I don’t know how long I sat in the hospital but it’d turned dark outside. That was also around the time Chloe and Damon turned up. If I’d known Chloe was so far away I… I would’ve waited here anyway. I was fine to be alone but I wasn’t ready to be alone all by myself.
I’d sensed Damon before I saw him, as stupid and ridiculous as that sounded. I just knew he was there. I croaked his name out, half expecting him to be a figment of my imagination.
Then Chloe was rushing over. “Nell,” she said from the floor in front of me, lifting my chin. “Are you okay?”
Damon knelt beside her, in front of me too. He put his hand on my knee, and I wanted to collapse in his arms.
He’s here. He’s here. He’s here.
I shook my head. “No.”
“What happened?” Damon asked, squeezing my leg.
“He finally killed her,” I replied, not meeting either of their eye.
“What?” Chloe whispered, pushing herself up and sitting down beside me. “Nelly, what exactly does that mean?”
“It was always going to happen.”
“What was? You’re scaring me, Nell,” She said.
Chlo didn’t know the truth. She knew that my parents argued and growing up with that was hard but she had no idea how volatile it got. The violence between them was horrendous, I don’t remember there ever being even a week of peace. They bruised, broke and bled each other but nothing changed. Every few years mum would leave and tell me everything was going to be fine. Then they’d get back together and it would start again.
“They didn’t just fight verbally, Chloe. This was always going to be how it ended.”
“Oh, Nell,” she said, “why didn’t you tell me things were that bad?”
I felt a big fat tear run down my cheek. “I didn’t tell anyone. I was ashamed. You know, I knew this would be where we’d all end up. When they’d finished fighting I would plead with them both to either just end it or get help, because one of them would kill the other. Apparently I was being dramatic but looks what’s–” I took a big, rugged breath and wiped my eyes. “I don’t even know why I’m surprised. I’m not surprised.”
“Hey,” she said, sitting closer and wrapping an arm around my back. I lent my head against hers, grateful to have my best friend here for support.
Damon hadn’t said a word, he hadn’t even moved. I didn’t know what that meant but right now I didn’t have room to worry about it.
“Can you tell me what happened?” She asked. “Only if you want to.”
“They were fighting, the neighbours called the police but by the time they arrived, Mum was at the bottom of the stairs. She died instantly. Dad’s been arrested and I’m not allowed to see him but Nan is trying. That’s all I know right now,” I said, telling her everything Nan had told me.
She stroked my arm. “Do you want to see him?”
“I don’t know.”
She bit her lip and nodded. “Okay, whatever you want. Should I take you home now?”
“I will,” Damon said, talking for the first time since he’d turned to stone. I stared at him for a second. The green in his hazel eyes was more prominent as he watched me with a mixture of pain and worry.
Chloe looked up surprised and then arched her eyebrow at me, silently asking what I wanted.
I wanted him. Of course I did. “It’s fine, Chlo, go home to Logan and I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.”
“Are you sure? I don’t like leaving you like this, not after…”
“Not after my mum died,” I said, filling in her blank.
Wincing, she looked down. “Sorry.”
“No, it’s alright. Honestly, I’ll be fine with Damon. I just want to sleep now anyway. Come by tomorrow when it’s all sunk in and I’m a total mess.”
Smiling sadly with tears in her eyes, she kissed my cheek. “I’ll be over first thing. You call me if you need anything, I don’t care what time it is or what you need.”
“I will, thank you.”
She stood up and gave Damon a stern look. “Take care of her.”
He rose to his feet too. “I will.”
Chloe gave me another unsure look before leaving. Damon held his hand out. “Let me get you out of here, Nell.”
I stared at his hand on the verge of spilling more tears. The sound of his voice was like coming home. This was the worst day of my life to date but he made it that tiny bit easier. I didn’t think I’d see him again, not with him willingly coming to me anyway.
I placed my hand in his, stood up and almost fell into him. He caught me. “I don’t want to go home,” I whispered.
“I know you don’t. I was going to take you to mine.”
God, he was standing so close I could smell his aftershave and feel the warmth from his body. It was so much more comforting than I could have ever imagined. “Damon,” I whispered.
“It’s okay,” he replied, pulling my body flush with his. “I’ve got you now. Is there anyone you need to tell you’re leaving?”
I shook my head.