Fifty-six

Fifty-six
Charles

“How is he doing, Doctor?” The voice that asked the question was feminine, melodic and quite familiar, so to speak.

“He's doing much better,” Came the masculine voice, which I assumed belonged to the doctor. “The surgery went well… no internal injuries, and his vitals are strong.”

“So, he's going to be okay?” The feminine voice asked again. I could even detect the worry laced to it. Now, where have I heard that voice before?

“Yes. He's stable now.” The doctor answered. “Actually, he should be walking any minute.”

“Well, that's… a relief.” Came the feminine voice, relief laced to her voice. “Thank you, doctor.”

“The pleasure is mine, Ms. Bishop.” The doctor responded, “Now, if you'll excuse me.”

I heard footsteps, followed by the sliding open and closing of the door.

The doctor left… but the woman was still there. I could feel her presence. She wasn't moving, nor doing anything.

I laid there in silence for a while and tried to think about all this, but then I heard her footsteps; she was coming to me.

She halted just on my bed, then placed her hand on my face. That hand… the softness, its fragility, and the way it feels on my skin. I know it all too well.

Tara.

I whipped my eyes open and there, she was, her big green eyes staring down at me, her long, lustrous red hair hanging free, resting on her delicate shoulders, her dainty, succulent heart-shaped lips curving into a bright smile.

And for a moment, I felt…

No! How I feel doesn't matter. She shouldn't be here.

“You're awake.” She stated, “How are you feeling? The doctor said…”

“What are you doing here?” I demanded, my voice a low and weak but cold and unwelcoming.

She paused, clearly startled by my tone.

“What are you doing here?” I asked again.

She frowned, “Saving your life, that's what.”

“You shouldn't even be here.” I said, “You should be in Britain…”

“Seriously, Charles? Really?” She was mad, but her voice was calm, “I saved your life and this is what I get? Not even a single iota of gratitude, not that I'm asking for it, but the least you can do is to be less of a prick!”

She is right.

I am being a prick. She did save my life after all, the least I can do is to be grateful.

“I'm sorry.” I apologized.

She folded her arms and glanced away, not responding.

“I said I'm sorry.”

“I heard you the first time!” She snapped at me. “Just give me a moment to cool off.”

“Knock yourself out.”

After a moment, she seemed to have calmed down.

“How are you feeling?” She enquired.

“Terrible,” I answered honestly. “I feel this excruciating amount of pain shooting all over my body, especially my right leg.”

“Yeah,” She said in agreement, tucking some strands of hair off her beautiful face. I have to admit, she has gotten prettier than the last time I saw her. “You kinda broke your leg, so the doctor thinks it's gonna take some time to heal.”

“How long?”

She raised her lovely shoulders in a shrug, “The doctor said that the speed of your recovery totally depends on you. You're strong, so I'm guessing… not long.”

“Where's Lopez?” I asked, “Is he okay?”

She hesitated for a second.

“Tara. Where… is… Lopez?” I asked again, and my heart, which seldom raced, began to race.

“He's still in a coma.” She finally answered.

God.

I shut my eyes for a moment.

“What are the doctors saying?”

“They don't know for sure.” She answered, “They say it's a fifty-fifty.”

I inhaled, then exhaled.

I was such a fool. If something happens to Lopez, I'm not sure I could ever forgive myself. I was the one who dragged him into this.

Emma.

Hmm. I never thought that you would actually go this far. I was a fool for rubbing all the evidence in your face, thinking that you wouldn't hurt me because if you did, you are going to be the first suspect to get apprehended.

But you did it anyway.

And I bet all the evidence I've gathered up until now is gone. I never wanted to get blood on my hands, but I swear to God in heaven if Lopez dies, I'm gonna have to kill you myself.

Damn the consequences!

“Charles! Charles!” Tara shook me, jolting me out of my thoughts. “Are you okay?”

I tried to sit up, but as I tried to do so, all the pains in my body multiplied.

“It's not safe to get up now, rest.” Tara gently pushed me back down to the bed.

I ran my wet tongue through my dry lips, “Which hospital am I in?”

“My family's,” Tara answered.

“How did you find me? What are you doing back in New York? And how long have I been out for?”

“A week and four days.” She replied, pulling up a chair and sitting down, “You’ve been unconscious for a week. The accident was really bad… so, so bad it's even a miracle you survived.”

I stared at the white ceiling, trying to keep my mind blank.

A week and four days? Okay.

“What are you doing here, then?”

“For the gala.” She answered, “The one your family is having.”

“So, you're telling me you flew over thousands of miles from the UK to New York just to attend my family's gala. Yeah, right. Like I was born yesterday.”

“It wasn't just for the gala.”

“Then what?”

“I came here because… my father is sick and the headquarters need me here, so. And about the branch in the UK, my assistant is taking care of it.”

She stared at me, probably waiting for me to say something, but I didn't.

“Aren't you gonna say anything?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“I don't know anything! Lash out, like you always do. Be a douche bag… anything! Just don't… give me the silent treatment.”

I still said nothing.

“Charles. Charles. Charles!”

“What?!” I yelled, “You know I don't want you here!”

“Why? So that I wouldn't get to see the beast you're turning to?”

“Oh, give me a break!”

“I told you, Charles! I clearly told you not to do this. I told you to let nature take its course, but you didn't!” She screamed, “You wanted to play the hero, humiliate them in front of everyone with all the proof you have and get them thrown in jail for life, now look where that has landed you! And Lopez… his life is under probability! Because of you! God, you have no idea how it was like to see you in that wrecked up car, unconscious... bleeding... dying. It was so so traumatizing! You were so lucky I was the one who found you first and cleaned everything up before the press and general public could find...”

She suddenly stopped and broke down in tears.

“You have no idea how traumatizing it was, Charles,” She managed to say amidst tears, “I've lost you once, so I thought I'd lost you again... for good this time.”

I wasn't the emotional or comforting kind of guy, so I just laid there and watched her cry, even though there was this numbing pain in my chest.

She suddenly stopped crying and wiped her tears.

“Charles, please promise me that you won't ever try to get tangled up with your stepmom and stepbrother again.” She said eagerly, her voice cracking, “Please. It's not worth it. If you want your family's money, we have that too…”

“You know I'm not doing this for the money,” I cut her off, “You know that. Hell, I don't even want any of that money, or wealth or anything else that comes from that family…”

“You're doing this for revenge, I know.” She grabbed my hand and squeezed it, “But I think, all the pain and anger you are feeling are eating away at you, changing you, and soon enough, you'll become just like them. Just let karma do its work.”

“That's exactly what I'm doing. My work. I am the karma.”

She stared at me with an expression I could interpret as disgust and fear.

“Where's the guy I fell in love with, Charles?”

“He never existed,” I said, turning away. “He was just an illusion I created just to be with you… which was a mistake. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to get some rest, please.”

Without another word, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her, leaving me to my thoughts.

Emma, you've pushed me.

Too far.

And now… I'm gonna make you wish you were dead.