Page 38 of On the Rocks
“Of course.”
I run my fingers through my short hair. An old habit I guess because there’s nothing really left to style.
Kim slowly slides open the door to the visitors lounge. A place I’ve never been. Never thought I ever would be invited to. No one but Michael wants to see me. I can’t stop shaking.
A lone man stands in the middle of the room. He’s enormous. Tall and broad. Handsome too in his red polo and low slung jeans. Yet, tired. Dark circles rim his eyes harsher than my bruises. Thick black hair that looks ruffled from his fingers running through the strands. That I want to stroke too.
He holds a child's pink backpack in his large hand. So tiny the contrast would be almost comical if I wasn’t so terrified.
He doesn’t say a word. He doesn’t have to. I can see the worry in his green eyes. Scanning me. My haphazard pixie cut. Baggy sweat pants and shirt that could fit someone twice my size. Once white socks now gray from the carpet they can’t seem to keep clean with all the other problems dirtying our existence.
I don’t know if I look like what he remembers.
“Friend, this is…”
But she doesn’t have to finish. I know. It’s him. I don’t know his name. Or his relation to me. Or his reasons for being here. But I know him. That he loves me, and I am safe.
I run to him. Coiling around him as he sweeps me up. My legs and arms and hands and mouth on his hot skin while he caresses my head. Whispering in my ear. Just like he used to. I remember that. I swear to God I remember his voice. His touch.
“I’ve missed you sunshine.”
Yes. Yes, I’ve missed you too. I can’t see. Or speak. Or move. I can only cling to him. And I’m never letting him go no matter what anyone says or does. Michael will have to kill me first before I’ll give him up.
“Shhh, don’t cry. It’s over. I’ve got you.”
His deep voice breaks on the last words. This gigantic man cries for me too. Loves me enough to let emotion overcome his solemnity.
* * *
They sayshe doesn’t remember. But I saw the spark. The recognition in her eyes. That somehow I’ve pierced the amnesia while standing here in front of her. Almost crying myself like a motherfucking pussy.
But to finally have her back, in my arms, is almost more than I can bear. More than I can fucking believe.
“I’m yours.”
“What?”
I hear exactly what she says. But I need to hear the words again. To see her face when she confirms what she means to me. To know she really is. That she’s going to be okay.
I lean her back from me. All the color drains from her face as her small hand grips the side of her head. Pulling frantically at the short pieces. “It hurts so much. I can’t…”
Her body spasms, flailing against me as I grip her tighter. “Trinity!”
“I want to remember. Please help me remember.”
Son of a fucking bitch. She falls limp. Unconscious from the pain. I’ve got to get this fucking thing out of her. I’d fucking do it myself but I’m not sure I can bring myself to slice her arm open. The administrator I argued with earlier races up to me. “I’ve got the O.R. standing by. Hurry!”
* * *
She looks so fucking peaceful. The hint of a smile touches her pink lips. Maybe she knows I’m here. That I’ve been waiting for two days for her to wake up. That I’m scared out of my god damn fucking mind that she never will. That I’m fucking losing what little sanity I have left thinking she just moved.
Only her soft breaths fill the bleach scented air. I entwine her dainty hand with mine again and lay my head back down on my forearm resting next to her hip. I’d love to fucking climb in bed with her. But I’d fucking hurt her from squeezing so damn hard. Because once I get to hold her I’m never fucking letting her go.
There it is again. I swear to god I feel her fingers twitch against my hair. I search her face. For something. Anything. My heart races when her eyelashes flutter. Thank fucking god. “Trinity? Please sunshine. Open your eyes.”
Her sweet head turns a centimeter toward my voice. “Drake?”
I see her lips move more than I hear the word. But I know what she said. She knows me. She remembers me. “Yeah, I’m here.”
