to my heart
1102 Words
Xavier POV
“Rat? Seriously?” Enraged, I gripped the steering wheel tight. “Rushing to her like her life was on edge was all for rats? Nonsense!” Talking to myself was the last thing I would ever do, but Ashlyn was driving me to the edge, making things impossible possible.
As I drove away from her, I glanced at her shrinking figure in the wing mirror. It was embarrassing to realize how big a fool I was to run to her just after hearing her cry.
My stupid heart was not ready to let her go, definitely not when it got the hint of her being in danger.
‘This is not the right sign!’ a voice inside me said. ‘I know! She is my stepsister but –’
Furiously, I hit the steering wheel hard. ‘Why? Why her?’
A sudden ring on my phone interrupted my intra-conversation. Shoving my hand inside my pocket, I pulled my phone out. When I glanced at the caller ID, I signed heavily, seeing another cause of my silliness.
Pressing the phone against my ear, I grumbled at once, “Rats, dad, all that commotion was just because of rats. Unbelievable! I ran to her as if it was the end of the world.”
“Oh! My God!” The voice on the other side was not that of my dad. Probably it was his new wife, and her mother. “Xavier, Honey–”
“Don't call me that!” I grumbled in a cold tone.
“She has musophobia,” she said, not paying attention to my words. “And it's very bad. Bad in a sense that it could even kill her.”
Hitting the brake hard, I tried to process what she said.
“Fear of rats nearly killed her once. Please! Please take care of my daughter. I beg you.” I could hear her sobs in between her words.
Hanging up the call, I tossed the phone aside. Rubbing my forehead, I contemplated for a while.
“Can’t believe you are enjoying your new life with my dad and begging me to look after her. If you are that worried, why didn't you take her with you?” I muttered words which I would never tell her in person.
Left with no other option, I took a deep breath and reversed the car.
As I got out, she was squatting on the ground. She was hugging her knees and her face was buried in her thighs.
It came to my realization that she wasn't looking right. Her clothes were damp. Perhaps she might have spent the night in the streets. Even in my jacket she was trembling.
Stepping closer, I lent a hand to her. When she didn't make a move, I cleared my throat and blurted, “Come!”
Slowly she lifted her head. She smiled through her tears. Her smile went straight to my heart. Smile which made me fall for her all over again.
The bliss I got with that smile didn't last long. I watched her slowly blink her eyes before falling to the ground unconscious.
“Ashlyn! Ashlyn!” Shaking her shoulder, I called out, but she didn't wake up.
~~~~
“How is she now?” I approached the doctor who was assigned to check Ashlyn.
“Her glucose level is very low. You need to make sure she eats healthy food. Also, the fever is very high. She needs extra care until it goes away.”
Nodding, I asked, “Can I take her home?”
“You can do that when she wakes up.”
Soon after the conversation, I silently approached her. She slept on the hospital bed like she had never slept before. Spending rainy nights in the street must have been hard on her. How heartless I have been to her. I didn't even bother to check on her the whole night. Instead, I got busy with Sofia to distract myself.
I raised my hand to stroke her hair but halted midway. Clenching my fist, I pulled my hand away. The more I tried to stay away, I found myself getting closer to her.
Before I could melt down and do things which might somersault everything, I turned away from her. I was about to march out, when suddenly she grabbed my hand. Quickly, I glanced at her.
“You are awake!” I blurted, not finding anything else to say.
Nodding, she glanced around before saying, “Where am I?”
“Hospital!”
“Can I get something to eat?”
“When was the last time you ate?” I asked, assisting her to get up.
In a weak tone, she replied, “I don't remember.”
‘Seems like her mother getting a new husband has gotten her hard,’ I couldn't help thinking.
“Can you get me a meal? I promise I will be gone after that. I will never show my face again.”
Her words stung my heart. ‘Do I really want that? After so long, she was in front of me. Will I be able to let her go?’
Clearing my throat, I said, “Let's go then.”
Throwing her leg off the bed, she got up. “Sorry for all the trouble –” She tottered, holding her head.
Reaching out to grab her, I questioned, “Are you alright?”
“Yeah, my head– feels heavy, and I don't know why my world around me is moving.”
“Starve yourself one more day, and you will see it turning upside down!” I said before picking her up and carrying her outside.
Upon reaching home, she insisted on walking on her own. Still, I guided her, wrapping my hands around her arms.
Getting her to the table, I helped her settle down. Then I ordered our butler, Joy, to get her mushroom soup for her.
When it arrived, I watched her trying to eat with her trembling hands. But she ended up spilling on her clothes.
“I– I am sorry!” she stammered, not meeting my eyes.
Snatching the spoon from her, I said, “You spoiled your clothes. No need to be sorry for me.”
Fetching a spoonful of soup, I took it to her. She had just taken one bite when, suddenly, Emily showed up before us.
Without prior notice, she grabbed Ashlyn by the hair, and threw her on the ground.
“What the hell are you doing here?” she yelled at her.
- Writer
