Chapter 5 Wild Dream
1064 Words
Cheryl's POV:
Ian's brow was furrowed, and I could tell that my "ungratefulness" had really gotten under his skin, but he didn't say anything in the end.
'Bastard.'
The car pulled up to the hospital, and without hesitation, I slammed the door open and jumped out, making a beeline for the entrance. I couldn't stand to be in the same space with him any longer. It felt suffocating.
I knew he was still watching me, but I didn't care.
I paused outside my mom's room and forced a smile, making sure it was perfect before walking inside.
Rachel was standing by the window. She turned slowly as she heard my footsteps.
When she saw me, a faint smile lit up her pale face. "Cheryl, you're here."
I nodded and went over to hug her.
Rachel had bipolar disorder, and the constant ups and downs had taken a toll on both of us over the years.
She'd taken a sedative earlier, so she seemed pretty calm now.
I sat beside her and quietly asked how she was feeling today.
She didn't answer right away, but after a long pause, she suddenly lifted her head, her eyes a bit red. "Cheryl, are you still angry with me?"
The question hit me like a punch to the gut.
"Is it because I—" She grabbed my shoulders, her voice rising in desperation. "Is it because you're trying to get back at me? Is that why you—"
"No, Mom!" I quickly cupped her face and interrupted her. "It's not like that. I'm not angry with you."
She fell silent, gazing at me with a dazed expression.
It seemed like she'd completely forgotten what she was saying, and she suddenly smiled at me. "Eric's here."
"What?"
Hearing his name felt like a jolt of electricity through my body. I froze, my heart skipping a beat.
What was he doing here?
Rachel was already standing up, walking past me towards the door. "Eric, I knew you'd come... Don't just stand there. Come in."
I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. When I finally gathered the courage to look towards the door, no one was there except for Rachel.
I rushed to catch up and grabbed her hand, but she pulled away and continued talking to the empty air. "Eric, stop laughing like that... You know I never meant to hurt you..."
My mind went completely blank, and my chest tightened as if something was squeezing my heart.
*****
After what felt like an eternity, I finally managed to calm Rachel down. It was well into the night when I dragged myself back home, collapsing onto my bed. I stared up at the ceiling, but my thoughts were all over the place, refusing to settle.
It had been two months since I started college, and I still hadn't adjusted.
It felt like I was constantly being yanked into new situations, always trying to catch up.
Two years ago, Rachel remarried and dragged me from the freedom of the farm in the West to this hectic city life, pulling me away from my old friends and everything I knew.
Now, she wouldn't see Ian, and he didn't want me anywhere near Eric, so once again, we were running away.
Rachel was sick, and I had neither the time nor the energy to really engage in my college life.
Rachel had always told me that life was about constantly accepting new challenges and changes—that was just part of a new life.
But no one ever asked me what I truly wanted.
Every time I tried to live for myself, reality would strike me hard...
My mind was a tangled mess when suddenly, my phone screen lit up with a message from Chuck.
Chuck: Please, Cheryl, come with me to the party tomorrow night.
With Rachel's condition worsening, I barely had the time or energy to deal with the idiots who were always picking on me. How was I supposed to think about a party? Just as I was about to reject Chuck's invitation, another message came through.
Chuck: Please, I really need you. It's okay if you don't want to go, but can you at least help me with my 'new goal'? Please?
I'd turned Chuck down before when he confessed his feelings. At the time, I didn't know how to handle it. But he didn't pull away after I rejected him. He stayed by my side as a friend.
"I couldn't bear to disappoint him again. So after a brief pause, I texted back.
Cheryl: Fine."
The phone buzzed non-stop with messages from Chuck, just as noisy as usual.
I tossed it aside, ignoring his endless stream of emojis, and fell asleep.
*****
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and I heard light footsteps.
I lay there, caught somewhere between sleep and waking, my mind still foggy.
Did I forget to lock the door? Was someone breaking in?
I could feel a gaze on me, moving over my body, finally resting on my lips.
I couldn't stand being watched like that, so I decided to confront whoever it was. I opened my eyes and stared directly at the person standing by my bed.
To my shock, there was no thief. The person standing there was someone I knew far too well—Eric.
His amber eyes made me freeze, and I quickly looked away, unable to hold his gaze any longer.
His stare was intense, like it could burn through me. I couldn't move, all I could do was watch as he stepped closer, his movements deliberate.
"Cheryl." His voice was low, almost a whisper, as he sat next to me on the bed, leaning in.
He reached up and pushed my brown curls aside, his fingers tracing my cheek gently—warm, yet sending a shiver down my spine.
The way he was so close made my body tense up. My voice was barely audible, a mixture of pleading and refusal. "Eric..."
But he didn't give me a chance to pull away.
His breath was hot and insistent, and his arm circled around me, pulling me in as if to claim me completely. His fingers brushed over my lips, and then Eric leaned down, kissing me deeply.
At that moment, every bit of my rationality shattered, leaving only the overwhelming sensation of being consumed by him.
- Writer
