The Truth Is Rarely Pure And Never Simple- Oscar Wilde
"Hi love" chirped Marjorie as I walked back into the office "A handsome young man left this for you, I didn't know you were dating"
I reached out for the bouquet of purple hydrangeas "Used to express gratitude- danger" I read aloud, a small smile on my lips "Did he say anything"
"Nope" Marjorie shook her head, her long hair waving around her face as she did so "Just to give it to you"
"Hm, okay, i'll have to thank him" I heard the phone buzz behind me, dropping the flowers back on the table quickly I picked up quickly "Aditya"
"How did you guess" he chuckled, his voice gruff with emotion "It's day seventeen today and I wanted to check in with you"
I swallowed thickly, seventeen days wasn't anywhere near enough to save a life and that thought alone made me feel physically ill "Um, i'm fine, you know the guy I bumped into that I told you about, I had a drink with him yesterday and he dropped off flowers for me"
There was a low whistle "Someone has an admirer, but do you admire him too"
I felt the warmth spread to my cheeks "No uh, it isn't like that, just a kind stranger I guess"
"Oh no, you're the kind stranger Zoya" he hummed "So, so kind, maybe to kind"
"Why would you say that" I sat atop the desk, playing with the pen by my side anxiously
"Because of the job you do, taking on this job, trying to save my life, it isn't easy yet you don't complain" he coughed
"Why would I complain, anyway, now you've checked in on me, how are things with you"
"Well, right now, good, but before I got on this phone, not so good, you see I havent really slept, I keep having nightmares, I feel a little crazy in all honesty, everything is just a flashback, I hate myself Zoya, got any cures for that"
"Um, no, I wish I did, but how about you try to sleep and ill stay on the phone" I watched as Marjorie's eyes widened slightly but I just shook my head, so what if I was getting in to deep, I would do anything to save his life, even if that meant a little lack of sleep for me
"You'd really do that for me"
"Of course, i'll just keep talking, you try and sleep" and so I did, I spoke about what I wanted to achieve in life and why life was a gift, I told him about my faviourate things and the things I hated the most, as soon as I heard his breathing relax, I allowed my eyes to shut
"Zoya, you still there"
"Yes" I squeaked
His breathing was rapid and heavy "I had a nightmare again, and oh god I can still see how her body hit the car, I can't"
I paused "Her, I thought it was a they"
"No, it was a woman, she hit the car, it was a cold day and shit, shit" I heard his breathing become laboured
"Okay, okay lets just breathe, come on, in and out, slowly, with me" I breathed with him until his breathing slowed down "This accident, where did it take place"
"India, I moved here as an escape, a small city where nobody knew my name, it was the"
"Twenty seventh of June" I whispered, my eyes teary
"Yeah, it was, how did you" he paused "How did you know that Zoya"
I felt the tears roll down my cheeks, warm and scratchy on my face, I slammed the phone down and stood up "I just need some air" I felt my legs shake, then I was walking outside, falling onto my knees on the cold pavement, how cruel fate could be
I had spent about three days cooped in my home, that meant there were only thirteen days left to save a life. The pain of knowing the truth of the accident had stung, but that was all it was, a vicious accident that had left us both emotionally scarred, but I feared if I told him who I was that he would recoil and shut down. I looked up as I heard a knock on the door
When I opened it, I saw Danger, his clothes were creased, his eyes heavy, appearance rugged and hair sticking up "Zoya" he whispered
"Hi Danger, all okay"
He gulped, his obsidian eyes stared deep into mine "I was worried, I haven't seen you go to work for a while"
I sighed "Remember I told you I was trying to save that life, well it turns out that I actually am the reason why he feels how he feels, I was the girl he hit with the car, now don't get me wrong, i'm not mad at him, I just needed time to cope, i'm sorry, I don't know why i'm telling you this, I guess I just really need a friend right now" I pulled the sleeves of my lilac jumper over my hands
"He ran you over and you're not mad at him, are you crazy, he could have killed you" he reached out, gripping my arms firmly, a crazed look in his eyes
"He didn't mean to Danger, jesus" I pulled my arms away "It was an accident, I wasn't looking where I was going, he saved my life, he payed for my treatment and I don't know how to save him" I shouted, my throat suddenly dry, tears burning my eyes "He wants to die because of me and I don't know what to do" I felt his muscular arms wrap around my body, pulling me tight to his chest
He placed a hand atop my head "Shh, shh, it's okay Zoya, it's okay, you can't blame yourself for this"
"The world is cruel" I croaked "I just want him to stay alive, he matters to me, I don't know how to take this away, if I tell him, he will stop speaking to me and I can't have that" I gripped his jumper, sobbing harder into his broad chest
"Hey, I promise you he won't stop speaking to you, maybe he already worked it out from your reaction and just wants to hear your voice, but he wasn't ever aware that what he has asked you to do, is too much, he may be the one that wants to die, but he's killing you" I could swear I heard his voice break, not having the strength within me to ask what was wrong or why he cared so much or why he was so sure, I allowed him to lift me into his arms and take me inside
Never did I realise that maybe I needed saving too
