RAIN
I know that I am in heaven when I feel the warm softness surrounding my body. My body feels good as well, with no ache or hip pain that has always plagued me since I was nine. It seems I died and I have woken up in heaven.
Opening my eyes, all I see is white and it all makes sense that heaven would be white. But then, does heaven also smell like fresh mint, a cool scent that makes me want to go towards it and bathe in it?
I turn my eyes to my right, not ready to move in case this is a dream and it all comes crashing down.
So when I see a man wearing all black, sleeping on the chair beside my bed, I jump, sitting up. I sniff and find the source of the refreshing addicting scent.
He is asleep. His head hanging off the chair, such that I can't see his face from where I am. He is wearing black slacks, fancy black shoes that seem to cost all my belongings, and a short-sleeved shirt, that is hugging his body and showcasing his tattooed arms and muscles.
He doesn't seem to notice I am awake, so if I leave now, I might be able to escape whatever form of pain will be coming from this setup.
I don't make it out of bed completely before he clears his throat. Freezing, I don't dare look back or move. I feel him standing up and immediately fall on the floor, curling up and hiding my face.
"What are you doing?"
My breaths are erratic, and my heart beating so fast that I think I might pass out.
"Why are you on the floor and –"
I wait for him to finish talking but when he doesn't, I assume he is going to get a whip to make me talk so I close my eyes and wait for it. I will wait for him to ask me to do something for him or ask me a question that is a yes or no answer. That is only when I am allowed to talk.
I can feel him standing there looking at me, so I try to breathe less, and he seems to be aggravated because he storms off the room angrily.
I don't move until I am completely sure he is gone and won't be coming back immediately.
When I raise my head, making sure I am indeed alone, I run to lock the room and lean against it, sighing.
I look around for the first time. I am not at home, because the room is all white, the bed I was sleeping in is king-size and it looks luxurious. I get why I thought I was in heaven. Everything in the room looks fit for a king, and I immediately know I am in the wrong place.
Gingerly walking around, I pass by a mirror and catch a glimpse of myself that makes me pause before turning to fully look.
My appearance looks …nothing like me. I look well-rested and fresh, and not a single bruise is on my skin…
Wait …
I was being chased by Dante and they were going to kill me. Then … a car hit me when I was escaping.
The door rattles and I run on the other side of the room, as my fingers clutch the shirt I am wearing.
"Did he close the door?" someone asks from the other side.
I don't recognize any of these people. The thought that Dante finally caught me and sold me off is enough to make me keel over in fear. After all, that is why I was running away because I refused and he said he would kill me for saying no.
Keys jiggle, opening the door.
"What's wrong with him?" a woman wearing a white dress asks. She looks at me with concern and slowly approaches me.
I step back even further on the corner, sliding on the floor and hiding my face between my knees again.
"Don't ask questions and just do what has brought you here," a man growls in anger.
I know that voice. It's the man who was sleeping earlier.
"I am coming to you now," he warns and I get confused why he would tell me rather than coming. "I know you must be scared, but I promise I am not going to hurt you again. I just want to make sure you are okay, that you are healing safely."
Why is he caring about me? What does he want? I can't be fooled only for them to laugh at me later when I fall for their fake kindness. That will hurt me deeply.
"My name is Liam, and this is Nurse Irene. She is here to check your vitals. You are in my home, in New York City."
Liam? I have never heard of him. I have never been taken to see a doctor let alone a nurse checking my vitals. And New York? I have never been to the city before.
"I know you are scared you are in a new environment but trust me no one is going to hurt you, please let me see if you are okay."
The man sounds genuine and that makes me so curious. Why is he sounding sorry? I raise my head and I finally see his face. He is the most beautiful man I have ever seen. I run my eyes all over him, feeling something spark within me but it dies as soon as it lights up, making me exhale, feeling a sudden loss.
The beautiful man kneels at a distance from me. He holds out his large palm towards me, with a small smile, but his eyes seem to hurt.
"It's okay, I won't hurt you. She won't either, I will be here to make sure you are safe."
I look at the lady and she too is smiling but seems wary.
"She doesn't have to check you, I will do it," he suggests and I nod slowly.
Fine. I am going to trust him, even though it's going to cost me.
"Irene, leave the kit. I will make sure he is okay. Tell the others not to disturb us. I will come out when I am ready."
The man is speaking with confidence and command that I wonder who he is.
Irene gets out and closes the door softly behind her, leaving me and Liam alone. I watch him warily as he stands and gets the kit from the table and approach me once again.
"I am sorry I hit you with a car. I know you are confused but, I couldn't get you to the hospital so, so I made the doctors here take care of you. They are the best. If you are still not sure about it, I will take you to a real hospital and get checked."
Yesterday, I knew I was dead for sure, and now I have woken up beside a man who is worried about me and is asking my opinion. I don't know which universe I am in, because this isn't how my life normally is.
"Can you tell me your name? Can you talk? Or … oh! Do you not understand me at all?" his eyes widen at that and I frown even more.
"I- I c- I can understand you," my voice is raspy.
"Ah, you can talk and you do understand me. That's good," he nods as if he is pleased and I wonder if I will ever understand this man at all. He seems like an alien, almost too unreal. From his beauty to his mannerism and how he is treating me.
What do I make of this?
"Why did you bring me here?" I ask him, knowing I will get punished for questioning.
"Well, this is my home and I didn't know where else to take you. You don't have anything on you to identify you, so this is the only place that is safe for you," he responds as he opens the kit and removes several equipment I am unfamiliar with.
He notices my uneasiness and closes the kit immediately, only taking a stethoscope.
"I don't need to use all of that, I only need to hear if you are breathing well. I can do that in other ways but this is the surest."
What other ways?
He approaches me and I hide my face again which makes him stop.
"I want to tell you something."
I wait for him to say it, but when he only stays silent, I get curious and look up.
"I will never hurt you again. I am sorry about yesterday night, and I promise you, I won't ever cause you pain. If you believe me, please take my hand," he outstretches his hand towards me.
I look at the hand, waiting for him to say he is joking and instead choke me until I pass out but when that doesn't happen, I look at his eyes. They seem kind and he means it.
So I take his hand hesitantly. He helps me stand up and sit on the bed, where he sits next to me. His scent engulfs me and I feel instantly calm.
"I need to press the stethoscope on your chest," he whispers and I look up at him. This close, I can see his beautiful brown eyes and his perfectly chiseled face. So perfect, like an illusion.
"Take in a deep breath."
I do and watch him as he listens to my lungs as I breathe in and out. I can't stop looking at him. Why is he treating me so gently? Is he my new benefactor?