Chapter 34 Dead

Chapter 34 Dead
~ MALIK’S POV

I rested my back on the chair as I waited for the doctor to come out of the emergency room. I’ve been here for almost thirty minutes now and I’m panicking.

Emma and Jessica are already tearing apart. I wanted to comfort them but I just don’t know how. I’m unable to keep my emotions together, I don’t know how I’ll comfort them.

The silence here rips through me as I begin to wonder how this happened. I’m still finding it difficult to believe that this is happening.

Joseph is usually the reason people end up in the hospital and now he’s here and it’s because of an allergic reaction.

I have the same allergy as him, how come it didn’t affect me but it affects him? Was it that he ate something different from me but even if he did, how? 

There are no nuts at home. And he never eats outside so how exactly did he get the allergy reaction? 

Emma walked up to me and sat next to me. She wasn’t crying anymore. I could tell she wants to but she’s just holding herself from crying. 

Finally, she spoke, "Do you think he’s gonna be fine?"

"Of course," I said and wrapped my arms around her. She started crying in my arms. I wanted to comfort her but didn’t know how. I’m not used to this.

After a while the doctor walked out of the room, Emma and Jessica quickly rushed to him while I sat back.

His expression told me everything I needed to know that’s why I didn’t move.

"What’s the update Doctor, is he going to be fine?" Jessica asked wiping her tears away 

He took off his glasses, his eyes closed for a brief second and then they opened. "I’m sorry I have no better news. The patient is dead."

I closed my eyes. I knew that already but hearing him say it makes it worse. 

Emma fell to the ground, sobbing, Jessica couldn’t even move. I was sitting back watching them, unfazed.

“He’s dead” my mind keeps repeating. I can’t believe that he’s dead. 

I don’t know I feel. A part of me feels ripped off and the string of losing a father hits me. And another part of me feels relieved that now I don’t have to worry about him anymore.

My heart feels heavy, like a knot twisted tighter each time I try to breathe, afraid to let go of any emotion. 

I grabbed my car keys "I’m going back home. Call me when you need me." I said to Emma as I walked away.

I didn’t turn back to look at them. I didn’t want to see them crying. I didn’t want to feel anything.

The ride back home felt empty, like the clouds were squeezing themselves on me. Each time I blinked, I only saw Joseph and the good moments he and I shared. For some reason, my mind had completely forgotten the bad moments with him, even though they are more than the good. 

Finally, I arrived back home. Walking in, I found Eli pacing around the living room. When her eyes caught mine, she hurriedly walked to me.

"How is Joseph?" She asked worried 

"He’s gonna be fine." I lied. I didn’t want to think about him that’s why I lied.

I moved to the side and reached for the stairs but stopped when my nostrils hit a familiar yet unfamiliar scent lingering in the hallway.

"Dominic was here," I said as I turned to Eli. Her expression confirmed my suspicions.

"Malik he…" She started to explain but I quickly cut her off 

"Stop." I raised my hand. I don’t have enough energy for a conversation right now. I just need to be on my own.

I turned to head to the room when a voice ripped through the air. "Malik." 

I quickly recognized the voice, it is Dominic.

He burst the door open and marched in. "How dare you!" He growled.

"Look, Dom, I don’t have time for—" Before I could finish, his fist connected with my cheek.

I pulled back in shock. He hit me again before I could recover.

When he was about to strike me a third time, I pushed him away. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Emma called me. She told me he’s dead." His voice cracked as a single tear streamed down his face. "He fucking died, Malik, and it’s your fault. It’s your fucking fault!" He yelled, pushing me back.

I stumbled but gripped myself. "Dom, I didn’t do anything."

"You can’t lie right now. I know you hate him, I know you’ve been eager for him to leave. I just didn’t think you’d do this."

"I did nothing!" I defended.

"Then how come he’s dead?" He reached to hit me again but I pushed him back.

"I don’t know… how am I supposed to know that for God's sakes," I said, trying to hold myself together.

"Look at you. You don’t even look like you care. There’s no sign of pain in your eyes."

"Hey!" I yelled. "Just because I’m not crying like a pussy boy does not mean I’m not hurting. He was my father too."

"You rejected him as your father. You have no right to call him that now," Dom said. "All you’ve done is hurt him. I get it—he made a mistake, but it was just one mistake. You should have gotten over it." He reached to punch me again, and I shoved him.

I didn’t want to fight him. I was too weak for that, but at the same time so full of anger I was afraid that if I actually fought him, I might hurt him badly 

Dom stumbled, his eyes filling with tears. He looked at me, then at Eli, who stood beside us quietly, watching.

"He killed Joseph, and if you’re not careful he’s going to do the same to you." He said.

I chipped in "Eli, don’t listen to him. I didn’t kill Joseph and I’ll never hurt you."

Dom scoffed. "Don’t say what you can’t promise, Malik. You and I both know that’s the reason you married her."

"Shut up, Dom!" I growled, but he kept going.

"You’re his replacement, Eli. He lost his mate, and you’re exactly like her—that’s why he married you." Dom said.

My fist connected with his face immediately. I pulled him back. "Shut the fuck up."

He laughed as if I hadn’t hit him and went on. "You should run away before it’s too late, Eli. Malik is crazy and he’s—"

I cut him off and punched him again. Dominic is going crazy, he’s talking too much and I’m afraid he’ll spill the whole truth.