Page 57 of Second Chances

Why can’t they all just leave me alone.

I’m in so much pain.

I need those tablets, and the stupid doctors won’t help me.

My anger flares toward the people interfering with my life.

I won’t become a cripple.

I storm forward and yank the bottle of tablets out of Ryan’s hand. Such is the ferocity of my rage, he wobbles at the top of the ladder. He jumps down, and landing next to me, he takes the bottle from me, twists the lid off, and pulls out a tablet.

“They aren’t yours, Ryan! Mind your own business!” I shout and try to grab them back again, but Ryan’s too quick and tall for me. He holds them high above his head.

“Answer me, Elena.”

“Give them to me. Ineedthem.” I plead, almost willing to get down on my knees and beg to get them back from him.I need them.“Please,Ryan”

“Tell me what they are first.”

“Ryan!” I scream and thump him hard in the chest. It doesn’t make any impact on his taut muscles, though.

“Maybe I should take a few. How many do you think? Five….ten….and see if they are sweets rather than medication of some sort. What would taking that many do to me, Elena?”

“No. Don’t. Please,” I whimper and fall to my knees. “Ryan, please give them to me.”

“What. Are. They?” Ryan repeats slowly.

“Painkillers.” I shout, looking down at the ground. I can’t bring myself to look at the man I love. “I need them because I’m in so much pain still. The doctor wouldn’t give me any. He said the x-ray was fine, but he doesn’t know. I have to exercise. I have to lose weight and get my fitness back. I can’t exercise if my leg hurts. It’s the only thing stopping it. I need them,please. I’m in so much pain. Ryan, give me the tablets.”

Ryan comes down to my level but makes sure to keep the tablets out of my reach.

“If the doctor didn’t give you these tablets, where did you get them from?” His voice is stern, his jaw clenched. “Elena,” he orders me to respond, and I jump a little—his tone is menacing.

“I bought them. I’ve been buying them from a father of one of the girls at the dance school. He’s been in the same situation and knows what I need to help me get through it.”

“A dealer?”

“No, he’s really nice. His ex-wife has taken him for a ride. He’s only doing it to support his little girl.”

Ryan growls, and I scamper back across the floor. His eyes have gone dark, and I sense the fury ready to burst within him.

“Why didn’t you talk to me?”

“I didn’t want to worry you. You’d just quit your job. I…I borrowed some money from Amy, and I intended to pay it back, but the tablets went too quickly, and I needed more. I have to take loads a day just to function normally.”

“You have to take loads a day to function at all because these are illegal drugs. Powerful ones designed to get you addicted to them, making you lie to those around you and steal to pay for them.” Ryan comes across the room toward me. He’s like a furnace…incandescent with anger that’s aimed at poor Victor.

“Victor isn’t like that.”

“Allillegal drugs dealers are like that. I’ve met plenty in my life. Remember what my job was. It’s how they operate. They start their victims off on lighter strength drugs, and then they go for the jugular when they’ve got them hooked.”

My own fury starts to coil again within me. My leg is pulsating with pain. I need a tablet…I need one now. My heart beats fast with the fear that Ryan won’t give me my medication.

“Just give me the fucking tablets, Ryan. You don’t know anything about it. Your life is perfect now with your wonderful family. I’ve got shit. A mother who couldn’t even bear to be at the hospital when I was injured, and obviously, I’ve got a boyfriend who doesn’t trust me to know my own body. Give me the goddamn tablets, and I can get the fuck out of here and back to my apartment where I can be the person I’m supposed to be without anyone, who doesn’t have a clue, judging me.”

Ryan blinks.

Once.

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