“He wants to see you,” she said. I wiped a tear from my eye as she led me to his room. She stopped just before opening the door.
“I know that Willem has agreed to go to school next week. I don’t want him to change his mind. He has made me well aware of his feelings about you and I can tell you feel the same, but I hope you realize now that this is his only chance of escaping this life. This life of drugs and fighting. This isn’t the first time I’ve found him beaten in a hospital room, I can only hope it will be the last time. I’m begging you as a mother that’s lost so much, please let him go Scarlett,” she pleaded with tears in her eyes. I looked away from her, knowing what I must do.
“I will let him go, Levana but I will never stop loving him,” I told her with as much confidence as I could muster.
“I know Scarlett. He loves you too which is what makes this so hard, but maybe in a few years, when you’re both a little older,” she continued but I tuned her out.
“Can I go in now?” I asked. I’ve told her I’m leaving, what more does she want from me? She nodded as she opened the door for me. I saw him bandaged. I walked quickly to his bedside.
“Will, are you okay?” I asked, tears streaming down my face again.
“Oh Scarlett, come here baby,” he cried. I stood over him, as close to him as I could. He lifted his hand and wiped my tears.
“I’m okay, just a few broken ribs and some bruises. I’ll be out of here tomorrow. Dave’s going to come by to take you home tonight,” he informed me. I gasped.
“Home? I was hoping for a little longer,” I cried, holding his hand tightly.
“No baby, to my apartment silly. I’m not letting you go yet,” he said as he kissed my fingers. When Dave arrives I know I have to leave him. They’ve been kind enough to let me stay as long as I have. It hurts to leave him there but I can’t stay.
“Take care of her Dave?” Buddy orders.
“I will Bud, we’ll see ya tomorrow man,” he said as he walked out. I leaned over and kissed him goodnight.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you Scarlett. If anything had happened to you tonight,” he winced as he spoke.
“It’s okay, I’m okay,” I tell him. “Goodnight Willem,” I whisper as I notice his eyes closing. He’s been given more morphine.
I smile at Dave as he wraps his arm around my shoulder, leading me out of the hospital. He asked me what happened as we drove downtown. I told him about the gunshot in the bar and waiting by the bus stop when he was attacked.
“What did they look like?” he asked.
“They were ugly,” I tell him as he hands me a joint. I light it.
“A few more details please?” he asked, laughing. I tell him as much as I can remember.
“They were about Buddy’s height, dressed in black. Black hoodies and black jeans. I think one of them had piercings on his face. I couldn’t see their hair because their hoods were up. I think they wore black docs too,” I told him.
“Did they take anything?” he asked. I looked at him as he parked his car on the street, out front Buddy’s house. I just nodded. I knew they targeted him. They knew he had money from the deal he made at the club. I didn’t trust those guys from the moment I saw them open that back door.
“Let me walk you in,” Dave offers as I open the car door. I glance at Dave and notice he’s looking across the street at someone.
“Get back in the car Scarlett,” he orders. He starts the ignition immediately. I shut the door and lock it just as I see their faces against the windshield.
“It’s them,” I shout. Dave drives off, the guys jump back from the car. I turn to see them standing in the middle of the road, waving at me.
“They're just trying to scare you Scarlett,” Dave said, trying to soothe me.
“You can come to my place tonight,” he offers, as he rubs my shoulder with his free hand. I’m shaking. I need Buddy here with me.
Dave pulls into his garage, then walks with me quickly up to his apartment door and unlocks it. He closes all the blinds and double checks that the door is locked then turns on the stereo. I sit down on the couch and listen to Def Leppard sing about how Love Bites.
“Are you hungry? I have pizza I didn’t get a chance to eat earlier. Here let me grab you a drink,” he offers as he pours me a rum and coke. I light a smoke as he hands me the glass.
“Thank you Dave, I appreciate this,” I smile.
“I know that Buddy loves you. He was a wreck when he couldn’t find you last summer. When he got back he kind of went on a bender. I had to pick him up from the drunk tank a few times,” he told me. This did not make me feel any better.
“I didn’t ask him to come get me. I was trying to forget him. I knew I shouldn’t have met him, I shouldn’t have fallen in love with him. I’ve been through hell and back since last summer. Now I’m here and I have to give him up again,” I said, taking another drink.
“His mother told me that she’s had to pick him up from the hospital before, was he beaten up badly?” I asked him.
“After
