You shouldn’t have done this Rowan…

Sloane

I don’t know where I am running to, but all I know is that I have to leave. I can’t continue with this anymore. He yelled at me because of her. He humiliated me and stripped me of every ounce of love I had left, until all that remained was anger and hatred.

I walk to a nearby beach and sit. I let the waves hit my leg, and the ocean breeze kiss my skin. There is peace on the horizon, yet an eerie ache lingers, as if the sea knows how love can both heal and annihilate.

Flashback

“Mummy?”He said weakly, opening his eyes. Dad already told me that he saved this little boy’s life, but his parents died in the accident. I felt bad for him, which is why I’ve been visiting him for the past three days, praying for him to wake up.

“You’re awake.” I rushed to his side, trying not to startle him.

“Who are you?” He moved away from me, struggling to adjust to the light.

“My name is Sloane, you are in my daddy’s hospital,” I explained to him briefly.

“Okay, where are my Mummy and daddy ?” He asked again, and I didn't know what to tell him.

“Don’t stress yourself please, your parents will be here soon.” I lied to him, and I felt bad immediately. I started saying random things, and reading stories to him, so that he would stay calm, but it was futile. He was still feeling restless.

The door creaked open, and his grandpa entered the room. He tried to mask the sadness on his face and smiled at his grandson on the hospital bed.

“Hello, Sloane dear, please can you leave us for a moment?” His grandfather requested, and I stood up without hesitation.

“Grandpa, don't send my new friend away. Don’t leave me blue eyes, you've not finished the story you were telling me.” He tugged my dress, and I smiled widely. He called me his friend.

“I’ll see you soon hazel eyes.” I gave him my brightest smile and left the room.

I know I’m not supposed to eavesdrop. Mummy says it’s bad, but my heart broke when his grandfather told him his parents are no longer alive. His scream sent shivers down my spine. And I was certain everyone in the hospital could hear his cries. I was about to open the door when Dad and two other nurses ran in my direction and opened the door. I briefly saw Dad putting something on his chest and asking him to open his eyes.

“Grandpa, what’s happening?” I asked the nurse to escort him outside. “He stopped breathing Sloane and I didn’t know what to do.” He fell helplessly sobbing, and I wrapped my tiny arms around him, patting his back softly. “I already lost my children, I can’t lose my grandson too.” He whispered, broken.

God please, keep my new friend safe. I prayed silently.

Two days later…..

Dad was able to save Rowan again, but he has not allowed anyone to see him. Dad said we should give him time to recover, and not do anything to trigger him. I begged Mum to bake my favorite cookies for me, so that I could share them with him. The driver dropped me off at the hospital immediately after school, hoping he would be in a better mood today. I knocked on the door softly; when I didn’t get any response, I opened it.

And there he was.

Sitting on his bed, staring outside the window. I sat beside him quietly.

“Blue eyes,” he said without looking at me.

How did he know that I was the one sitting beside him?

“Do you think I’ll see my parents again?” He finally faced me, and his eyes are now red. “Yes, Rowan. My mummy tells me that we’ll reunite all our dead loved ones one day.” I gave him a side hug, and he dropped his head on my shoulder, crying silently, before falling off.

When he woke up, I gave him the cookies, and read my stories to him again. “Blue eyes, why are you nice to me?” He said out of the blue. “Do I need any reason to be nice to you? You are still a small boy, and you lost your parents. My daddy always tells me to help people when I can. Besides, I don’t like seeing people sad.”

“Wow, you’re different. Most girls in my school only talk to me because my daddy has plenty of money.” He replied, and I don’t miss the way his voice dropped when he mentioned his father.

“Blue eyes, what if I grow up and I want to marry you will you say yes?” He stared at me with his hazel eyes.

“No, mummy said only old people can get married. We are too young for that. “ I replied, and he chuckled.

At least he’s getting less moody.

“I am talking about the future blue eyes, not now.” He said again, and I didn’t bother responding. We spent the whole day together, talking and taking a stroll in the garden, and I gently pushed his wheelchair.

I like my new friend, but, sadly, he has to go back.

The next day, while we were in the hospital, his grandfather announced that he was taking Rowan with him, and they were going back home. And I instantly felt sad. I’ll miss my new friend. I hugged him tightly, and we both cried.

“I’ll miss you Rowan, take care of yourself and use your medicine,” I said in between hiccups.

“Don’t cry blue eyes,” he wiped the tears from my face. “ I promise to marry you, remember? You’ll see me soon okay?” He hugged me once again before going.

His grandfather appreciated my dad for the favour he had done, and before he turned to face me. “I can’t express how grateful I am Sloane. You made my boy smile after such a heartbreaking experience. I can’t wait to see you again, take care of yourself, my dear.” He kissed my forehead tenderly, and I didn’t miss the tears in his eyes before walking away.

~~~

“You’ve been staring at the ocean for hours Sloane, it’s getting dark, let’s go home.” A voice interrupts my thoughts, and I wipe my tears before turning, to look at the person.

My heart breaks a little when I see Mark standing behind me.

What was I even expecting?

For Rowan to come and find me?

“Mark? Why are you here?” I stand up, wiping the sand from my clothes.

“Listen, I know you don’t want to talk to me and all, but it’s not safe here. You need to go home.”

Home? I no longer have a home.

“You knew, Mark, and you didn’t tell me. What home are you talking about? The one with my husband’s pregnant wife?” I say, walking past him. He grabs my hand, and I face him again.

“Listen, Sloane, I know you’re mad at me, and you have every right to be. I only found out about the pregnancy today. I promise Sloane, I was on my way to you when you bumped into me earlier.” He reassures me. Mark would never lie to me.

“I don’t want to be here Mark. I can’t survive here.”

“Where do you want to go?”

“I don’t know Mark. I want to go somewhere far away. I already wasted thirteen years of my life on someone who isn’t mine. I can’t do this anymore.” I say weakly.

“I understand you Sloane, I have an uncle in Australia, I’m sure he’ll be able to help us. I’ll get the papers ready, and we’ll leave as soon as possible.” He cups my face in his hand.

“We?” I ask looking up.

“Yes, we Sloane, do you think I’ll leave you alone in your difficult times? That’s not what friends do. They stick together. And I choose to stick by you because I know you are a good person and you don’t deserve what he has done to you.”

I wish Rowan would understand me the way Mark does.

“The papers should be ready in two to three days. Before then, you can stay at my place.” He holds my hand tightly, and we walk to his car.

This is it, I am one step closer to my freedom.

“Uhm, can you take me to Rowan’s place first?” He gives me an uncertain look, but he respects my decision and doesn’t question me.

Here goes nothing. Maybe the girl who once saved him will finally walk away, or maybe, she’ll make him wish he’d never let her go