Crave: A Tale of Sensual Metamorphosis

Calm Healing Amongst Grief

"How long before we get their?" I laid on the back seat with a magazine covering my head. "We still have a couple hours. Why, you want me to stop somewhere?" Matthew looked over his shoulder briefly as we drove. "No I'm just wondering." I sat up stretching my arms. "You don't think it's weird that you've been sleeping ever since..." He stared at me through the rear view mirror. I sat back shrugging, "I don't know. Maybe I'm just adjusting to things." I dismissed, "I'm sure you were tired of me aimlessly walking around at night." He looked back to the road. I scratched at my shoulder as the scar grew more. "Are you okay with me, you know meeting your family and all?" I nervously asked him. "I'm sure it'll be fine. I'm more worried about them than you. They're not really the best company to keep." He sighed tightening his grip on the steering wheel. "But you're still going to see them. They can't be all that bad." I leaned against the back of his seat. "But when your Dad's in the hospital you can't help but feel like you have to be there." He sighed. "I'm sorry." I apologized sitting back. "No it's fine. I'm not all cuddles and smiles myself."

We walked into the hospital and a strong smell filled my nose. I looked around as it was surprisingly calm. Matthew nervously walked to the front desk softly speaking. The lady at the desk pointed him down the hall as he stared in that direction. He then came back to me, "Would you mind waiting here for a moment?" He rubbed my arm. "I thought you wanted me to go with you?" I questioned looking confused. "I do. It's just they haven't seen me in a while and I don't wanna give them too much 'news' at once." He reassured. "I'm not bad news am I?" I carried on. "No. No you're not." He insisted, "I just wanna make sure things are fine before I introduce you." He stroked my face. I smiled giving him a peck then walked into the lobby sitting down. He left down the hall quickly and I sank back. I examined the people sitting around me. Some where sleep while others patiently waiting like me. I looked across to see a man with a towel wrapped around his hand. He was rocking back and forth in pain trying to keep himself together. I felt compelled and got up approaching him. "Are you okay?" I leaned down. He looked up annoyed then staring down. "What are you the doctor? You don't look like one." He scanned my outfit. "No...I'm not. Why isn't anyone helping you?" I pressed further sitting next to him. "Your guess is as good as mine sweetheart." He anxiously shook his leg. I reached for the towel curiously and he retreated away giving me a sketch look. "Well what happened?" I asked curiously. "Cut myself fishing. They said I'll need stitches. But I guess it's not bad enough to let me in since I've been waiting for an hour." He explained still not sure of me. I pried even further reaching for the towel, "Can I see?" He no longer protested as I unwrapped his hand. He winced as his wound was now exposed. It was still bleeding as a large cut covered his palm. "It could be worse." I lightly joked looking up at him. He stared as I held my hand over his lightly grazing my fingers over the wound. "What are you..." Blood caked my now glowing fingers as the wound began the close up slowly. His eyes widened and I quickly stopped as a man approached us. "Mr. Gerrace?" He motioned to the man. He got up staring intently at his hand then to me as he left with the doctor. I got up as well looking at my bloody fingers as they dripped. I began looking for the nearest bathroom and grabbed a tissue out of my bag. I came to one quickly walking in to the sink and began rinsing them off. I was tediously focusing on scrubbing my stained nails as the soapy water ran over them. I briefly glanced into the mirror and noticed a tall figure standing behind me in the reflection. Before I could make out their face I quickly turned around only to see no one there. Frightened, I left the bathroom and began to look for Matthew. I turned down the hall passing by different rooms and nurses. I stopped in my tracks as I noticed someone talking in strong tone. "I don't know what to tell you sir. Are you sure you just injured yourself?"

"Y-yes I was waiting a whole hour just to be seen!"

"Well by the looks of it your wound is almost healed. It'll scar but you're completely fine."

I looked to see the same man arguing with the doctor about his hand. I fidgeted with my fingers looking down at them. "There you are." I jumped as Matthew grabbed my arm out of no where. "You okay?" He questioned looking into the room. I changed my demeanor giving him a smile, "Yeah I'm fine I was just looking for you." We walked off.

We approached an elevator waiting for it to open. "How are things?" I asked as he was still stricken with nervousness. "Well I can't tell if they're happy I'm here or just glad they won't have to talk to me for a while after I leave." He joked holding my hand. The doors opened and we stepped in. I turned facing the opening and Matthew pressed a button looking back at me. As the doors closed I noticed a man walk by briefly making eye contact with me. My eyes followed as he went in the direction of the rooms I was just at.

We got off the elevator and we walked in onto a floor that was a little more busy. We turned the corner and an older lady stood by while a younger man sat down tiredly. She locked eyes with me giving me a smile holding out her hand. "You must be Lily." She shook my hand. "Hi." I smiled back and looked to the man sitting. He resembled Matthew but slightly older and more serious. "I'm Linda* and this is.." she kicked his leg, "This is Robert*." He annoyingly got up. He held his hand out and I shook it awkwardly, "Nice to meet you." He sat back down closing his eyes. "So how's life out there on the country side. It must get unbearable out there during the winter. Are you originally from the city?" She riddled me with questions. I kept myself together and calmly responded. "Well I guess you can say I grew up there all my life." I put it simply. She nodded then stroked my hair maternally, "Are you tired? It must have been a long ride. You're so pretty." She grew a little more touchy but I paid it no mind. "Well I wasn't sleeping at all when I got with Matthew so I'm glad to be getting rest now." I exclaimed and Matthew cleared him throat shaking his head. She grew a troubled look and I stared around confused. I then looked over to see an opened door. I walked over and could see Matthew's father* laying down with monitors hooked up to him. "Do you mind me asking what specifically is wrong." I asked his mom endearingly. Her face grew less happy and more somber, "Well he's been like this for years. Only this time they saw he was developing cancer again. A-and it's growing to fast and he's too weak to make it through." She sadly explained. I continued to stare at what looked more like a shell of a man than an alive and healthy one. I looked to Matthew who grew sad as well. I then let myself in the room approaching him slowly. I sat down next to him as he peacefully rested not hearing me. I then leaned in, "Excuse me..." I whispered. Matthew came in sitting next to me. "He's probably too tired by now." He placed his hand on my shoulder. His eyes then blinked open as he turned his head to us. "Oh....so you're Lily." His voice was weak and craggy. "You know me?" I questioned. He gently nodded. "Matthew mentioned you. I'll be honest, i did think he was lying. You sounded too good to be true." He chuckled. "Well I hope it's all good." I smiled looking back at him. He then let out a pained cough, "I'll go get some water." Matthew quickly got up leaving back out. "I can't imagine what you're going through." I sympathized. "Ah I just did that so he'd leave. I begged his mother not to make him come and see me like this." His face saddened. "Do you mind asking me what happened between you all." I couldn't help but ask as I sat closer. I contemplated then sat up a little. "The sickness started when they were just kids. Being bed bound most of time, you miss out on a lot. The more worse I became the worse everything else got. Their mother wasn't home, she was too busy working so she could pay for my medical bills. And as time one and as they got older the more they started taking their anger out on each other." He choked up. I looked down feeling bad for asking. "I'm sorry things had to be that way." I held his hand. He clenched my hand and I could begin to feel more of what he felt. I looked up and he began to groaned holding his chest. I instinctively came to him and the monitor began to beep. I held his hand tighter as Matthew came in with a cup. He noticed coming to his aid as well. "What are you doing??" He motioned down and I saw my hand had been glowing. I didn't let go and soon his dad began to calm down. "What was that?" He look puzzled bringing his breathing down. He grew tired and started falling back asleep.

Matthew grabbed my arm as we left the room and nurses came in after us. "You can't do that in a place like this." He scolded me whispering. "I just thought it would help." I shot back "Lower your voice." He looked around. "I'm sorry I couldn't help it." I retreated. "Look my dad's really sick. It's not like an injured leg that can just be fixed. It's a lot worse than that." He was upset as he rubbed his eyes frustrated. "I'm gonna go get something to drink." I turned away walking off. He didn't follow after me which pained me even more and I held my head down. I came to a vending machine down the hall taking some coins out my bag. I placed them in the slot pressing a button but nothing came out. I annoyingly shook the machine hitting my hand on it. "They never restock these machines on time." Matthew said as he came behind me. I sighed kicking the machine one last time, "Wish you would have told me that before..." I turned around to see it wasn't Matthew but his brother. "Oh I'm sorry. You and Matthew sound exactly the same." I apologized. He continued staring at me as he scanned over me. "Can I help you with something?" I held my bag to my side. He tilted his head stepping closer. "How come I've never seen you before?" He questioned. "I don't know what you mean." I walked passed him. He followed behind me. "That's a small town me and Matthew grew up in. The schools were small. We knew everyone and he never moved away." He continued. "Couldn't be that small." I snapped back. "The next town's 20 miles away." He yanked my arm. "I'm sorry I'm not sure what you're getting at." I angrily pulled my arm back facing him. "All I'm saying is some 5'9, polished girl like you wouldn't be seen with him let alone grew up near him." He towered over me. My heart began to race as I was surprisingly intimated. "What so you don't believe I'm from there. That's a pretty dumb reason to be this hostile." I stumbled my words. "Don't think I don't know what you're after. Girls like you only care about one thing." He stuck his finger in my face. "I'm not sure what it is you think I want. But he's a really good person and I care about him a lot. And if it's so hard for you to understand that than you probably should have paid more attention to him yourself." I bumped his shoulder storming off. I turned the corner to see Matthew standing right there locking eyes with me. I stopped in my tracks sinking into myself. He looked shocked but just as upset as I was. His brother came around the corner not looking at us and he headed towards the elevator. Matthew then clenched his jaw following after him. I tried to stop him but it was to late as they began to argue into the elevator. I stayed behind and their mom approached me, "It was a matter of time before that happened." She said unfazed. "I can tell who's the more welcoming of the two." I unknowingly said out loud. I quickly apologized and she shook her head, "Don't worry I get that a lot trust me."

"If you don't mind me asking. Did Matthew have many girlfriends before me?" I preferred not to know the answer but couldn't help but ask. We sat down briefly, "Well he wasn't the most social kid growing up so it was rare. Maybe a movie date or lunch at the mall. If you ask me the ones that did give him a chance cared more about whether or not his dad would kick the bucket soon." She nonchalantly explained. "What does his dad have to do with them?" I didn't understand. "Oh well you must have known. When him and his brother were both over 16 their dad decided to partially release his will once his condition got worse. Robert blew his share almost instantly trying to impress all those girls, Matthew was smart and saved it so that he could be on his own like he is now. You can imagine who the girls migrated to." She went on. I sat back now understanding why his brother was apprehensive towards me. I got up about to head to the elevator when his mom stopped me, "Just be careful with him sweetheart. I can tell you're special. Don't let him think you're not." She pinched my cheek.

I made my way out of the hospital and down to the parking lot. I could still hear Matthew arguing with his brother and I cautiously got closer. I cleared my throat as I approached them from behind. Matthew looked at me still angry. I didn't want to speak and walked through them to the car. I let myself in sitting back in the passenger seat. Matthew eventually got in starting up the car and looked back to see his brother light a cigarette. He began to drive off not saying anything. "Are you okay?" I asked which he didn't respond to. "We should've just stayed home..." his voice was still raging.

We drove through the brightly lit city and me and Matthew didn't say a word to each other since the hospital. We eventually came to a tall building as I stuck my head out the window. He stopped the car in front of it getting out. "Where are we?" I asked as he came around opening my door. He reached over unbuckling my seat belt looking me in the eyes. "I refuse to let this night end on a bad note." He then kissed me as he helped me out of the car. A man dressed in a uniform then came up to us and Matthew handed him his keys, "Our bags are in the back." He guided me into the entrance.

The interior was dark but still encapsulating. Sofas framed the room as we walked through to the lobby. People who were dressed more fancier than us casually walked around and they almost blended in with the scene. We got to a desk and a lady behind a computer greeted us. "Are you a member?" She asked and he pulled out a card handing it to her. She checked it typing on her computer then glanced at me. "Welcome back sir. If you don't mind I'll need to update you in the system." She continued asking him more questions. I felt out of place then walked off to look around. I admired the artwork and furniture running my hand over the velour cushions. "You should trade that shirt in for something that isn't so....tacky." A lady sitting on the sofa spoke to me. "Excuse me?" I scoffed. She was wearing a fur coat holding a small dog in her lap. "Oh don't take it too personal. You're way to gorgeous to be seen in such outdated attire." She smiled with bright red lips. I looked down feeling self conscious, "Well I wasn't the one who bought." I defensively said. "Whoever did should consider a boutique and not a shopping mall." She spoke ruthlessly as if I was obsolete. I began walking past her and she grabbed my hand. I could smell her strong perfume brush my nose and she stroked my hand. A feeling of familiarity came over me and I turned to her. "I'm Mira*." She gave me a singular nod pulling me to sit next to her. "If you don't mind me asking..." she lowered her voice, "Have you been feeling strange lately?" She raised her eyebrow. I was baffled but felt like I could confide in her. "I guess so..." I didn't want reveal too much. "Well by the looks of it, I'd say you're going though many changes." She grabbed my shoulder pulling my collar down. She ran her fingers over me, "Do you know what this scar is?" I leaned in desperately. "For starters it's not a scar. It's something that happens when your body can't handle all your pain. It'll keep growing and festering until you can't help but release all that negative energy. Unless..." She reached into her pocket pulling out a vial. She held it in front of me enticingly, "As long as you play your cards right this little gift will go a long way." She placed it in my hand. I concealed it in my bag quickly. "I have so many things to ask you." I let out a sigh of relief. "Slow down now. You still have to figure the rest out yourself." She looked over to Matthew at the counter. "Awe he must be the first." She nodded to him. "First?" I inquired. "They're always the best. But good things don't last always." She got up. "Wait what do you mean?" I stood up as well. "In time it'll all make since. Let's just hope you're different from the rest." She she smiled. A man then came to her side lovingly. "Till we meet again." They walked off disappearing into the hotel. Matthew came to me placing his arm around my waist. "Who was that?" He looked back to her. She dismissed it giving him a kiss, "Just some old bat." I joked.

I sat on the bed in a towel with my suitcase in front of me. Matthew was in the shower and I scanned through the clothes seemingly put off by them. "It's just dinner you can throw on whatever." He shouted over the running water. I then heard a knock at the door which shook me out of concentration. I got up approaching it looking through the peephole. Another man in uniform stood holding something in his hand. I opened it and he greeted me with a smile. "The front valet forgot this in your car." He handed me a wrapped up box. I took it suspiciously and he walked off. I took the box to the bed sitting it down. A card was tucked in the bow and I took it curiously.

"Give a girl the perfect dress, and she'll conquer any man in the world -V"

I was taken a back then thought back to the vial the woman gave me. I grabbed my bag pulling it out examining it. It was pretty large and covered in crushed crystals and embroidery. I popped the top off holding it under my nose. It smelled like old wine and chestnuts and I twitched my nose. I then looked down to my shoulder in disgust. I held the vile against my lips and took a small sip. It tasted metallic and warm as it flowed over my tongue. I wiped my mouth and noticed it was a dark red color on my hand. I paused for a moment dreading what it actually was but then felt my shoulder tingle. I walked to the mirror moving my hair out the way. I stared in disbelief as my skin was now clear of the marks that were once there. I quickly walked back to the gift unwrapping it. I pulled the top off then gasped, "Wow."

We stood in the elevator elevator and Matthew looked down at my dress. "Don't remember getting that for you. It's nice though." He ran his hands over my exposed back. He then noticed my shoulder, "When did that go away?" He looked confused. I covered it back up brushing it off, "I'm just glad it's gone." I exclaimed. The elevator doors opened directly into a restaurant full of people dining. A hostess greeted us taking us to a table. I consciously walked as I could feel people staring at me unlike the club. I was side tracked by a waiter who walked by with a plate carrying a large steak and steaming potatoes. The smell filled my nose and I didn't realize I was following the plate. Matthew pulled my arm and I snapped out of it wiping my drooling mouth. We were then set at the small table with its own chandelier hanging over. I sat down and they poured us both glasses of champagne. "Well this is definitely different." I nervously smiled. "Well I just thought you deserved something special after all this time." He took a sip. A waiter then came over placing two plates in front of us. "Appetizers on the house." He then handed us two menus. I looked down to see a platter of thinly sliced steaks garnished with garlic butter. I felt my stomach growl as I leaned down sniffing the food. "Why haven't I realized how good food smelled until now." I closed my eyes. "Maybe because last time you tried meat you threw it up." Matthew grabbed the plate away. I instinctively grabbed his arm which made him wince dropping it. I quickly let him go apologizing "Remind me never to do that again." He retreated back. I then grabbed a fork picking up a slice as and my mouth instantly began watering again. "I don't know if you should..." he tried to warn me as I stuffed it into my mouth. I began chewing and I could taste the hot, savory, and buttery goodness overtake my mouth. He stared at me anticipating the worst and I rolled my eyes back stabbing for another piece. He relaxed himself looking surprised. "This is so good." I spoke with my mouth full. He handed me a napkin as I finally swallowed it. "At least this is a good turn of events. I hope." He laughed.

~~~

Support a young writer ^-^ $Alexandrianalls