Chapter Eighteen
1123 Words
Catherine's POV
It's been hours since he's been out there. Hannah, Nick, Mason and Sarah are still in the living room while I'm by the staircase watching them move around worked up. They're waiting for him, but I'm not. I'm scared he'll hurt me, I've seen how his eyes change to an even fiercer blue anytime he's violent. He showed no sympathy when his hands were around my neck earlier and he was choking me.
My head shoots to the door immediately someone walks in. It's Aaron. He limps inside the house as the others approach him, trying to assist him to the couch. His eyes meets mine immediately and I turn around in order not to look at him. Why does this feel like a deja Vu.
Everyone runs to assist him, while I stand still watching them from the staircase.
"What happened?" I hear Hannah ask as she scans her brother's face for injuries.
"Ofcoures it would be that piece of sh*t" Mason replies, and I know exactly who he is talking about.
"You saw him...or her?" Nick asks
"Him. I saw him" Aaron says, and I watch as everyone's eyes go wide.
"What did he look like? What did he say?" Sarah asks paranoid
"I need to be alone" Aaron says before he starts to walk away from them. He walks up the stairs, and when he reaches where I'm standing, he pauses and looks at me. Immediately, I turn my head away. He doesn't say anything, he only continues walking to his room seconds later.
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"Sarah I can't"
"Please Catherine" Sarah begs me for the hundredth time. She wants me to go to Aaron's room and treat his injuries
"I didn't tell you I'm a nurse, I only said I know a few medical procedures"
"That's why I'm asking you to do this" she says again, shifting the first aid box closer to me on the bed
"This isn't a big deal Sarah, it's just first aid"
"Exactly" she says, but I'm not sure she's getting my point
".....meaning anyone can do it" I try to emphasize the word 'anyone'
Sarah gives me a look "we both know I'm not one of the smartest in this house, I certainly can't do it"
She forms a puppy dog eyes and shift the first aid box closer to me again"pleaseeee?"
After seconds pass of me staring at her failed attempt of a puppy dog eyes, I finally give in
"It's just because I like you" I say, taking the first aid box and getting up from the bed
"I love you too" Sarah squeals.
"You're making me treat the enemy, Sarah" I say from the doorway
"Maybe he'll see you in a different light after this" She yells for me to hear her after I've already left the room.
I hold the first aid box tightly as I walk to Aaron's room. The more I near his room, the more I just want to turn back and rum away.
I reach his door, and I perform the hard task of raising my hand to knock on the door. After several knocks he finally answers.
"Who's that?" His voice is low on the other side. My legs are shaking with fear when I answer.
Even when he says 'come in', I stand still, not being able to move. My hands linger on the doorknob for several seconds before I eventually open the door.
I see Aaron by the far end of the room. He's seated on the bed, facing his window. He's backing me, so I can't tell his mood. I don't know if to walk up to him and treat him like Sarah asked, or if I should just drop the first aid box and walk away
I decide to drop the box on the table beside me and leave instead, but on my way out, Aaron calls my name, making me halt in a stop.
"I'm sorry" He says. The two words are foreign in my ears because I never expected him to say it to me.
He's sorry?
I turn around to look at him, but he's still backing me as he's seated on his bed.
"I'm sorry for mistreating you" He says gently as he stares outside the tall window Infront of him. I don't say anything for a couple of seconds as I'm still trying to wrap this around my head.
He's finally apologizing, does this mean he would let me go?
"Why did you kill my father?" I ask the question that I've always wanted to hear the answer to. Even though I know the answers won't bring him back I just want to know what he had against my father to have killed him in such merciless manner
"I didn't kill him"
I'm astounded when he says this. I mean, it's not the first time he's denied it, but right now, I think I believe him
"What do you mean you didn't kill him? Then who did?" I ask
Aaron finally stands from his bed and turns to look at me. He watches me quietly before he starts to walk towards me. He's still slightly limping, but even now-after he's apologized, I'm still startled to stand Infront of him.
"I know you wouldn't believe me Cat, but I didn't kill him" He says. His face holds an emotion that I have never seen. He's brows are creased as he stares at me, and for a second he looks like he may cry
"I've done so many terrible things but killing your father was never part of it" He says quietly
I notice his gaze shifts to the fist aid. His eyes hold a sad disposition as if he's recollecting a sad memory.
"You know....my mum had a first aid box just like that" he says, staring at the box beside me.
I look at him, not knowing if to put my hatred for him aside and pity him. Now I know he didn't kill my father I guess I have less reasons to hate him.
Aaron doesn't stop watching the first aid box even when a tear rolls down his cheek. I've never seen him cry before and as I stare at him, I understand his pain because I know how it feels to lose both parents.
He falls his head and starts crying. It's a quiet painful cry, the type that makes your head hurt for hours afterwards.
I walk up to him, and without thinking, I wrap my arms around him, slowly resting my hand on his back as I'm still unsure if I'm supposed to be doing this. Slowly, I caress him, and he leans into me and cries even more
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