Wounded Hearts

Chapter 19: Re-living the past

Faith's POV

3 years ago

"Please...please for humanity please meet her once...I beg you"  Kate begged me on her knees. (If you have forgot then Kate is Atlas's mum). I gave her a blank look as I watched her breakdown in tears. "Please....she...she is dying....please meet her....that's her only wish" she pleaded with tears while I just stood there in shock but continued showing my blank expression. I didn't comfort her, neither did I hug her but gave her a stiff nod. 

Dying?, Melissa is dying?...I had so much questions in my mind but was afraid to ask. "Melissa-" Kate gulped trying to calm her tears "she has cancer" she confessed causing me to freeze in shock. "After she gave birth a month later she found out she had cancer and she was on her last stage. She...she hid this from us.....no wonder she struggled giving birth and started to look weak after...after you left" Kate said with a shaky voice while I continued driving towards the hospital. I didn't utter a word and took in the information. I didn't expect this to happen. I thought after I left everything would go back to normal but cancer?....she had cancer?. My heart clenched in pain knowing my ex-best friend is suffering on her deathbed. 

I parked my car and got out walking towards the hospital following Kate. She lead me towards Melissa's room but I froze when I saw who was in front of me. There sat Atlas with tears in his eyes, looking weak and scruffy. I could see the bags under his eyes indicating his lack of sleep. He had grown out his facial hair making him look mature but no less than handsome. Feeling my eyes on him he turned towards me and locked eyes with me. My heart clenched in pain seeing tears in his eyes. 

He slowly stood up with shaky hands and weakly walked towards me. He stood in front of me, his eyes trailing all around my face, as if he couldn't believe I was in front of him. All of a sudden he wrapped his arms around me crying into my neck. I froze at his touch, his touch that used to fill me with sparks and tingles. I could feel his form shaking, emphasizing that he was crying. I stood there like a statue as a tear drop fell out of eye. "She...she is leaving us Fai....she is leaving us" he sobbed into my neck making it wet which I didn't mind. 

I broke the hug, keeping my face blank and slowly walked towards her hospital room. I felt him behind him while I looked through the glass that separated me from her. I silently gasped seeing her laying there so weak, looking so thin while wires surroundedher bed that were connected to the machines next to her. Tear after tear fell out of my eye but I furiously wiped it and entered her room. My parents and Atlas's dad were present in the room while they all gave me a pleading look.

"Mel....look who is here" Kate said with a loving voice causing Melissa to slowly open her eyes. She then locked eyes with me and suddenly started crying. "F-fai" she whispered not believing her eyes. "Fai" she whispered again while I stood there with no emotion even though I was in pain from the inside. She opened her arms wanting to hug me but I stood still. My mother nudged me to go and hug her but I did not move. Seeing my emotionless face, Melissa cried even hard. "I....I am so sorry Fai...I am so sorry" she said folding her hands in forgivness. I took a glance at Atlas who was looking down in shame allowing his tears to fall out. 

"Fai...I....I am so sorry for everything. I am so ashamed for what I did to you. I...I am being punished...I am being punished for separating two lovers" she cried with a shaky voice. "I was wrong....I was wrong Fai...I was wrong.....Atlas...he....he never loved me...he always loved you and still does....and I took him away from you....I'm so sorry" she cried looking down with folded hands. My eyes swelled up with tears but I did not allow them to fall. I started walking towards her and sat beside her bed taking her hand in mine. 

She squeezed my hand and kissed it. "I'm such a horrible friend....such a bad sister. I stole your happiness due to jealousy and I'm so sorry. I....I was such a b***h to you after everything you did for me. I ruined our relationship due to a boy we both loved.....I threw our friendship away due to jealousy.....I'm so sorry" she confessed while crying as she laid her forehead against my hand.

"Why?" my voice trembled as I questioned her, the one question I was dying to ask. She raised her head showing her red watery eyes. "I was in love with Atlas" she confessed. I looked at her in shock. "I was madly in love with him and started becoming jealous seeing him with you. At first...I...I ignored it as I loved you but as days went past I couldn't tolerate it" she said with a sad sigh. 

"I...I lied....I told him you cheated on him and that's why he-" she stopped as she looked down in shame. My heart froze at her confession. He thought....he thought I cheated that's why he.....

I glanced at Atlas who looked at me with guilt and regret. I looked at him with disbelief while tears ran down his cheeks. He thought I cheated and he believed her?...after knowing me all my life he actually believed that I cheated rather than asking and confronting me? 

I  was shocked, hurt...I was in disbelief. "Fai....I...I wanted to meet you...for....for the last time" her voice trembled as she took a deep breath. Kate rushed towards Melissa and helped her wear her oxygen mask to help her breath. I looked at my ex- best friend in concern but tried my best to hide it. "I....I wanted to see you....to ask for forgivness" she cried as she breathed heavily again the machines going crazy as she started to lose her breath. I quickly moved closer to her cupping her cheeks. "Get the doctor...GET THE DOCTOR!" I yelled as I heard someone leave the door shouting for the doctor. "No...listen...listen to me Fai.....A-atlas....Atlas was yours...is yours and always was...he was never mine....I ....I tried my full best but never got his love....he .....he always loved you Fai. Atlas is yours, only yours" she stuttered as she started losing breath. "Stop talking Mel, just stop talking. Please don't talk, you are losing your breath" I pleaded with tears. She shook her head as she breathed heavily "No...let me speak Fai...Let me speak" she breathed.

"I took your love away....I now give him back....he....he was never mine Fai...he was yours. Please....please forgive him....it wasn't his fault...it was mine....I did everything....I want you two together please" she cried looking at Atlas and me. 

Before I could say something she added " Fai" she called out squeezing my hand "My....my son....Leo...please....please take care of him....please  give him the love I couldn't give him. Please become his mother....please Fai...that's the last wish I ask you before I die....I'm sorry Fai...I'm sor-" The machines went silent leaving a long beep. 

Her body went limp as her hand fell out of mine while she laid there still with her eyes open. I could hear cries and yells behind me but I ignored them as I focused on the lifeless body in front of me. I sat there still, froze, shocked allowing my tears to trail down my cheeks. I could feel someone shaking me to come out of my trance but I couldn't take my eyes away from her....the girl who was my sister, my best friend, my partner in crime, my support, my everything was dead. 

"Melissa" I whispered