her in the street, Nathan took revenge in the man who hurt her and Nathan is the one who got there in time to save Lily's life. He saved her Oliver, make sure you don't forget that when your placing blame," she adds, in that same, terrifyingly calm voice. She only ever used that when something was important.
I can't lie here any longer, letting them argue over things they know nothing about. So, gathering my strength I push, trying to forget the pain and the stiffness as I move my fingers. I can't tell if they have moved, or if I just wish them too.
Suddenly, there are two hands on top of mine, enough to tell me he has seen my fluttering eyes and knows I am awake.
"Hey Lily, can you hear me?" I try, harder than I have before and make nodding movements with my head. The aching shoots through the back of my head, so I am forced to stop, wincing.
"Don't hurt yourself anymore baby, rest, just know I love you, more than anything else in the world," Nathan whispers, making me wonder whether anybody else knows I am conscious, and as my sign to tell him I love him, I ignore the aching pain to squeeze his hand back. His soft, warm lips press on my forehead, the faint sense of being home surrounding me. But after my strained effort to contact, my energy levels are low and I cannot gain the strength to continue, so I let go and drift into a sleep, eager to rid myself of the pain.
Four days later
I slowly open my eyes, groggy from my sleep, to see pale blue, everywhere. There are our chairs, sky blue monitors and walls that make me feel sick.
"Nathan?" I whisper and a figure, suddenly appears right in front of me, as if waiting for me. I wanted Nathan, if that wasn't clear from me asking, but instead I am greeted with my idiot brother, who at the moment I am still angry with.
"Rosie! How are you feeling? Are you okay?" He fusses and I just sit there, staring for some reason.
"Where is Nathan?" I ask and he just sighs, turning his attention to the being above me, as if to not answer my question.
"He left," he says and my heart begins to race, my wind filling with questions.
"Why?"
"There was an argument, but it's nothing you should worry about, just focus in getting better," he tries but I am to focused in his first four words.there was an argument? How long has he been gone? When did this happen? Why did it happen?
"Please...tell me..," I plead and he takes one look at me and reluctantly nods, taking a seat in the side of the bed.
"We were talking about you, and why you were here and then he left, he was upset," but I don't believe a single word that has come from his mouth, it just doesn't feel right.
Nathan wouldn't leave, would he? He was the one telling me, when he thought I was asleep, that he would be here waiting for me to wake up that he is so sorry for everything and wants to make it up to me. He told me he wanted to see me, that he missed me, so why would he go?
"Is he...coming back?" I ask and Ollie just shakes his head, tightening his lips together between his teeth, looking down at his hands. That's when I start to cry, not ball or scream, just cry. The tears fall slowly, gently down my face, and so I am forced to wipe them away, trying to be strong.
My mother bustles through the door, her phone in her hand, stopping when she sees my open eyes, wet from my sadness.
"Sweetie, how are you feeling?"
"Better," is all I say, not willing to say much else.
"I'm going to get a doctor, I'll be back in two minutes honey," she says, dropping her bag beside me but taking her phone with her.
My mind wanders to questions I cannot answer, questions such as, why would Nathan leave me now and not months who when he realised I was a danger? Why wouldn't he at least talk to me first, even see how I am? Why did his opinion if me change so fast? And then he last one, the question which terrifies me completely, more than any of the others, does this mean we're over?
I'm so sorry for such a long wait, I've been getting a lot of writers block, and I'm sorry if this is really bad! It's almost finished, so comment what you think!!xxx